I Married a Vampire

February 5, 2016 – I Married a Vampire

So much has happened in the past couple of weeks that I hardly know where to begin.  First of all, though, I must say that it’s delightful to be at home during daylight hours for the first time in quite a while.  It seems that I’ve spent most of the past week or so at nursing homes, hospitals, doctors’ offices, and medical labs.  In short, life has been one crisis after another.  And as for the title of this post, the vampire reference will soon become clear.

When I last posted on January 25, Elliott had recovered from pneumonia but was in the ICU with internal bleeding.  Fortunately, tests helped identify the source of the bleeding and doctors were able to stop it.  We were relieved that he was ready to leave the hospital on January 27.  However, Elliott was not at all happy to be going to Fairfax Nursing Center rather than coming home.  He was eager to build up his strength with physical and occupational therapy and everyone has been impressed by his progress.  Needless to say, I visited him often.

Earlier this week, while still in the nursing facility, he started radiation therapy at Fairfax Hospital for his throat tumor.  However, two days ago, routine tests showed that his blood count had dropped significantly once again.  The radiation oncologist conferred with hematologist and decided to go ahead with the radiation treatment yesterday morning.  IN the afternoon, Elliott had an appointment with the hematologist, who told us that Elliott needed another blood transfusion.  So it was off to the lab and then to Fairfax Hospital.  I stayed with him until around 9 p.m., at which point he wasn’t looking very good.  (Low blood count means he isn’t getting enough oxygen into his system, and he hadn’t gotten any rest at all yesterday.)  But after getting two units of fresh blood overnight, he looked and felt much better this morning.  He even felt well enough to go for his radiation treatment before I took him back to the nursing home.

Since it is likely that his blood count will fall again, further transfusions will probably be necessary.  Of course, frequent blood transfusions don’t seem to be a good long-term solution to this medical problem.  However, the priority for now is to enable him to get through the six weeks of radiation therapy.  Once that’s complete (and the tumor is gone – we hope), the doctors can focus on getting his bone marrow to produce more of those yummy red blood cells.  In the meantime, Elliott will remain a vampire. 

As if life weren’t crazy enough with all the ups and downs of Elliott’s medical condition, my mother had her own health crisis last Friday.  The first indication that something was wrong came Friday morning when she reported to one of the aides in her assisted living facility that she couldn’t see out of her left eye.  I got a phone call from Greenspring as I getting ready to bring some clean clothes over to Elliott at the nursing center.  Katie was her usual cheery self when I took her to the ER.  In fact, she kept asking where we were going and why we were going there.  When the doctor asked how she was, she smiled broadly and replied, “Just fine!”  Her main concern was getting lunch.  I finally went to the café in the building and brought back a tuna sandwich.  Once she’d eaten that, she asked, “What’s for dessert?” to everyone who came to check on her.

Katie had several tests, including a CT scan, and was admitted then to Alexandria Hospital for further testing and to see a neurologist.  As soon as she got settled into her hospital bed, the first thing she said to the nurse was “I’m ready for lunch.”  I reminded her about the tuna sandwich but she insisted she was hungry.  A tray appeared a few minutes later.  Katie ate a few bites of the manicotti and all of the chocolate mousse.  Since I was starving by this point, I gobbled up the rest of the manicotti, which was quite delicious. 

My mother stayed overnight and was ready to be discharged on Saturday afternoon.  According to her discharge report, she had a stroke and there was narrowing of the carotid artery.  Of course, we need to follow up so I spent a good deal of time this week setting up appointments for her to see her primary care physician, a neurologist, and an ophthalmologist.  As strokes go, this one was quite mild, and she’s already starting to regain some of the vision in her left eye.  She’s happily back to her familiar routine at Greenspring. 

As you can see, the past couple of weeks have been filled with surprises.  Each time I think I have a good grip on the situation, something new happens.  Thank goodness my years of motherhood and teaching helped me develop some skill in dealing with uncertainty and sudden change. 

Out of necessity, I will be simplifying my life.  Since cloning myself is not an option, I’ll be attempting to fit in fewer activities, and I’ll be much more selective about how I spend any free time.  I’ll get to my afternoon art history class whenever possible.  Other forms of exercise will take the place of my morning Zumba and Pilates classes.  And Sunday afternoon will remain devoted to fused glass.  At this time of year, I’m quite content to stay at home in the evening, as long as I have a good book to keep me company.  As for cooking, one of my favorite activities, it will be nutritious but not ambitious.  I’ve already warned Elliott not to complain about leftovers.  What else is important?  Keeping in touch with family and friends by phone, email, Facebook, blog, and occasional in-person visits.  Of course, sleep is essential, and I’m committed to getting at least eight hours a night. 

Numerous people have generously asked what they can do to help.  At first, I couldn’t come up with any concrete ideas, but now I have a suggestion:  homemade soup. We’ll be eating lunch and dinner at home for several weeks, and soup would be the ideal comfort food.  Elliott and I like all kinds of soup – vegetable, bean, chicken, etc. and we’d appreciate soup (or any food offering) you’d be kind enough to prepare for us.  Anything we can’t eat right away will go into the freezer.  I’ll return containers as soon as possible. 

So, in conclusion, less than twenty-four hours ago, when I was driving back from the hospital, I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.  I feel much better now.  I’m remembering to breathe, and I’m ready to take each moment as it comes.