Chemo is DONE!

Late one tonight, we left the hospital after 9:30 and went a bit early.  Steve was missing when we got there, yet had been in his room when we were at Monroe & Columbus..???...after a complete search of two floors and all the bathrooms and lounges, he arrived in a wheelchair from another floor.  Guess the CPT didn't retake his temp in the middle of last night and it was a 100.3, so Dr. Altman ordered blood cultures, etc. drawn plus a chest x-ray just to be extremely careful he wasn't starting down the path to infection.  They had just given him the Klonopin before the elevator ride, so he was stoned and green in the gills when he got to the room.  I buzzed the nurse for a hit of Zofran, and she informed me he had not had ANY anti-nausea drugs since Friday.....she could bring Ativan or Compazine, as she had written orders for those drugs.   I politely said no, please do ring the docs and ask for Zofran.  These things we know!!  :-)  Our nurse was there in a very short amount of time with the Zofran, and Steve's tummy was almost 100% within moments.  Best part?  Now he can get a dose the next time he needs it and the order will already be on file.  He's pretty gooped up on the Klonopin and isn't able to advocate for himself with his usual mental acuity.  His temp is fine, it was 98.5.


Ran to Panera and brought back food, so we were able to eat as a family, except for Meg, who was working.  Steve is SO relieved to be done with the BuFlu regimen.  We confirmed with the nurse that he IS done, and that the next 2 days are just on chill.  He will continue to take the Klonopin as the chemo must make it's way out of his system, and will keep seizures and nausea away.


The kids and I had an opportunity to meet Dr. Mehta (King of the Stem Cells) tonight, I recognized him from online stalking and introduced myself.  He was very pleasant and easy to talk to.


Dr. Altman paid Steve a visit this morning, she was very encouraging and told him again how wonderful he looks.  The best part of Steve's day was a surprise visit by our old buddy, Dr. Tim Huyck, the heme/onco fellow.  Tim is in his 3rd year of the fellowship, and is no longer on service (rounds) in the hospital.  He is doing research at this time, but has been following Steve's labs and progress.  He made a special trip to Prentice to wish Steve well and to tell him how great he is doing in his process.


His labs are on their way down....not neutropenic yet, WBCs at 1.7,  hemoglobin is hanging in there pretty well at 7.8.  All good, and all according to plan.

Tonight was Kevin's turn to get stuffed in the locker.