July 21 -- After Leslie activated the "network" yesterday to send birthday messages my way, she still had one surprise up her sleeve. When I arrived home at about 6:30 - bearing the spectacular birthday feast our friend Lindsey had prepared for us - Leslie was looking weak and short of breath. Even before I put down the food, I'd asked if she was OK.


It turned out she'd already put in a call to her doctor to report being short of breath. Amazingly, her trusted surgeon and wonderful PA were still in the office and diverted us from a an ER trip, bringing us into the empty clinic.

Leslie's lungs sounded good, but they wanted to get a new CT scan to rule out new embolisms (hard to imagine on her mega-dose of blood thinners). Dr. Yamada demonstrated her clout by getting Leslie into a private room instantly, and we wheeled across from clinic to hospital.

Emily wonderfully packed up my birthday dinner and brought it to us...arriving just in time for them to tell Leslie she wasn't allowed any food. Thankfully, Leslie didn't mind if I ate, so I enjoyed Lindsey's perfectly cooked pork tenderloin and sides, and Emily's carrot cake.


They picked up Leslie for the CT scan around 11:15 and we were back in the room by midnight (bonus: the icy CT labs have heated blankets). Due to a hospital-wide shortage of cots, I slept on the floor until 3 am, when they turned up a cot (not sure I want to know what causes a cot to become available at that hour). Leslie didn't sleep well, and the first round of med students arrived for rounds at 6:30, so we will both doze today, I expect.


The CT scan looks fine, so the good news is no emboli. Of course, that makes Leslie just what my brother-in-law Joe says you don't want to be, when it comes to doctors - interesting. The first doctor to visit said they want to keep Leslie overnight once more for precaution (releasing her tomorrow straight to chemo, we imagine), but it's not official until we hear from Dr. Yamada.


Locals, check in with me as the day progresses. If we do have to stay, visits might be welcome!


On the other hand, given the 100 degree heat and our underpowered home window AC units, staying here does seem like an extreme but effective way of keeping cool!

Update!

Home again! They didn't find any reason for the shortness of breath,  > but ruled out all the nasty possibilities, and addressed a shortage of  > electrolytes they discovered along the way. My breathing has eased  > up, and both David and I are looking forward to a good night's sleep  > before tomorrow's chemo.

June 6 -- I'm spelling David in his role as daily correspondent. (not really; you've already gotten his report)

Happy to say that I am feeling very much on the upswing today. Recovery got off to a good start, then took a left turn into the land of blood clots, poorly controlled high blood pressure, and accompanying shortness of breath and enervation. Today feels way better, and I'm finally to the point of anticipating with pleasure going home in the next day or two. And I'm finally eating!

David has been an absolute champ throughout this difficult time. He's quick to supply a cool washcloth when I need it -- and trust me when I say that going cold turkey on the estrogen is no picnic. He supports me on walks, takes care of all manner of small details, comes back to hospital late at night when I need a kiss and a hug, runs interference with the hospital staff, washes my hair, and even is mastering giving me shots of blood thinner!

He is absolutely holding to his wedding vows -- the part about in sickness as well as health -- and I couldn't be more grateful to and for him.

Reading your emails, talking to you on the phone, and visiting with those of you nearby is a great lift. Thanks for keeping me in your thoughts.

June 6 -- Sorry not to send an update last night. While most primary teachers know 16 ways to get out of participating in PE, Leslie apparently missed that professional development course and was found yesterday to have two pulmonary embolisms. Her blood pressure had been rising, and she was short of breath after doing far less than she'd done the day before, so they sent her down to CT.

We were quite a scene in the hallway outside the scan, waiting for transport back to the room. It was freezing cold, and both of us were wrapped in multiple blankets, looking like refugees in Siberia.

Last night, she felt miserable, so I came back in and slept in her room. Today, she is 1000% better - has an appetite, went for a good walk, even had a sponge bath and hair wash (amazing what that will do for attitude). For those thinking about an iPad, here's an unheralded function: you can use the front camera like a mirror, for brushing hair! What will they think of next?

Treatment for the PEs is upping the dose of blood thinner, so they want to keep Leslie one more night to see how she responds to that, and if her BP comes down to stay. Cross fingers for good numbers and going home tomorrow, though with a forecast of 90s and humid, maybe the air conditioned hospital is the place to be!

Leslie plans on writing directly to all of you this morning. Stand by.