1st Full Caretaker Day @ Hospital - 07-08-2004 08:37 PM
For all my dear new friends ...
What a day !! But a day that will go in my journal, and definately a day that brought a special bond with my sister. We have all lived in different parts of the country since adults, so although always in touch, not close physically for the things I have with my own family (husband and children.) Today, the emotional and physical caring that she accepted from me was a pleasure and a treasure for my memory.
Today was radiation and her 2nd of 3 rounds of chemo. It was an all day event. We had some challenges with her "port" ... burning sensation both treatments of chemo, this time worse, so they were worried about leakage, and when it was done and they took everything out, she bled profusely. So they rushed us to xray but found that there was no leakage.
The nurses were very short staffed today so things weren't as organized as had been for her last chemo. So, without asking I stepped into the nurses station found out where the warmed blankets were, and brought them to her and kept her covered and kept getting the blankets rewarmed. She loved that. "THank you, Thank you, Thank you so much." Then I kept refilling her water, keeping her protein drink filled, and telling the nurses what she needed. I stepped out every couple of hours at her insistence and roamed and walked and read and each time I returned to the Infusion Suite, she was thrilled to see me. When all was said and done, we went to the surgeons office for her check up appt. He debrided some of her arm scaring (which both of us had to close our eyes to ...), the doctor told her she looked good and to our (the doctor and my) surprise she looked at him and said "You look good too !" He laughed and said "I can see your mood is lifted, and I can't tell you how important it is that you have your family with you." By the end of the day she didn't mind or resist any of my help and my questions to the doctors and nurses. She even let me put her shoes on her and help with her dressing !!
She wanted to get her favorite fajata's at Chili's Restaurant, and work on swallowing, so we stopped on the 40 minute ride home ... we sat in the restaurant (I was so worried she would get sick, but I didn't say anything) ... she wanted to be there and she wanted to eat. She insisted on sitting on the same side of the booth with me, and put her head on my shoulder and said to me "I'm just so happy you are here, my day was so much better wtih you here." This just meant the world to me.
She laughed on the way home, and again, she made me drive, and put the music on loud.
I don't take this as a down note, but she did put in a Tom Petty CD on the way home and quietly told me "when I die, I want this song (Room at the Top) to be played at my funeral." When I listened to the words I started to choke up, she was going to turn it off, and I told her "let me listen." Then she went into further detail about the funeral she would want. I just listened. Then I told her the same about me, what I would want ... It was strange but at the same time, she needed to talk to me about this.
What a day ... she was so happy, so at ease and so okay by the time we got home.
Wasn't sick when we left chemo ... so I will wait to see what happens tonight.
It was a hard day, and at the same time ... a very special and peaceful day for us.
My love to you all.
I hope your days were also blessed and at peace.
Betty
What a day !! But a day that will go in my journal, and definately a day that brought a special bond with my sister. We have all lived in different parts of the country since adults, so although always in touch, not close physically for the things I have with my own family (husband and children.) Today, the emotional and physical caring that she accepted from me was a pleasure and a treasure for my memory.
Today was radiation and her 2nd of 3 rounds of chemo. It was an all day event. We had some challenges with her "port" ... burning sensation both treatments of chemo, this time worse, so they were worried about leakage, and when it was done and they took everything out, she bled profusely. So they rushed us to xray but found that there was no leakage.
The nurses were very short staffed today so things weren't as organized as had been for her last chemo. So, without asking I stepped into the nurses station found out where the warmed blankets were, and brought them to her and kept her covered and kept getting the blankets rewarmed. She loved that. "THank you, Thank you, Thank you so much." Then I kept refilling her water, keeping her protein drink filled, and telling the nurses what she needed. I stepped out every couple of hours at her insistence and roamed and walked and read and each time I returned to the Infusion Suite, she was thrilled to see me. When all was said and done, we went to the surgeons office for her check up appt. He debrided some of her arm scaring (which both of us had to close our eyes to ...), the doctor told her she looked good and to our (the doctor and my) surprise she looked at him and said "You look good too !" He laughed and said "I can see your mood is lifted, and I can't tell you how important it is that you have your family with you." By the end of the day she didn't mind or resist any of my help and my questions to the doctors and nurses. She even let me put her shoes on her and help with her dressing !!
She wanted to get her favorite fajata's at Chili's Restaurant, and work on swallowing, so we stopped on the 40 minute ride home ... we sat in the restaurant (I was so worried she would get sick, but I didn't say anything) ... she wanted to be there and she wanted to eat. She insisted on sitting on the same side of the booth with me, and put her head on my shoulder and said to me "I'm just so happy you are here, my day was so much better wtih you here." This just meant the world to me.
She laughed on the way home, and again, she made me drive, and put the music on loud.
I don't take this as a down note, but she did put in a Tom Petty CD on the way home and quietly told me "when I die, I want this song (Room at the Top) to be played at my funeral." When I listened to the words I started to choke up, she was going to turn it off, and I told her "let me listen." Then she went into further detail about the funeral she would want. I just listened. Then I told her the same about me, what I would want ... It was strange but at the same time, she needed to talk to me about this.
What a day ... she was so happy, so at ease and so okay by the time we got home.
Wasn't sick when we left chemo ... so I will wait to see what happens tonight.
It was a hard day, and at the same time ... a very special and peaceful day for us.
My love to you all.
I hope your days were also blessed and at peace.
Betty
