Wednesday, December 2, 2009
12/4/08: Day 1
We had the biopsy done and the tumor turned out to be GIST. It is rare and does not respond to chemo. We had our tickets to Mexico and the doctor told us to go. He couldn't schedule John before then anyway. Luckily, and probably because we finally knew what we were facing, we had a great time in Mexico. John felt great for the entire time, except for the last two days when the cancer (which he had named "Tommy the Tumor") made it's residency in John's belly well known. We got home and rested and ready for what would be a very difficult battle.
1/5/09: Before.
I cannot tell you how hard it was to say goodbye to each other when they took him away for surgery. It took more than one try.
1/6/09: Update #1: The death of Tommy the Tumor.
I have no idea when he'll be ready for visitors. I will let you know. They only want two at a time, and the room is small, so I'm going to ask that people coordinate that with me when they want to swing by, but I will let y'all know when that time is near.
We both want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers and good vibes and everything that was focused on us today. We have the best friends in the world.
Also, he told me before I left to make sure to tell everyone "hi." :)
1/7/09: Update #2: Training for the Marathon
He's also requested that I bring him some fishnets to replace these white knee highs...
His progress is going extremely well. The things that are supposed to go down are going down and everything they measure is at the level its supposed to be. I have high hopes for tomorrow as well.
To answer some questions that I've been asked: We are at Providence in NE. Visiting time is coming, and I'll just want you to let me know so I can do some coordinating and we don't end up with 10 people there (even our rockstar room can't accomodate that and we also have to let the nurses do their stuff) I know a lot of people are volunteering to cook for us once we get home. Here's the thing. Food, in any real state, won't be for a while. He'll be on liquids and then to a limited diet, which even I'll be able to handle preparing. and the cat just eats cat food and the fish eat crickets and if you know me, you know that I survive basically on nachos and peas, so please use your culinary skills to make something for your family and toast us when you eat it. However, if you want to bring a 6 pack of beer over, John can't drink it and I have really enjoyed telling him how awesome it tastes. It will be even better when I can do it in front of him.
John said to tell everyone hi :)
1/8/09: Update #3: Pedicure
Today when I got to the hospital, the first thing John said is "today's nurse is no bueno.." (it's cute how we speak Spanish after Mexico, I know :)) and then he wanted to go for a walk right away. We took a nice long walk and asked if they'd change his sheets when he was gone and get us a fresh "dress." The nurse was ridiculously incompetent with even the simplest of tasks but the assistant hooked us up and even gave me a foam cleanser so that I could give John his sponge bath (FYI: not as sexy as it sounds). We got him cleaned up and into a rockin' new dress and back into his bed to start the day. His doc had ordered some blood for today so with us watching every move very closely and the task taking twice as long as it should with Nurse Nincompoop, the blood was going in. With some time to kill, I busted out my rainbow of polishes to give John some fancy toes to look at while he was laying there. He decided on blue with a glitter topcoat. Viola!
Now!! What you've all been waiting for!!! Da da da daaaaaaa! May I present to you: The exit wound!
John thinks the belly button is in there somewhere, I think its gone. Either way, it will be one hell of a scar.
PS: Mr Rock, you are beaten, and I officially declare the contest over.
1/9/09: Update #4: Stir Crazy
After our first walk, I had John stand up next to his bed while I gave him his bath and changed his dress. Apparently standing did him in because he was exhausted after that. good to know. So I went to get some coffee (I feel bad having any snack in front of him, since he is limited to ice chips, but I still have to eat and its actually more fun to have snacks so we can at least talk about them, even if not sharing them.)
Visiting can happen tomorrow between 12:30 and 4. Call me if you want to swing by so we don't stack up. No one can stay long and at one point in that time, we'll have to do a walk, so you may have to wait outside if we're preparing or just coming back. Every couple minutes his energy level can change so keep that in mind.
1/10/09: Update #5: Tired.
One thing that happened today is the nutritionist gave us a list of foods for once John comes home and can eat again. and there's even some good stuff on there! It was nice to just be able to look at that and know that we have some decent food in his near future.
Something else great about today is that we upped our walks from 3 to 4! Also, we think that tomorrow we are losing a couple tubes. The less tubes, the better. I hated the lotion that they gave us so I brought some from home today so now John smells good and so does his whole room. Also, John had me bring his clippers so he could give himself a trim!
Pretty handsome, for a guy with a tube in his nose :)
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