Monday, March 31, Eating my way out of hospital.

No temperature spikes in the past 48 hours, food intake over 1000 calories, fluid intake is reasonable, and she's feeling antsy. Up till now Wendy has been accepting of her confinement in the Saint John Regional Hospital, but today she was much less happy about being there. She wants her own bed, and perhaps most of all to be unattached from the damned IV pump she's been with for the past two weeks. Damn, that's a long time.

Her doctor said as long as her temperature remains within a normal range I could bring her home tomorrow. I guess I'd better tidy up some.

Keep your fingers crossed.

Harvey

5A South, Room 2, Window (Sunday)

I thought I might get out today, but the doctor sent me for a chest x-ray yesterday and found there was still something there. So she has prescribed antibiotics again to get it cleared up. My temperature went up briefly yesterday, but it's been back to normal since.

I also have to be taking in 1000 calories a day to be released. I almost did that for the first time yesterday. It's getting a lot easier as my throat is less sore. They've also given me some additional menu options that I can choose from and Harvey's bringing in extra things in response to my requests about things i think I can eat.

I guess I know I'm sick because I haven't been terribly bored this past two weeks. I'm starting to get that way now, though.

Saturday, March 29

Wendy hasn't quite made the 1000 calories yet, but looking at the food she's getting from the hospital, I couldn't make 1000 calories in a day. It has to be the most unappealing food presentation I've ever seen. Even if it is nutritionally balanced and healthy food, it looks terrible.

I'm not surprised though. Sounds like Canada did a special on hospital food a while back and an executive from the place that makes the food for most of the hospitals in Ontario, called the meals they produced "PRODUCT". Not meals, plates, food, but product. Sigh. I suppose that attitude just doesn't sit well with someone who enjoys his food so much and who always makes a special effort to produce excellent, balanced meals. A meal is about pleasure - pleasing the eye, the palate and the other senses - and tradition. A meal that looks unappealing, won't satisfy and may well not get eaten. That doesn't help a sick person get well at all. Okay, that's enough ranting.

I took Wendy some roassted vegetable soup (enriched with whipping cream) yesterday and today some tzatziki and croissants. Lots of flavour there and lots of calories too. She's eating and drinking today and we're hoping the doctor approves.

Harvey

From Floor 5A South, Room 2

They moved Wendy from the isolation room to a shared room this afternoon. This, we hope, is an indication that her condition is improving. She was able to eat her Cream of Wheat this morning and two 125 ml cartons of milk, a banana, water and juice. Her goal is a minimum of 1000 calories a day and normal fluid intake.

She's feeling much better and was able to talk today. She's coughing a lot less and her colour is a healthy pink now. Her throat is still sore and it hurts to swallow, but she can at least swallow now. They've taken her off antibiotics and blood enhancers and her blood count is now normal and her oxygen saturation was 95%. The professionals think that her own system can now manage her healing if she gets proper nutrition. We're looking forward to her leaving that place soon.

Harvey

feeding the tender tummy Part 4

One of our 'comfort foods' before this began was macaroni and cheese. NOT Krap dinner but real macaroni and cheese. Here's my simple recipe:

2 cups dry elbow macaroni

3 tablespoons flour
3 Tablespoons butter
1 table spoon Dijon mustard
2 cup milk, heated in microwave

2 cups shredded Sharp Cheddar (or more if you love cheese) divided into two portions.

Put a large pot of water on to boil.

in a saucepan melt the butter gently and add the flour. Mix with a wooden spoon until the two are combined and bubbling. Mix in the mustard.

Pour in the hot milk slowly, wisking as you pour. Keep wisking as you heat the sauce until it bpils. turn the heat down and simmer the milk mixture. It will thicken and will burn easliy on a hot element. You have just made a Sauce Bechamel. One of the important 'mother sauces' of French cuisine. Cooking the sauce for fifteen to twenty minutes gets rid of the 'raw flour' taste.

The pot of water should be boiling by now. Put the two cups of macaroni into the water and simmer until cooked. (Ten to thirteen minutes for most brands.) When cooked drain the macaroni in a collander.

Take the Sauce Bechamel off the heat, add one cup of cheddar and mix until it has melted and is mixed evenly. (If you boil the sauce with the Cheese in it, it may make the cheese separate and become stringy and unattractive.) Add the cooked macaroni and mix well. Put the macaroni mixture into a shallow ovenproof dish, sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top and put into a 350 oven for 20-30 minutes.

Serve with a salad.

Enhancing Macaroni and Cheese (From the Globe and Mail, Sat. March 22, 2008)

Put the two cups of milk into a saucepan with two cloves of crushed. garlic. Bring to a simmer and let stand for ten or fifteen minutes. Strain the milk into the Bechamel.

Substitute the cup of cheddar in the Bechamel with 1/2 cup Gruyere and 1/2 cup blue cheese. A full cup of Blue cheese is a bit strong for most people. Stilton or Gorgonzola will work equally well.

Dice six slices of bacon and gently saute in a saute pan. Add one finely diced medium onion and cook until translucent and the bacon is cooked. Divide the bacon mixture into two portions and mix one into the macaroni and the other with the topping. The smoky flavour of the bacon adds an interesting flavour to the macaroni. Makes me think that hot smoked salmon would also make a good additive.

Add the diced meat from a one pound lobster. Yum!!

Wendy's Sister, Joyce, assisted me in testing these enhancements this weekend and approved of them. We both had seconds. I won't try these on Wendy until her taste buds return to normal.

Harvey

Off Topic

Tuesday morning I came downstairs and did my morning thing with the computer. On the way upstairs I stepped into a puddle at the bottom of the stairs. Upon further investigation I discovered that the water tank was leaking. there was an inch of water in the utility room, less in the hallway, and some in the Cottage room. I turned the water off, called Irving Oil about their water heater, and grabbed some old towels. Finally, I took my wet/dry vacuum and discovered that the wet part did, indeed, work it took about three hours, but I managed to get the water cleaned up and with a couple of heaters even got the floor dry. A couple of technicians showed up around 4 o'clock and a new water heater was installed by five. Not a terribly serious mishap, but very stressful on top of everything else.

I had a nice long shower this morning.

I'm off to see Wendy soon. The doctor said this takes time and we should be patient. (hahahahaha) Wendy is slowly improving.

Harvey

From 5A South, room 13 Saint John Regional Hospital

I'm feeling a little better today (Saturday), sitting up in bed, taking the occasional sip of water, ginger ale, or grapefruit juice. I've managed a couple of short walks around the ward holding onto Harvey's arm while Joyce pushed the IV stand and pump beside me. This morning at rounds the on-call doctor said they would be cutting back on the IVs which sounds like a good thing. I still sound like Darth Vader's mom when I talk- a particularly nice effect on the telephone. It's getting easier to swallow liquids, but food is still a problem. I can get down small amounts of things like Cream of Wheat, yoghurt or jello. In addition to the regular menu tray (the choices don't usually include anything much useful for me) there is a small kitchen with some food items and a place patients can keep thier own food. I have some full fat yoghurt and some jello that Harvey made with orange juice and a small container of Grapefruit juice.

Harvey and Joyce were headed to the City Market this morning to pick up ingredients. Having Joyce to cook for gave Harvey the excuse to try the Globe and Mail recipe for 4 cheese macaroni with lobster. Now that's comfort food with flair. I hope to try it someday.

It's great having Joyce here for a visit. Being in Helath care herself, she looks at how I'm being treated with fresh eyes, which is useful. She's taken Comet for a couple of walks, which he's been a bit short of lately, so she has made a friend for life.

I've managed to read the Globe and Mail and the Telegraph Journal to keep up with the news as well as some books. I've started "Before Green Gables" by Budge Wilson, which has just been published, and it is quite good. Since I can't eat chocolate, Harvey bought the book as a Valentine's Day gift.

It's difficult having visitors. I'm isolated here, in a private room, to keep infections and potential infections away. My temperature is not stable and they are very concerned with fevers in my immunc-comprimised condition. I can't talk much and cough a lot. I'm not even permitted flowers. They're big on hand sanitizing upon entering and leaving my room. This is the longest I've been in a hospital since I was born and I am not eager to repeat any time soon.

Harvey has been bringing me news of your emails and telephone calls and I'm grateful for your good wishes and support.

Wendy
(typed by Harvey)

Hospitalization 5

Well, Joyce arrived last night from Montreal, 12 hours late and in the middle of a minor snowstorm. We went up to see Wendy this morning and managed to get all caught up on news from Ontario. Wendy is still slowly improving. She managed to drink the equivalent of two small glasses of various liquids this morning, which sounds silly, but is a vast improvement over the previous few days. She says her throat is beginning to feel better, but she is still coughing up stuff. We took a walk around the ward this morning: me holding Wendy and Joyce leading the IV pump. That gave the cleaners the opportunity to clean up her room.

There is a notice on Wendy's door warning people to sanitize their hands before and after leaving her room, admonishing people with contagious diseases to remain outside the room, and spelling out proper precautions for visitors. The proliferation of Hand Sanitizers certainly makes the point about the role of dirty hands in transmitting diseases.

With Joyce here I will be able to cook supper for someone tonight. I'm really out of practice, what with Wendy unwilling or unable to eat my usual fare.

Wendy says thanks for all the emails.

Harvey

Hospitalization 4

Wendy was much improved today, but still cannot abide to swallow. Taking a couple of mouthfulls of ginger ale or grapefruit juice is considered something worthy of praise by her nurses. Until she can swallow with ease and take her required 2 litres of liquid daily, she will be on an IV line.

Wendy had two half containers of yoghurt today. A bit more than yesterday.

She was well enough to play cribbage tonight We traded wins and quit. Dams! I thought for sure I could beat her in her weakened state.

Wendy took some time last night to write out a "Mea Culpa" for her doctor, in which she admitted her part in letting the infection go so far. I think she was just worried that the doctor would not think well of Wendy for getting so sick without coming in for an assessment.

So, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but it may be Monday or Tuesday before Wendy can come home. She has to be able to swallow, drink and eat before they'll let her go.

Joyce is stranded in Dorval because her flight was cancelled due to freezing rain here. We're hoping she'll get here tongith or tomorrow some time.

Harvey

Hospitalization 3

In the past 36 hours (has it only been that long?) Wendy has been hooked up to 2 IV pumps and as many as five bags of various solutions at once. She's had red cells, platelets, regular saline, calcium, magnesium, potassium, various powerful anti-biotics, and some pre-meds to assist in the acceptance of other medications. Very complicated. This evening they removed her second IV line and put a bandaid over it. So tonight, Wednesday, she's down to one pump, one IV line and two bags.

Thay also moved her into a private room. Dr. Brunelle was concerned that her roommate's visitors might bring some virulent bug into the room. and right now, nearly any bug can be virultent for Wendy. Her new room faces the west and we watched the sunset tonight.

They gave Wendy a suction wand, like the dentist uses to wixk away excess saliva, to suction the mucus the infection produces. It saves Wendy a great deal of pain not having to swallow. She can still barely speak above a whisper so we're doing a lot of note making.

I think she's on the mend. I came home with a couple of pages of "Things to Do Before Joyce Arrives" . She also made a joke about this being a very arcane way of getting out of the liine-up at the Oncology outpatient registration desk.

Thank you all for your good thoughts and well wishes.

Hospitalization, Part 2

Wendy had chest X-rays yesterday and they showed her lungs clear of any obstructions to the infection has been downgraded to Bronchitis. Wendy had a restless night due to the coughing and the frequent (every 2 hours) check for vital signs. She seems quite a bit better this morning and gave me a list of things to do before her sister, Joyce, arrives tomorrow.

Wendy is still getting various fluids, including blood products, intravenously. She stall can't speak very well and seems content to just lay back and relax.

I'm headed back with some yoghurt and books. Reading is always a good sign. Thanks to everyone who sent their best wishes, they gave both of us a lift.

Harvey

Hospitalization

At the end of radiation therapy, Wendy had a sore throat, as predicted. The soreness did not fade as hoped and got to the point Wendy could barely swallow. In the past few days she has been unable to eat and even drinking was barely possible. After her blood test on Monday (her haemoglobin was low, another side effect of chemo) she was scheduled for a blood transfusion ths morning, but when she arrived they detected that she had a temperature and referred her to her oncologist. While waiting to register Wendy passed out (I was lucky to catch her and gently lower her to the floor.) Four nurses and a doctor quickly responded and soon had on saline drip and on a gurney. She's been admitted to Saint John Regional Hospital with a provisional diagnosis of pneumonia. Up to this time (3 pm Tuesday) they've given her at least five liters of saline and a very large dose of powerful antibiotics.

With the infusion of liquids, the congestion is loosening up, and as painful as coughing is, it is helping her clear her lungs.

She will be in the hospital at least overnight and perhaps longer considering her low haemoglopin count and she still needs her blood transfusion. I'm just home to gather some things for a hospital stay and will be returning soon.

I will post more when there is more.
Harvey

Feeding the Tender Tummy, part 3

Wendy's tender tummy, easily upset by strong meat cooking smells, has been further exacerbated this past couple of weeks by the side effects of her radiation treatments. Since the radiation was on her neck, her throat has become very tender, making swallowing rough foods difficult. Whle Jello-O is soothing, it hardly constitutes a balanced diet. She's been eating hot cereal for breakfasts (Red River Cereal and Oatmeal) and an odd assortment of vegetarian foods for other meals. We had frozen Spanikopita the other night, but these small frozen tidbits are damned expensive. We tried a curried chickpea dish a while back and it seemed to work. I worked up a recipe for a big pot that cost about the same as a single serving from the frozen food section.

Curried Chickpeas with Tomatoes.

• 2 1/2 cups broth - vegetable or chicken
• 2 - 15 oz cans chickpeas, drained.
• 1 - 15 oz can tomatoes (you could also use a 28 oz. can for a more tomato taste)
• 4 - 6 Yukon gold potatoes cut into 2 cm dice.
• 1 medium onion diced. (optional: 1 clove of garlic, minced)
• butter or oil
• 1 large teaspoon Elephant Brand Curry Powder. (or your favourite Curry) or to taste. I kept the spices down to allow Wendy to eat it.

Melt the butter in a pot and gently saute the onions. Do not allow the onions to brown. When the onions are soft you can throw in a clove of garlic minced. Add the curry and mix well.

Add the stock, chickpeas, tomatoes and potatoes and bring to a boil unocvered. Simmer until the potatoes are cooked and the liquid has reduced.

Serve over rice - basmati, Jasmine, white long grain or brown rice.

This is a very satisfying vegetarian dish. This would make a good side dish for chicken or Lamb. There seems to be enough for six servings as a main dish and eight as a side dish.

Chemotherapy Continues

Saw my oncologist yesterday - was supposed to be Monday, but she got stuck in Toronto because of the weather. She says everything is shrinking (lump in breast and lymph nodes) which means the chemotherapy is working; we continue with another round starting today.

She's given me the ok to do yoga that doesn't involve neck movements. Also said that I only need to wear the collar for my neck when there's a risk of abrupt moves. like in the car.

The nurse who took my history yesterday was one I hadn't seen since I was first diagnosed. She was quite surprised that I was working, and warned me not to overdo it. I said I was being careful and that I had people who would tell me if I was doing to much. She said "And you'll listen to them?' How did she pick that up so fast!

Radiation Treatments Completed

The last of my radiation treatments was yesterday afternoon. The sore throat will likely linger on for another week or so, and the skin on my neck will be more sensitive to sun and cold.

The radiation therapists asked if I wanted my mask as a souvenir, but I delcined,

Harvey has a persistent cold with a sore throat and cough; he's been feeling pretty miserable and not sleeping very well. I've had a bit of a head cold, but not nearly as bad as most of the stuff that's been going around.

We had a big snowstorm Saturday, March coming in like a lion, but today it is melting.