OUR HOPE TRIP TO HOUSTON
It was 4:30p.m. when they departed from Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital. Jim, Jim's dad Jim, Kevin (Jim's brother-in-law), and Don (Jim's father-in-law) climbed into the van and waving goodbye to Debbie, Sue (Jim's sister), and Stephanie (Jim's mom), they departed for Metro Airport. Jim had a hard day and was tired. He hadn't been outside of the hospital in weeks and now he was on his way to Houston. They were all nervous but excited. Maybe this was the answer to all those prayers!
They arrived at Metro around 5:30p.m., checked into the ticket counter, went thru security and decided to get McDonald's for dinner. They boarded the plane and flew out at 7:30p.m. The flight was smooth and going okay till around 8:30p.m. Jim started to feel bad and put his head down. They gave him medication and hoped it would start to work. They arrived appx.9:15p.m. and got off the plane and got into an electric cart that took them to an exit gate and wait for a wheel chair to put Jim in. They remained there waiting for the car rental shuttle to come, Jim was in the wheel chair feeling very ill. Finally the shuttle comes. They get in and Jim lays across the seat bench feeling extrtemely sick. Kevin sits on the floor in front of him telling him he's going to make it. They get to the car rental place and pile into the van. On the way, Jim vomits and is very ill. He tells his guardian angels to take him right to the hospital. You see, Jim was suppose to ck. in the next day. They find the hospital and go to the Emergency Ambulance entrance and take Jim right in. It is now around 10:30p.m. and they are very worried about Jim. He was extremely sick and did not look good. While they are treating Jim, Kevin and Don decide to go too the motel and ck. in. Jim's dad will stay with him. When they get back they are allowed to go in and see him in shifts. Around 2:00a.m. they decide they better get some sleep so they can return early tomorrow. They are so proud of Jim, he made it! He was so sick and they were so scared, but it all came together and now he is there!
Thursday, May 30, 2002
7:20a.m. They arrive at the hospital and go to Jim's room, #1050. Jim is feeling a little better. The first person they meet is Sue, his Nurse Practioner in charge of him. They are told his doctor would be Dr. Giles, later this is changed to Dr. Fader. They spend the next 50 minutes briefing her on Jim's case. They go over all of the start and stop dates on chemo and explain all of the problems Jim has had. These angels know their stuff. One person even asked if they were doctors, because of their knowledge! Sue tells them she has seen symptoms like these before and there is a strong possibility that this is chemo toxicity. She tells them a team of 7 will be on Jim's case including her and they will try for an accurate picture of what is going on.
12:40p.m. Dr. Faderl arrives with Sue and another doctor. He begins to ask Jim many questions regarding his concerns and treatment. He seems to have done his homework because he knows Jim's case and relates to us that maybe this is not Lymphoma returned. He states some tests will be repeated and Jim makes his thoughts clear about the length of his stay. He wants a thorough going over so that he can be comfortable with the diagnosis. Their statement is the relapse diagnosis is on very "shaky grounds". He is told an Opthamologist and a Neurologist will be seeing Jim, probably this afternoon.
12:58p.m. They are gone and Debbie is calling Jim too find out what is happening. Jim is a little upset because he feels the final decision on his diagnosis might be too move on with more treatment. Jim is a worrier and rightly so, he has faced a great deal!
1:25p.m. Dr. Ballouz calls, one of Jim's Oncologists from Michigan, asking if there is anything they have concluded. The answer, no, but they have mentioned chemo toxicity and there is really no evidence yet of a relapse.
2:10p.m. Lunch Time! What a hospital! You order up your own menu, anything you want, and your angels can eat too! (Of course they have to pay).
2:30p.m. The Physical Therapist and Occupational Therapist arrive. They begin to interview Jimand test him on strength and walking etc. While they are evaluating Jim and explaining their facilities, the glorious lunch arrives!
2:50p.m. Therapists leave and the Neurologist, Dr. Fisher, comes in to review Jim's neurological problems. Jim covers everything up too now, his upper body weakness, his eye problems, his pain in his back and neck. Dr. Fisher asks many questions and then leaves to look at all the films the angels brought from Beaumont. They all eat lunch!
3:35p.m. Dr. Fisher returns and says he didn't see anything on the films. He suggests probably anothe M.R.I. Also, even though there are many images, only 2 or 3 are of any help. He then proceeds to give Jim a very thorough going over. Again he states, there will be repeat imaging and repeat Lumbar Puncture spinal fluid ck. there is a possibility the disease has returned but is being held in ck. by the radiation treatments Jim had and the residual chemo in his body. It is hard to say, Jim is a "tough case". Dr. Fisher leaves at 4:00.
4:15p.m. He returns and states he has never seen a patient who has been given so much methotraxate (chemo), since 92' when they reduced the dosage. They use significantly less at MD Anderson, and he has seen patient's with nerve damage like Jim's. He advised he would not take any more radiation without a positive diagnosis.
4:30p.m. Jim will go to see the Opthomalogist tomorrow. Jim calls Debbie, what a busy day they have had.
5:20p.m. Dr. Shue, an Oncologist, and Dr. Fisher, a Neurologist come in to consult with Jim.
Dr. Shue asks Jim questions regarding his nerve damage and treatment thus far. Tomorrow they will recheck spinal fluid, and they are going to look closely at his scans.