It is a beautiful sunny day in Columbus. You read that right, we are in Columbus. Mom was doing so well over the last few weeks - going to physical therapy, getting stronger and starting to venture a little farther from home, while tapering off of some of her medication. She was still having some issues with her appetite (go figure), but the doctors were concerned about graft vs host disease (GvHD) so on Wednesday of last week she had an endoscopy done at The James. Everything looked normal, and she went home thinking, "I told you so". Then, things started getting a little worse. She was experiencing nausea, even more loss of appetite, diarrhea, and some fever. On Saturday, Rebecca arrived in Ohio to spend the week with Team Goldman. That night, around 4am, Gloria spiked a fever of 101.5. Following protocol, Rebecca and Sidney whisked her off to Miami Valley, where she was pricked with needles and hooked up to an IV. Once stabilized (which wasn't that hard because she wasn't really unstable, just a little shaky from fevers and lack of sleep) they shipped her up to The James in an ambulance. Sid and Rebecca followed in the Mambo Volvo post-Starbucks pit stop, and got her settled into her new digs on the 3rd floor. So far there is no indication of infection, but they suspect GvHD in the colon, so poor Gloria had to suffer a colonoscopy on Tuesday morning. She was a trooper and now we are simply waiting for the results from the colon biopsies while she gets inundated with a variety of meds, including steroids. She is trying to keep her 'roid rage under control but has mentioned strangulation of certain nurses by IV tubing, so we don't know if it is working. She is not happy about being back on steroids, and it is frustrating to feel like she is taking a couple of steps backward, but still we march on.
We are still hopeful that we will be able to make it to Louisiana this weekend to celebrate the 90th birthday of Gloria's mother, Grace. But if not, we plan to visit sometime in the near future.
Love to you all and feel free to call or send messages.
xo
Rebecca, Karen, Sidney, and Gloria
Hey there Gloria ... once on a while there is one step back after you've made several steps forward. Hope the docs at the James zap the nasty bugs and get you back home as soon as that's a good idea. Great the the wonderful Becca is there to lend a hand.
ReplyDeleteI think about you every day and pray for your recovery.
Love from Oregon Jim
Gloria,
ReplyDeleteSending good wishes your way and hopes that you were able to make the trip to Louisiana this weekend. If not, then Dayton is the place to be, and hopefully the docs and nurses are doing their thing well so that you'll soon be homeward bound. I am still looking forward to our lunch!
Cheers and love to the amazing Team Goldman, and love especially to you,
Helen
Hang in there, Gloria, and I hope you are on your way to Louisiana as I write this message. If it's not possible to travel now, I'm sure you will be heading south soon. I am with you in spirit, my friend, sending positive energy and prayers your way.
ReplyDeleteLove and healing,
Tom
Dearest Gloria--
ReplyDeleteJim just shared your blog with me! Sending you love, hugs and germ-free kisses, along with daily prayers for you, your family, Sid and your medical team. You give that dang virus what-for (Is that a Southern expression? That's what I was going for.)
xo Janet