Just wanted to update everyone on Paul's (my son) progress. He is three weeks, 4 days post treatment and doing so-o-o much better! A few days ago he received the great news that his Amifostine is being paid for by the drug company so that saves him about $28,000! I posted this news in the Financial forum. He is eating very well. The thing he wanted most to do was to go to Taco Bell and have a chicken burrito which we did and he even went back again later in the evening for more Taco Bell. Just seeing him take the first bites of the burrito were exciting as I searched his face for a reaction and hoping he could manage it. It reminded me of when he was a baby and his first spoonful of sold food at six months and how we applauded him! The SSDI news (claim denied) was disappointing but since he is still hoping to get a job quite soon, he thinks he may not be eligible anyway. A couple of the jobs he applied for were turned down because of his credit rating and I hope he doesn't get turned down because of his cancer. He does have some other good prospects for some computer programming jobs, though.
We received the Carnation VCH online and at 560 calories for 8 oz, that will help a lot. The pain has decreased making it easier for him to eat and swallow and he hasn't wanted me to call the doctor for more pain medication. The "pain management team" should be getting back in touch with him soon so we'll see what happens (I'm keeping the OCF pain medication info handy, tho'). Everyone's posts have been so helpful to us and so appreciated. Bonnie, I hope your daughter is doing better, too.