Home Sweet Home!

Jim has been keeping up my blog, and yes I am home! I came home with two IV meds that I had to continue. One I am already finished with, the other IV will be finished by the end of the week, and then I'll have more flexibility with out being attached to an IV pole.

We have had great in home nursing help. I have a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) coming twice a week to help me with my shower, a physical therapist who comes three times a week, an occupational therapist who comes a few times a week, and an RN that comes on Mondays to draw my blood. I also have regular oncologist appointments every other week.

I was in the hospital so long this time (90+ days), and in bed most of that time, that I've lost my ability to walk, but do OK with a walker. My goal is to walk unassisted and to even climb up and down the stairs by myself.

Being home is wonderful. I get to sleep in my queen-sized bed with my husband, Jim! (Two people don't fit in a hospital bed...we tried that.) I don't have to eat hospital food (Jim is a great cook and our friends have generously made meals for us).

Stem Cell Transplant, Day + 93

We're finally home! Denise was discharged from the hospital on Monday, the 16th, but the doctor wanted us to stay closeby for a week or two. So we stayed at the Fisher House until yesterday when the doctor decided that Denise's labs were so stable that she could go home without much risk. She still has some mobility issues and her GI tract is not back to normal yet but staying in the hospital wouldn't have made those any better. It's good to be back in our own space although it was nice to have a nursing staff, housekeeping, and room service at the hospital.

Stem Cell Transplant, Day+87

Early in the week, it looked like Denise might have been discharged today, but her mobility and GI issues have improved more slowly than we hoped. The doctors are shooting for a release Monday now. I'll let you know when we leave. It looks like initially we will go to a Fisher House a couple of blocks from the hospital for a week or two (I'm already staying there). The Fisher House is a guest house for families of patients who are veterans, much like a Ronald McDonald House if you're familiar with them. This one was previously the Commander's Quarters for the old Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, so it's pretty comfortable. Anyway, please continue to pray for rapid improvement in Denise's mobility and GI tract, and for her confidence.