Back to the weather. So Dad and I decided to each drive out to the hospital because I had an appointment at 10:00 that morning to finally get started on physical therapy for a muscle tear or strain in my arm (from stripping the #$&*@# wallpaper in our entryway, living room, dining room last October). So we left the house and soon discovered that the conditions were far from being great. It was a basic sheet of ice with more ice falling and the wind blowing. We managed to get through the neighborhood to the main street. I had just turned heading east and realized I didn't see Dad's vehicle. I gave him a call and he was spinning his wheels trying to get up the street (a Ford pick-up is not the best vehicle to have in Nebraska in the wintertime). He managed to slip and slide and finally got back to our house...it took him 1/2 hour to go 3 blocks to accomplish this. And I started to head back to pick him up in my vehicle which gets around better in the snow...I was about 6 blocks from home at that time and traffic was jammed with both lanes blocked due to a 5 car pile-up in the direction I was going. It was a total sheet of ice so Dad was trying to find an alternate route for me to get back home that didn't involve hills to go up. Long story short...after meandering through unknown neighborhoods, I made it back home 45 minutes later. Meanwhile I had called the hospital and told them about our dilemma and told them how critical it was to have those tests done soon. They said to just come on in and they would fit him in the schedule. I also mentioned to them that having just completed a 3 day round of chemo, his immune system wasn't the best and could they please do what they could to get him out of the admissions waiting room as soon as possible. They said they would and to just get there when we could...definitely take our time with the road conditions....and not to worry.
So Dad got in the car and off I drove. Now keep in mind...the instructions for preparing for both the pulmonary test and the echocardiogram was to not exert yourself and to stay out of the cold. (the wind chill that day was maybe 15 below zero).So the driving to the hospital usually takes about 15 minutes but due to the fact that the roads were horrible and bumper to bumper all the way there...with stalled cars along the way to weave around. It took us 1 1/2 hours to get there....but we made it...and in one piece!
They were very nice at the hospital and had us sit separately from the main waiting room and they rushed us through really quickly...I noticed on Dad's admittance papers they had stamped "RUSH" in red ink multiple times on all the forms. I was very impressed with their help.
So Dad had the pulmonary test administered by a very nice woman. He had to sit in a glass booth (sort of reminded me of some tv game show from the 60's) and blow into a machine. Well, he did fine on that which is no surprise because we all know he's full of hot air....er...just air. Also, factoring into this is that he was a swimmer (many moons ago) ...and had great training (as a family challenge) holding his breath anytime going past a cemetery. The challenge was to see who could hold their breath the entire length of the cemetery (driving in your car at the speed limit). Leo never lost at this game...good thing...it helped him pass this test years later!
The echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) was done and as far as we know the results are fine. I'm waiting for a call back from the transplant center in Omaha to get their final take. The results of the test were sent to them and up for their interpretation. Preliminary results sound fine from the nurse here in Lincoln. I'll keep you posted.
Another hour's drive and we were back home and Dad just worked from home that day...it wasn't worth risking life and limb to get there.
Side note...the weather here was again horrible the next day...Tues. (reports of temperature with the wind chill...was anywhere between -25 to -40 degrees below zero) but Dad took off and went to work for the day. Again the roads very icy, but with the addition of snow, too. Dad and Sara did some snow blower snow removal today. Luckily, we have a great neighbor that is helping out with this when Dad and Sara can't.
Wednesday (yesterday) was very icy driving, but again, Dad was at work as usual. After work, Dad was shoveling snow to get the drifts...not too bad. He used the snow blower some and the shovel to get the remaining. Boy, this sounds like the weather channel here!
Today Dad went to the oncologist's for routine blood work and all looks good. All counts are just below normal and to be expected at this stage following the chemo. He will have more routine blood work next Wed. Then next Thursday morning he will have a PET/CT scan and we should know the results by that afternoon.
Dad has been feeling great...eating good, sleeping good, and doing fine.
hope the roads are better for you guys next week. dad, don't spend too much time outside. and by "too much", i mean "any".
ReplyDeleteI just heard from the case worker at the Med Center that the echocardiogram is good and both the blood tests (for hepatitis and HIV) are negative...so that's good. Now the info goes on to the insurance company for pre-approval.
ReplyDeleteexcellent news! thanks for updating, mom.
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