Fr. Tony Update: Overnighter at the Ruby Resort
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PitterPat: Last Step of the LPN program application process


Fr. Tony Update: Overnighter...

You just never know with this chemo stuff. This morning we arrived at the cancer center at 8:30am. Tony was taken back to have his usual visit with the vampire squad, then ushered to an examination room to wait for Dr. Craig, then to the chemo room where they awaited results of his blood work. At about 10:30am they finally got him hooked up and started infusing the pre-chemo mix (Benadryl, steroids, Tylenol) into his system.

Because of his severe reaction to the chemo last go round, they opted to take it very slowly today. Around 1:30pm he asked if his face was looking red. I didn't see any change, but within 5 minutes he was complaining of his head itching. No more then an additional 5 minutes went by and his face was turning red, he was itching all over, he was having shoulder pain, and was clammy feeling all over. WHOA! STOP THE HORSES!

The nurses all gathered round, began monitoring all his vital signs, stopped the chemo, and got the doctor on the phone for instructions. More Benadryl was pumped into his veins, along with a numbing dose of Demurral. After the goodies sunk in, and another 20 minutes went by, they started the chemo up again.

By this time I had to leave for school. Al came by to escort Tony home, in case I didn't make it back in time. I gather things moved along very, very slowly while I was away, and before I could make it back to the cancer center, Tony called to tell me they were admitting him to Ruby, so they could finish the chemo. As slow as they were having to go with the infusion, they anticipated it not finishing till after midnight.

I arrived at the hospital about 6:30pm to find Tony still hooked up to his chemo, along with an array of monitoring devices. Within an hour of my arrival, he began getting that itchy feeling again, and his face was turning flush, so off with the chemo again.... more Benadryl... more Demurral... and more Tylenol. The attending physician popped by to check on him, do a bit of poking and prodding, then had that conversation we all hate to have....

So, if your heart stops, we need to know if you want us to do CPR or electric shocks, etc.... and if you're breathing stops, do you want us to intibate you... etc, etc, etc. Geeeeeez! On that lovely note, I helped Tony into his PJ's and kissed him goodbye for the evening, as I had to get home and tend to the flock. The nurses were all left instructions to call me at any time, if I need to get back up to the hospital for any reason! All being well, he should be coming home tomorrow some time.

PitterPat: Last Step in the LPN Application Process Behind Me

It's finally over! Today I had my interview with the head of the Nursing Program at MTEC. I think it went well, but am up against 100 other hopeful candidates for only 30 available spots in the program. sigh I should know more in about 3 weeks. Crossing all my fingers and toes!