Sprung, Smashed and So Long

We live in the cream house with the big tree in front...

Having met the departure requirements, I was sprung from the hospital on Sunday. I got my first look at the apartment that Beck found so fortuitously. It’s perfect, 2BR, 2 baths, and a sunroom. Gorgeous. On Monday, the home health care nurse arrived with medical supplies, an IV pump and magnesium. Nurse Terry spent several hours here, teaching Beck and Linda how to set up and operate the IV pump. Being intelligent women, it still took them a few days to master the process.


Tuesday was my first scheduled visit to the clinic for labs. (The clinic is a zoo!) Late that afternoon, the clinic called to say the level of one of my meds the MOST important of them was too high, stop taking it immediately. (This is the drug the doctor described as THE life saving drug, an immunosuppressant).They seemed to think that perhaps we had taken a pill prior to having blood drawn against their instructions. I disagreed but promised to return on Wednesday for more labs. Long story short, they kept getting the same readings every day, so on Friday they decided to draw the blood peripherally (as opposed to from my catheter). That proved to them that there was an issue with the catheter.....subsequent blood draws will be peripheral (thank goodness for good veins). The doctor and nurse practitioner both agree that as of Friday I’m doing extraordinarily well and my “numbers” look great. Beck and Emily are task-masters and keep me honest about getting exercise as tolerated, eating and drinking appropriately.

Thursday started with a shock. We went out to the car to go to the clinic and found the car has been broken into, the window smashed and handicapped placard stolen. Handicap placards are in high demand in The City as parking is at a premium and if you are lucky enough to find a space, a placard allows you to do so w/o time limits. After returning from the clinic, I found a glass company to fix the window that morning at our apartment. Beck made 2 trips to the ONE DMV in SF to get the placard replaced. Luckily it’s fairly close to where we’re staying. The placard now remains in the apt, and Beck diligently watches for parking patrols, and moves the car if necessary. Linda, yet again, postponed her return to Portland so that we could care for these things and not leave me unattended.

On Saturday, Emily arrived from Manteca with car load of requested items. Beck went home for the day. Emily masterfully operated the IV pump based on the instructions written by Beck and Linda. On Easter Sunday, Rick, Beck and Emily enjoyed a sumptuous Easter dinner of turkey and the trimmings. With the bazillion trips into SF, Beck and Emily have found different routes in and around The City. We also said so long to Linda. She returned home after 2 weeks of selfless assistance. We were grateful to have spent the time together.

The weather has been beautiful this week, so Beck has taken the opportunity to walk to dog that lives below us….actually, they walk each other in and around Golden Gate Park….soooo MUCH nicer than the streets of Manteca. Gotta love the flora, fauna, architecture, and art not to mention the diverse population!

A public thank you to Emily for manning the fires on the home front all week, then giving up her weekend to care for dear ol’ dad. Thank you Sweetheart.

To the many whom have/continue to send cards, notes or call……WE THANK YOU! We appreciate your continued support and encouragement. It lifts our spirits and warms our hearts to know that we are being thought of. This has been a long journey with much ahead of us.

Thank you for loving us.