Freedom from hospital life
Good morning!
Here we are having a good morning as we are experience a good level of freedom. All three of us are currently at the Ronald McDonald House. This am, Sam and I have had breakfast together, and as I write this Tina is sleeping in.
Sam made it through, we made it through this last round of chemotherapy!
Reflections on June 1 and 2
June 1 Sam was still in hospital. In consultation with the medical team most all of Sam’s meds moved from a) being on a delivery schedule to list as take-as-needed, b) changed from IV delivery to oral. The purpose of this day was to prepare us to get out – to give us control of Sam’s care.
June 2, yesterday, was very full with procedures and our transition out of the hospital. Forty-five days prior we made the emergency move from Prince George to the hospital. We have lived there full time and now we had the day to prepare to leave.
The day started with trip to the BC Cancer Clinic for a PET and CT scan. This was much easier than the last trip. Last time the Ambulance service transported Sam which was needed given the state of his health at that time. This time, the three of us went downstairs, got in a taxi, and walked into the clinic.
Next were the steps to leave including:
A trip to the pharmacy – to collect all of Sam’s medications. This was actually simple, as the pharmacy is just downstairs. I would realize hours later, well after closing that I bought the wrong needles for Sam’s blood thinner…
Trips to move our lives over to the RMH1. In our time here we have lived full-time at the hospital with minor respite at the RMD. During our time here we have only added materials to our lives as we bought or people brought us life-essentials, and gifts arrived. We are blessed to have all that we need and more. I did spend a couple hours moving our things – very glad that the RMD had utility wagon that we could borrow.
Trip to the Red Cross – to get some hardware for Sam. He has some strength to regain so in moments of weakness or fatigue he can fall back to the wheelchair or shower-transfer-bench.
We were fully here by 7:00pm. We are loving it! The feelings this morning are almost reminiscent of family vacations that we have had in the past. We are not home but we are free to be ourselves!
Concerns and victories
Thankful for this opportunity to get out for a few days.
Upcoming we have to return to the hospital on Tuesday, June 6 when we will hear the results of the PET and CT scans and likely be admitted to start the next round of chemotherapy.
Thankful, for the amazing care Sam received at BC Children’s Also thankful that we have a break from it – that we can sleep through the night without the need to take vitals, take blood, deliver medications, or listen to alarms.
Challenges of side-effects have mostly resolved! I will need to go in search of a vacuum cleaner as Sam’s hair rains from his head.
Concern, a recent scan flagged a the potential for a problematic kidney stone.
As always, we will remain concerned about any cancer in his system.
Footnotes
Ronald McDonald House↩︎