Greetings All...

Freecycle(TM) Morgantown Update...

Megaroo Update...

UPWARD AND ONWARD...

TonySitting Volunteers Needed...

FREECYCLE MORGANTOWN UPDATE:

Over the past week I've been keeping a bit busy with the new Freecycle Morgantown Yahoo group. In just a few short days we went from no members to almost 100! Looks about time to bring on an additional moderator to help manage the group. Yesterday I posted an offer for the remaining tomato plants invading my rose bed, and by this afternoon, I had a couple to the house helping me dig them up.

Megaroo Update:

Megan's house sitting in Vancouver, WA, and saturating Portland with job applications. The job she was so hoping for ended up being an offer for part time work. Won't do! She's trying not to panic too much about where she'll be laying her head at night, once the house sitting job is over. But, we can still joke about it a weee bit... as we discussed the homeless folks in Portland she commented, "Well, from what I've seen so far, the homeless people have really nice sleeping bags. I guess I'd be an upper class homeless person since I at least have a car".

I have to admit I'm quite disappointed in the Episcopal clergy of Portland. Two weeks ago I sent an email to all (and there are many!) priests, asst. priests and deacons in the Portland area, asking for their input and assistance. ONE! Yes, only ONE priest wrote back! Meanwhile, I had offers from total strangers willing to help. This lack of care permeating the Episcopal church is getting quite worrisome!

UPWARD AND ONWARD:

It won't be long before school starts, so I'll have to start digging into my new school books. I'm very excited, but I honestly don't know how I'm going to manage school and Tony's Stem Cell Transplant. I REALLY don't want to be in school while he's going through this, but we can't afford for me to defer school for a year.

Some of you may wonder what's involved in having a Stem Cell Transplant. If you follow this blog, you'll probably know more then you ever wanted to, by the time it's all over. Below is the schedule we've been presented thus far.

July 18th, 2007:
Dental Appt.
July 19, 2007:
Skeletal Survey
Surgical Port Insertion
July 20, 2007:
Bone Marrow Biopsy (OUCH!!!)
Echocardiogram
Doppler Studies
Pulmonary Function
July 31, 2007:
Follow-Up clinic appointment with Dr. Craig

ALL BEING WELL..... We then move on into the next stage.

August 2nd: Chemo
August 6th: Pat Starts School
August 9th through 19th: Daily Visits to the Cancer Center
August 20th: Chemo (and hopefully admission to the hospital!)
August 22nd: Stem Cell Transplant
August 23rd through mid September: Tony will be most susceptible to infection as he awaits engraftment.

As you can see, July and August are going to very busy months. I can't help but go a bit spare about starting school with all Tony's going to endure.

TONYSITTERS NEEDED

I've put together a calendar and some information, for those wishing to volunteer some time toward TonySitting. CLICK HERE to view calendar.

As I'll be in classes from 8am-4pm, M-F, beginning August 6th, I've got to somehow arrange having sitters here with Tony during school hours. Our wonderful volunteers will need to attend one of the 2 hour caretaker classes at the Cancer Center (if possible). Getting volunteers to fill in for this length of time seems quite a daunting task, but hopefully the powers-that-be over at the Cancer Center will rethink their suggestion about an "outpatient" transplant.

HOPEFULLY, there won't be a need for volunteers during the more infection susceptible days/weeks following the transplant. I'm working diligently to see if our Insurance Company will cover inpatient care, and I'll certainly be reviewing the outpatient transplant suggestion with someone receptive to the idea. I think it a bit odd that anyone would consider "in hospital" vs "at home" essentially the same. Boggles the mind!

I've yet to see many parrots, dogs or cats running around the transplant ward of Ruby, and there's not paid cleaning/disinfecting staff in our house. Last I checked, there wasn't a staff of nurses monitoring us either. Hmmmm. The biggest plus about "in-patient" care is the extremely important issue of communication. It's not always easy to get in touch with the medical personnel. At least in the hospital there are nurses to turn to when doctors are out of reach or too busy.

Over the past few days I've spent some very long nights reviewing the information published by the Cancer Center, along with a comprehensive notebook provided to us several months ago. It seems clear in these publications that the SOP is to admit transplant patients. So, what gives? (I guess I'd better put away my soap box, go polish my brass bra and shining armor, and prepare to go to battle for my beloved!)

Just in case I don't win the present battle, I'm considering re-homing a couple of my parrots. Aside from the worry about this procedure and how Tony will fare, this weighs heavy on my mind, and something I'm not looking forward to.

Well, enough of my ranting and raving.... If you'd like to volunteer, please check out the calendar and contact Pat. Be sure to let her know what days and hours you'll be able to help. If you're from out of town, we'll arrange a place for you to stay as we don't have a guest room. Hopefully one of our parish family members will volunteer to swing open their doors to provide room and board.

If you're unable to volunteer to TonySit, then there are other ways you can help. It would be grand if some folks could provide lunchables, juices, drinks and snacks for our volunteers during the coming weeks.

It would be even more grand if someone with a nice fenced back yard could foster (for 3 or 4 weeks) our Airedale, Harry. He's a fun loving, goofy, clown of a boy, who is also very good on a leash, and loves taking walks, playing ball and fetch. And, in case you have any female pups around, he's been neutered, and is current on all his vaccinations.