So, Friday morning we had cleared our schedule to get ready for airport pickup at mid-afternoon. But unfortunately, Steve woke up feeling it was difficult to breathe in a satisfying way while lying in bed, even though the head of our bed is well elevated and he had three pillows to boot. I called the infusion center for advice, and the nurse said shortness of breath is "really an ER issue," so off we went. Huge thanks to Clair who took over the airport pickup on short notice
The ER folks did their tests and diagnosed pneumonia (in addition to the cancer metastasized to the lungs, and fluid surrounding them). They infused antibiotics (as well as other fluids for dehydration) and sent us home with a seven-day follow-up antibiotic prescription and a home oxygen-pump setup. We arrived just a few minutes before Clair's airport delivery of the kids, and later had an extensive delivery, installation and training visit from the oxygen suppliers.
We had a nice Saturday, and were set up for a Sunday-lunch visit from Margie and Ted. Then our routine blood-pressure-and-pulse check showed pulse of 138—out of acceptable range, I seemed to remember. So, we called the advice line (infusion center not open on Sundays) and after having me re-check to be sure the pulse reading was accurate (counting to the nurse's clock it came out even higher) the nurse consulted the on-duty doctor who said we really needed to come to ER again, because pulse that high created risk of cardiac arrest. So, off we went again (Matt came with us this time)—so Margie and Ted had a lunch visit with Celeste and Dylan, which I understand was very nice and of course the rest of us were very sorry to miss it.
This time, the ER physician diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation and managed to correct this episode of it with an infusion of a drug specific to that condition. He said that given all the factors operating here, the best thing was for us to return home and let Steve be as comfortable as possible—which we can all agree would not happen in the overnight observation unit or in hospital.
So—when we got home Margie and Ted had left for a concert obligation, but there was still some lunch left for us. ;-} Now we're having a quiet evening at home (Steve resting in his chair). Tomorrow M+C+D head back to Cambridge (airport limo courtesy of Clair again). I have arranged with my supervisors and colleagues at school for an unbelievable amount of support and coverage. And we will go forward (I seem to have said this before…) doing the best we can.
Thanks to all of you for your support. We'll be getting in touch to arrange visits as we find ourselves able—but please don't take this as a request to stop offering to come. We appreciate the offers, and hope to be able to take up all of them soon.
--Carol
