Sept. 21 Day + 67

Dr. DiPersio gave his "blessing" so we are heading to Ozark tomorrow!! We got to the hospital for labs about 9:05 and they took her back and decided to just take the blood from her arm instead of trying the catheter. She was out in less than 10 minutes!!

We then went to the doctor's office and got in at the appointment time of 10:00. The nurse came in and said she had been trying to get in touch with Dr. Hoos' office but they had not called her back yet. A new doctor working with Dr. DiPersio then came in and examined Becky and asked about her going home. Dr.DiPersio then came in and said are you ready to go home? Of course Becky answered with a quick "Yes". He said that she would have to watch carefully for the signs of Graft vs Host Disease now because one of the drugs given in the hospital, that kept the symptoms at bay, is now leaving her system so she will be more likely to have symptoms now. A rash and severe diarrhea are the main symptoms she needs to watch for.

We refilled her prescriptions that are due next week while we were at the hospital. They also made her an appointment for Oct. 9 to see the Nurse Practitioner and the 26th for Dr. DiPersio, a PET CT and a bone marrow biopsy all on the same day. That will be a full day and it will start at 7:30 am so it will be an overnighter but at least it can all be done on the same day.

She then went to Intervention Radiology and had the catheter removed with only local anesthetic. She was finished in about 30 minutes and we were back to the apartment by 12:45. We had lunch and now Barb is trying to do all the laundry and get things packed. Jan Schmitt is coming by this evening to help Barb load the "weighted" keyboard and take the bowls and pans she loaned us that were not in the apartment.

I will be posting some guidelines for visitors that they have said are necessary for her at this time. She is anxious to get home and have company but with the cold and flu season coming on she has to be extra careful with her compromised immune system.

The answer to last nights trivia question is found in Isaiah 38:9 & 14. It says, "A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, after his illness and recovery,....Like a swallow, like a crane, so I twitter; I moan like a dove; My eyes look wistfully to the heights; O Lord, I am oppressed, be my security." New American Standard Version.

Thank you so much for your prayers for healing and we ask that you continue to pray for that as well as for safety as we travel to Ozark, MO tomorrow.

Love,
Becky and Barb