“My heart gives thanks…” – Willam Stanley Braithwaite
We had another productive day here today. The VW Dealership sent over a guy to sign the papers on the new car we purchased. I’ll share that fantastic story later.
Then we headed in to get some labs but were late, so we asked if we could come back after our 2 pm appointment with the ortho. No problem. So we headed up one floor and waited to get in to see him so he could take out the staples from the surgery two weeks ago and see how Dave was doing. We will see him in two weeks and get some x-rays to have a look-see. And Dave will have had some physical therapy by then (we start that next Wednesday). He was very pleased with how we were able to negotiate the things we needed too. Dave was delighted to get three bulky bandages off his body. We may need to get a shower chair for Dave for a bit. Provided we can even get his leg into the tub. I’ve put in a request at Goodness Village to see if they have one before getting a script. If they don’t, we’ll get one and then donate it to them when we leave.
We went back to the infusion clinic for some nausea support and fluids. I ran back to the apt to get some packages that had been delivered. A TV tray for Dave to have while sitting in the recliner for his laptop when he’s working (YES! He’s working! They need his brain! haha) and for eating. I also got the strap I ordered to be more like Robin Hood while pushing the wheelchair and have the walker at my back! Right now, Dave needs to hold it because I don’t have that many hands. His backpack hangs off the handles of the chair great, and I got a cross-over small backpack purse at Target cheap to keep my hands free. In the beginning, it was pretty challenging to carry all that and push the chair. But slowly, we are getting it all sorted, and it’s becoming routine. He’s moving a lot better, but it’s still slow going.
I’m truly enjoying our new wheels. Our cars are old and don’t have all the latest gizmos in later model cars these days. Having some of these have been such a blessing and make things much easier for me.
Our daughter and her new husband had a BLAST in Tulum, Mexico. They got home today. Another story I will tell in the coming days will warm your heart.
I have the apartment fully stocked now with food and have already cooked several meals that are ready either in the freezer or the fridge. Once Dave’s nausea gets resolved, he can eat very well. I’ll look forward to that dying down. He had four days of Cytoxan and dex. That ended yesterday. Today they did a Zofran drip and some fluids. Then we have some nausea meds at the apt to help as well. Dave is terrible at self-medicating, but he has learned the idea of being a little more proactive and “staying ahead of it” instead of “chasing it.”
He’s in good spirits, and we are sleeping well, which is a blessing.
All in all, we are getting nicely settled in. The Apt doesn’t look like a tornado hit a rag factory (as my grandmother used to say). When we first arrived, we hit the ground running, and it was mad dashes here and there just trying to get us fed and to and from. Slowly, as things have gotten stocked up, clothes put away, meals made, something he needed to be ordered or found, we are getting settled in for the long haul. We left in such a hurry it was “pack light, we’ll get it there if we need it.”
I’m looking forward to a schedule and a routine in the coming weeks.
I have found three facilities doing the Abecma Car-T. I’ll try to remember to ask Dr. VanRhee on Thursday for the rest.
UAMS, Stanford, Huntsman. I believe there are one or two more.
I have been finding things each day to bring me joy and pleasure. Dave has been doing what he does and asking good questions of his docs and other healthcare peeps. In other words, he is both engaged and invested. I’m very proud of how brave he has been thru all of this. I’m so grateful and feel blessed that if we have to deal with this, we are here, where I can confidently leave him for hours in the care of excellent staff who have had years and years of caring for Myeloma patients only. I can run back to the apartment and get a load of laundry started. Or hunt down the nearest Trader Joe’s to pick up a few things.
I’m enjoying the funniest interactions with random people. I find ways to engage them in conversation. I was driving to the DSW to get Dave some flip-flops, it’s hard to get shoes on him with his leg, and sometimes his foot gets swollen. So for around the apt, it would be perfect. Anyway, while buzzing over there, I see a COSTCO! A GAS COSTCO! I’m like COSTCO? Do they have a COSTCO now? Our buddy Sam has pretty much had Little Rock locked down with Walmart and Sam’s Club. Anyway, I decided to stop by on my way back to the apt.
I realized I didn’t have my membership card with me; sigh. No worries, I’ll go in and ask for a temporary pass. So as I’m getting this done with this young man, I say, “You know, I’ve been coming to LR from California for 13 1/2 years, and I was SHOCKED to see a COSTCO!” The man replied, “You’ve been coming here for 13 1/2 years, and you are just now finding out we have a COSTCO!” I laughed and said, “Seriously, I thought Sam had LR locked down!” He replied, “Well, it’s September, and we just opened in July.” I said, “Why you stinker! Making me feel all guilty for not knowing you had a COSTCO!” We laughed and laughed. I got gas for $2.34. Weep my peeps in California! Weep!
Keep finding joy in the little or big things. In everything you can. It helps get thru the more challenging moments.
