Thu - July 24, 2008
More time
Jo-Ann got the results of her last cat scan this
week. The third round of chemo did not reduce the size of her tumours. In fact,
the one in the lung may have grown a slight bit. On the other hand, there are
still no signs of further dissemination. And, since the first two rounds
substantially reduced both growths to a fairly small size, her oncologists say
that it's time for a break from treatment.
Posted at 10:23 PM Read More
Thu - June 26, 2008
Slow Progression
It can be argued that, before AIDS, the greatest
problems facing the gay community were alcoholism and drug abuse, not the
discrimination or our status as criminal outlaws. Obviously the latter set the
stage for the former, and each served to fan the flames of the epidemic. In any
case the central role of the bar in the gay underground came with a heavy
cost.
Posted at 11:30 AM Read More
Sat - June 21, 2008
Big Breakfast
The headline
in this morning's paper confirms my current experience: Big breakfast aids
weight loss. I'm dieting again, starting the day as the caption suggests,
and pleased with the results over the past few weeks.
Posted at 07:58 PM Read More
Wed - May 14, 2008
Rain Day
Jo-Ann just called, to tell me I was right. She's
interrupting her grand tour to go home and get some rest. I had warned her the
schedule seemed a bit ambitious.
Posted at 12:48 PM Read More
Tue - November 27, 2007
Jo-Ann and Mom
Jo-Ann started chemo yesterday. A second biopsy
of her adrenal gland found the cancers cells that the first biopsy missed. It's
metastasized, as her doctors suspected. So surgery on the lung is not going to
happen.
She's in good spirits, glad the uncertainty is behind her. And that her bronchitis is finally starting to clear up. She's been doing a very aggressive course of puffer meds 19 times a day.
She's in good spirits, glad the uncertainty is behind her. And that her bronchitis is finally starting to clear up. She's been doing a very aggressive course of puffer meds 19 times a day.
Posted at 12:19 PM Read More
Sat - November 3, 2007
Patient patients
Had a busy day yesterday, bopping back and forth
between Mom and Jo-Ann. Alex and I did our paper route an hour early so I had
time to get into Windsor and pick up Jo-Ann for her 8:30 a.m. appointment.
Posted at 12:51 PM Read More
Thu - November 1, 2007
Dangerous music
Bad things don't really come in threes, do they?
Another Monk's in emergency tonight. Mom was out shopping in a nearby cd store
when she tripped and fell. Broke her hip. Replacement surgery is early tomorrow
morning, same time as Jo-Ann's biopsies, which were rescheduled from
yesterday.
Mom's in good spirits and enjoying the morphine, more worried about adding to Jo-Ann's stress than her own. Jo-Ann recently took over from me as Mom's attorney for personal care. We told her to stay home and get some rest. Diane's the alternate, and she's been coordinating with the hospital staff for the last few hours.
Mom's in good spirits and enjoying the morphine, more worried about adding to Jo-Ann's stress than her own. Jo-Ann recently took over from me as Mom's attorney for personal care. We told her to stay home and get some rest. Diane's the alternate, and she's been coordinating with the hospital staff for the last few hours.
Posted at 09:16 PM Read More
Wed - October 31, 2007
October 31
My sister Jo-Ann called a few minutes ago from
the hospital with news that could have been worse. She does have lung cancer,
but yesterday’s bone scan didn't find any secondary tumours. Tomorrow she
goes back for two more biopsies. There is a spot on her liver and a node on the
adrenal gland.
Posted at 12:56 PM Read More
Wed - May 16, 2007
Quitting
Eddie is back home, and looking forward to eating
some solid food.
Posted at 11:09 AM Read More
Wed - May 9, 2007
Aorto bifemoral bypass
When I left the hospital this afternoon Eddie was
in the recovery room and Jo-Ann was napping on a couch in the waiting area.
Neither of them got much sleep last night. Apparently the five and an half hour
surgery went well and the circulation in Eddie's legs has returned to
normal.
Posted at 04:41 PM Read More
Mon - April 23, 2007
Bedlam and Virginia Tech
For four decades I've had a ring side seat
overlooking the evolving treatment of mental illness, of my mom and several
friends. For most of that time I've felt a kinship with the critics of
psychiatry. It is the least successful of all the medical arts.
Posted at 12:37 PM Read More
Fri - January 5, 2007
Family update
Mom continues to surprise us. Last week she
decided to participate in the post Christmas shopping frenzy and called to see
if I had any recommendations for new music on cds. My advice was to stick with
the stuff she grew up with. If you're really curious, I said, you could always
borrow some discs from your grandchildren. She ended up buying some Anne Murray,
Martina McBride, a Country Hits of the 60s compilation and an 8 disc album
celebrating Mozart's 250th anniversary.
Posted at 06:07 PM Read More
Tue - April 26, 2005
Sun - September 28, 2003
Fri - August 8, 2003
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Published On: Jul 24, 2008 10:31 PM
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Published On: Jul 24, 2008 10:31 PM