A word about Rose's doctors

Rose is absolutely blessed to be surrounded by tremendous physicians, both here and at MD Anderson in Houston.  Our family doc, Gabriella Goldstein, has been sensational, hanging with us in pre-op before her procedures, seeing to Rose's comfort and deconstructing all the craziness around us.  Her oncologist in West Palm, Neal Rothschild, is superb...The ENT who operated on her twice this week, Dr Lehman, also diagnosed her leukemia 4 years ago in a routine blood test.  Last week, he quickly diagnosed her current issue and was operating within six hours of finding the problem.  All of these doctors know one another well, and work tremendously together.  My sense is they each genuinely care about Rose and have a great relationship with her.  She's in very good hands.

Thursday morning

I like to title the post based on the day.  Otherwise, I'd have no idea what day it is.  It's hospital time.  The other day, Rose was eating a meal and she thought it was her dinner.  It was 1pm, hospital time. It's like being in the lingering 11pm sunlight in the Nordic country summers. Weird.

Anyway, Rose is hanging in there. The magic of percocet, industrial strength anti-fungal meds and lots of good doctoring.  They keep saying they are keeping her another two weeks, but it's hard to imagine they will.  But my hunches have proven spectacularly wrong throughout this whole adventure.

She seems to be feeling pretty good, her sister Gini has come for a couple of days, my sister Lou Ann is on the way to spell me next week, so we are making some progress.

So the deal is that Rose contracted a big sinus infection from the spores of a common mold to all of us otherwise  healthy folks are expose to everyday.  It overwhelmed her immune system and could very well have put her in very serious shape had it not be caught as soon as it was.  She has had two procedures to basically clear her sinuses of infection.  The decision was made today to keep her two additional weeks to treat her with IV drugs to clear the infection...it's dangerous to be too casual about this stuff, and keeping in hospital provides the focus and attention she needs to move through this. She's in good spirits and in good hands.

Wednesday morning

Just found out Rose is in for two more weeks. She's out of immediate danger and doing well this morning, but they need to treat her with heavy duty IV drugs. In with her doctor now

Rose had a second surgical procedure on her sinuses today to look for more signs of infection, to take additional specimens for pathology and to apply some meds.  She has been infected by a disease absolutely common which is completely handled by a normal, healthy immune system.  For folks with no real immune system, it is potentially deadly, hence the sense of urgency with which her doctors have gone after it.

The surgeon was pleased with what he found - he believes they got most if not all the obvious infection in 4 sinus cavities and they hope to mop up the rest with meds.  She's relatively comfortable and resting this evening  - and her appetite has returned.  Beverly: thanks for dropping by - she was sorry she missed you.

charlie

Monday

Much better day for Rose as she got some sleep and had a little appetite.  They have changed the anti-fungal meds she's been taking to an IV med targeted at the particular infection she is fighting.  She got up for a couple of walks today and was generally in better shape.  She will have another procedure tomorrow in the OR to scope her sinuses, address any issues and take some more specimens from the effected areas.

Ironically, she finally got the flow cytometry report from MD Anderson after almost 3 weeks.  She is disease free.  I know I should be be really happy about that, but I'm not sure I trust any to this stuff anymore.

charlie

Rose at Good Samaritan

Rough day Sunday.  She had difficulty sleeping, they removed the packing in her sinuses and that didn't go particularly well - had to repack her....just a tough, tough day.  She was better by the evening - she had a little appetite and was in a little less pain.  Hoping for a better day today.