Day 4
Today began around 8:00 a.m. I took a shower and then we both got ready. Jared was still feeling sore from his surgery. I hurriedly put on more laundry and got things ready to go. We left Hope Lodge at 10:30.
I dropped Jared off in front of the hospital and then went and parked. Jared went to Clinic 5 so Mrs. Karen could access his port. I walked in right when she was about to start. She was successful the first time. (We've had a few bad experiences with nurses trying to access Jared's port so I was glad everything went well.)
We left the clinic and went to the Stem Cell unit on the 6th floor. They put Jared in his room and then sent me to admitting. I came back up and the psychologist was interviewing Jared. He requested that I take a break which meant he wanted me to leave. I got upset as I walked out and went to the family bathroom and cried. I was not happy with someone telling me to leave Jared's room besides being a little anxious about the whole process. I decided to go downstairs to unload the car. I had our suitcase and a few other things when I made it back to the 6th floor. Angela (Larry's mom) could see that I was upset. I had walked in with my suitcases without wiping them down. She showed me where to take them and then walked with me to pick up the rest of the items. One of the rules in the Stem Cell unit was to wipe all items when bringing upstairs. It was important to keep things as sterile as possible since the patients in the unit could be at risk for infections, etc. I was glad to talk with Angela and learn a little more about the rules.
When we got back, the psychologist was finished. I started putting our things away. We watched TV and then the nurse came in. She asked all the usual questions and showed us how to do mouth care and filled us in on more of the rules. Jared's IV was started around 4:00. He soon after began making trips to the bathroom. He also began to shake a little so they decided to do cultures to check for infection. This meant they would need to access his port again. The first nurse was not successful. She asked the next nurse, Phil, to do it. He was able to access Jared's port.
We talked with William and then with Adam, Tom and Dess. Later Jared walked two laps in the hallway outside of our room. The patient rooms were in a circle around the nurses station and the patients would walk around the circle to get exercise. I was talking with Angela so Jared went back to our room. He soon paged me. Due to the IV, Jared continued to use the restroom throughout the evening. He became very restless after 10:00. He wanted to go to sleep but couldn’t. I realized just how hard this may get. The first night has been rough and we haven’t even started chemo. Jared is now resting and I’m sitting in the restroom writing. Hopefully, we’ll get some sleep tonight.
*Lord, I need strength. I am a selfish, selfish person. Help me to be strong and selfless. Jared is feeling tense and not at ease. Help me to support and love him. In Jesus Name Amen.
Read the Book of Jonah (Old Testament)
God will provide.
Ten years later I can still remember that night. Jared and I were homesick, missing William and Adam and wondering what the days ahead would hold.
I dropped Jared off in front of the hospital and then went and parked. Jared went to Clinic 5 so Mrs. Karen could access his port. I walked in right when she was about to start. She was successful the first time. (We've had a few bad experiences with nurses trying to access Jared's port so I was glad everything went well.)
We left the clinic and went to the Stem Cell unit on the 6th floor. They put Jared in his room and then sent me to admitting. I came back up and the psychologist was interviewing Jared. He requested that I take a break which meant he wanted me to leave. I got upset as I walked out and went to the family bathroom and cried. I was not happy with someone telling me to leave Jared's room besides being a little anxious about the whole process. I decided to go downstairs to unload the car. I had our suitcase and a few other things when I made it back to the 6th floor. Angela (Larry's mom) could see that I was upset. I had walked in with my suitcases without wiping them down. She showed me where to take them and then walked with me to pick up the rest of the items. One of the rules in the Stem Cell unit was to wipe all items when bringing upstairs. It was important to keep things as sterile as possible since the patients in the unit could be at risk for infections, etc. I was glad to talk with Angela and learn a little more about the rules.
When we got back, the psychologist was finished. I started putting our things away. We watched TV and then the nurse came in. She asked all the usual questions and showed us how to do mouth care and filled us in on more of the rules. Jared's IV was started around 4:00. He soon after began making trips to the bathroom. He also began to shake a little so they decided to do cultures to check for infection. This meant they would need to access his port again. The first nurse was not successful. She asked the next nurse, Phil, to do it. He was able to access Jared's port.
We talked with William and then with Adam, Tom and Dess. Later Jared walked two laps in the hallway outside of our room. The patient rooms were in a circle around the nurses station and the patients would walk around the circle to get exercise. I was talking with Angela so Jared went back to our room. He soon paged me. Due to the IV, Jared continued to use the restroom throughout the evening. He became very restless after 10:00. He wanted to go to sleep but couldn’t. I realized just how hard this may get. The first night has been rough and we haven’t even started chemo. Jared is now resting and I’m sitting in the restroom writing. Hopefully, we’ll get some sleep tonight.
*Lord, I need strength. I am a selfish, selfish person. Help me to be strong and selfless. Jared is feeling tense and not at ease. Help me to support and love him. In Jesus Name Amen.
Read the Book of Jonah (Old Testament)
God will provide.
Ten years later I can still remember that night. Jared and I were homesick, missing William and Adam and wondering what the days ahead would hold.
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