I probably shouldn’t write a blog after surgery, but surely Megan will likely edit it if it’s too far off base.
Caryn went with me this morning to my appointments. We walked by the same security guard as every other morning. Let’s just say that he remembered who I was. He didn’t even ask this morning if I had any guns, knives, or weapons. He grinned as we walked by him. The day started with a short procedure and then my first “stem cell stimulation” infusion. Those two shots are considerably easier than two chemotherapy shots. I will have the same two shots for the next three days to try to encourage the stem cells to move from the bone marrow into the blood stream. I have tried to encourage the stem cells by talking to them, but I don’t think they understand English. Mayo Clinic shuts down on the weekends, except for the hospitals. I have the infusions very early on Saturday-Monday mornings so the staff doesn’t have to work too long on the holiday weekend. There won’t even be a person at the desk; I will head right into the unit. One of the nurses who will be working over the weekend stopped by to introduce herself and to get to know my face before tomorrow. As I was waiting for today’s infusion, which is in my abdomen, she was standing about five feet from the bed in which I am lying. She says, “Just so you are prepared, I usually throw the shots like they are darts and see where they hit.” I will let you know tomorrow how good her aim is! The Murphy Bed was about as firm of a bed as I had ever slept on. Well, laid on. I never slept. I got up and worked a bit, then I asked Teresa if she would switch beds. She likes a far firmer bed than I do. She loved me enough and I ended up with about five hours of sleep. Between appointments we rather quickly moved to a different room with a much softer Murphy Bed. It’s a larger room with more light. And lots less poison oak nearby. I had a Central Venous Catheter, or a central line as it is called, inserted this afternoon. It has its pros and cons. Pros for all the treatments that are coming. Cons that it restricts what I will be able to do. Nurse Megan was my pre-op nurse. She was a peach. I could tell that she loved her job. I assume the surgery went like clockwork. I came back and Megan was helping another patient prepare for surgery. Becca was the stand-in for a while and was then called away. A third nurse came as I was recovering. Megan. At one point I had stereo Megan in the small recovery room. I didn’t seem to have much trouble remembering Megan, Becca, and Megan! Megan 2 was reading over the restrictions. No driving today but the instructions said that I could resume my normal activities. I told her that I thought I would move from shortstop to center field. Megan 1 became free and came back for the rest of the recovery period. Teresa came to take me to our car that Caryn had gotten from the parking garage. They had a wheelchair for transport. I told Megan that I would prefer to walk. She said, “It is further than you think.” I knew how far it was. We compromised. I pushed the wheelchair. When I got back to the motel I chose to walk up the 12 steps rather than take the elevator. Neither the walk to the car nor the walk up the stairs will likely make any difference. I do see it as part of the fight. My cold is improving. Oreo is starting to calm down. She endured her two worst nightmares in back-to-back days. The groomer and a car ride. We may have to find a doggie shrink before this is over. I have a feeling that she will stay as close to me as she can. She did during a short nap. Teresa and Caryn are out shopping. We will likely go out to eat later. If I am strong enough, I might have to take a walk before the evening is over. Kwik Trip isn’t but a couple of blocks down the street. Blue Bunny Mississippi Mud is a good choice. Thanks for your prayers.
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Chuck Cooper
Pastor at Daybreak Community Church Archives
November 2024
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