January 16, 2021

-


After 10 pm last night, a new person came into the split part of the room where Solomon had been.  A teenager, so not noisy once all the introductory talking was done. All in all, a fairly peaceful night for Marlon.  The nurses were surprised he didn't get up to pee more.

He woke up with the mouth sores that are common with this chemo.  Seems like every time he wakes up with this feeling, is gagging and throwing up, and then starts to feel better.  So yes, he threw up before ingesting anything.  The doctor was surprised the sores eased up so fast.  There is always the possibility for more.  No appetite again.

Over the course of this treatment, Marlon's tastes for foods has changed so many times I can't keep track.  Way back, before he got the feeding tube, about all he could eat were garlic stuffed olives (I was having a hard time finding them in stores after I cleaned out Sobeys) and popcorn.  Then he wouldn't touch either.  I was glad I hadn't bought too many extra containers of olives.  Once he wanted BBQ Doritos.  That specifically.  Enjoyed them that time but never ate them again.  My tendency is to want to get larger quantities of items he likes (catching a sale) but it isn't worth it.  A couple of months later and he is eating popcorn again. That was what he wanted on this hospital visit. 

Everything went as planned today and Marlon was set free.  Being de-accessed is never easy.  Peeling off the sticker surrounding the port and pulling out the needle.  Today while the nurse was finishing pulling off the sticker Marlon had started to peel, he was leaning back, eyes closed, and a grimace on his face.  The nurse finished and Marlon didn't move.  I thought maybe it was because it was still hurting.  Then I realized he was waiting for her to take the needle out.  He didn't know she took it out.  He was so happy because it is often quite painful for him.

Happy to be home again.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

July 7, 2022

-
Image
On May 23rd, the week before the chemo that weakened Marlon enough to put him in the hospital, the dog, the boy, and I drove to Montreal. (I am aware of the use of the word 'go' when writing. In German, the verb 'to go' means walking. You don't 'go' in a car.) Before we left, as I was packing up the car, I noticed a fair sized spider web between the driver's side view mirror and the car. I left it alone, figuring the wind would blow it off. It was so nice to see Linsy and Moira and spend time with them. I have missed having Linsy around. It was neat that, when we got there, Olivia, Jamey, and Roka, their dog, were there. They live 15 minutes away from us but were there visiting their son. Mina was definitely happy to see Roka (and all the others too).   Mina got used to walking on sidewalks and being in the city. Other people and dogs, not so much. Moira has given me a belt with a dog lead on it for hands-free walking. It worked but was even bett...
Read more

November 10, 2022 (2)

-
Image
Today, I dropped Marlon off at outdoor school and met up with a friend I have only seen a handful of times in the last 20+ years.  She was in the area for the passing of a family member. i then went for a walk with Mina.  I watched and she poised herself in hunting position and pounced.  I saw a squirrel run up a tiny little tree but also heard this pitiful whining.  At first, confused, I wondered if she had pounced on a nest in the ground.  But the dog ran to me, crying and whining, holding up her paw.  We were a ways from home and she hobbled carefully home after we sat for a while and she calmed down.  She will often run the perimeter of fields, running this way and that.  I saw her longing to run the field as we made our way back but she was uncomfortable and limping. A short while later, I went to pick up Marlon and watched in amazement as he hobbled to the car.  Yes, he had hurt his foot within an hour of the dog hurting herself.  ...
Read more

July 5, 2022

-
Image
Decision was made that Marlon was to go check blood counts on Monday.  We drove down to Hamilton together, quick finger poke, and then leave again.  A couple of times, we drove around the parking garage for almost a half-hour looking for a spot, but Monday was smooth.  Busy place. Blood counts are good so dental work begins.  Marlon's doctor was impressed with the dentist when she spoke with him last week.  In support, I sit next to him in the dentist's room and hope my own anxiety, discomfort, and fear don't affect him. Halfway through the drilling of four teeth which was quite intense, they took a little break to check in with Marlon and see if he was up to continue.  He agreed to do more but said he was most concerned about the tastes of the filling material.  With the pain and discomfort of the first part, one would think that would be the least of his worries but he is very sensitive to taste and flavour.  As it turned out he didn't gag or re...
Read more