Fr. Tony Update: Home, Safe and Sound

I'm sure you're all on pins and needles awaiting word about Tony. I've resisted blogging for a few days since I figured I'd do a whole lot of ranting and raving, and someone might think ill of me.

We managed to get Tony released this afternoon. He made it home in time for tea. :)

1. Bone specialist says his bones look "normal" according to XRays, but on MRI they can see where some small blood clots had "possibly" cut off blood supply to bits of the bone in his ankles. I don't feel too very confident that we know what's actually going on, but Tony was sent home with super heavy duty pain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs.

A couple of weeks from now we'll follow up with the orthopedic doctor, for more XRays... Maybe by then we'll know something more definative. I inquired about how we would know if it wasn't getting better, and was told.... "Oh, you'll know.... it will get more painful".

The pain is still very present, even with painkillers in him. We're talking pain level of about "9.5" on a scale of 1-10. It might possibly drop to an "8" when his pain killers are at full strength in his system. Walking looks unbearable.

We came home with a wheelchair and walker. The walker seems to help a wee bit. All in all, it sounds like the healing process will take quite some time. He's also taking an RX that are supposed to help regenerate bone.

2. During Tony's 5 days in hospital they progressively built up the amount of inhaler treatments. It seems to be helping, but we're continuing the treatment at home as well. We're now the proud owners of a nebulizer.

The week after Easter Tony will return to the cancer center for his next round of chemo. Let's hope and pray the days following will be LESS EVENTFUL! Speaking of Easter... As you all know, Holy Week will soon be upon us, and Tony being Tony, he's determined to be at the altar, be it in a wheelchair or.... We cannot be more thankful for the ECUSA and our health insurance right now!

I'm kinda thinkin' at this point I should get an honorary nursing degree? Ya think???? :)

With Tony barely able to get around, he requires constant care. Things that most of us take for granted, he now needs help doing, if it requires standing up, walking, etc, etc. The list of meds is so vast, I've had to create a chart to keep up with the: when to take; how to take; how often to take.

This evening I went out to get all of his new RX filled, leaving him under strict orders to stay in his wheelchair, at his computer. When I got to the pharmacy and they saw how much there was to fill, it turned out to be quite a long wait. Did Tony stay in his wheelchair? Noooooooo. Poor guy decided he was thirsty, got up out of his chair, hobbled to the kitchen with his walker, got a drink and promptly fell on the floor! OY

We managed to get all his meds in him, and his breathing treatments done. Hemmingway curled up with him, and they're both sleeping contentedly. The coming weeks may prove to be a bit challenging, but we'll KBO!

I had one major setback this week. Having missed my Math class last week (stuck at cancer center), I walked into class this week to face a quiz. I'd done my homework and studied all day before the class.... walked into class... tests in front of me... and my brain went to lunch! I had no clue what to do with the problems in front of me! I'm sure I failed the tests miserably. Hopefully the instructor will take a bit of mercy on me.

Must sleep....