Yesterday (Mon. 10) got off to a great start. Bob had the CVC (Central Venous Catheter) line put in and was up on ward 57 Special Services building by 10:30. We met a couple who are going through the same procedure but with the wife as the patient. She also has another illness that puts her at risk but is also treated with stem cell transplant. It is really heart wrenching to see so many sick people with cancer. The ward however seems very positive. These nurses are sooooo young and are just running. However, once a nurse comes into the room you have her full attention and all the time you need.
Over the weekend Bob had the shivers, sweats, and a fever. It was in a sort of pattern and lasted approx. 2hrs. We, in our wisdom, thought he was having a withdrawal from all the meds. This same thing happened over noon hour on the ward. This put everyone into a tail spin as any kind of infection leading to fever does not go with stem cell transplant. Bob had blood taken, blood culture, urine culture and urine samples, a chest x-ray and an extremely thorough going over by the transplant doctor. The chest x-ray showed something on one lung that wasn't there at last x-ray, a week ago. The doctor thought it could be the bandages that were covering the line. They will x-ray in a couple more days to check that out. However at this point it is just to risky to do the transplant so it has been set back and has no new timeline. We are grateful this all happened before transplant. If it had happened post transplant it could have been blamed on the transplant and then who knows the results? as it may be treated differently.
I thought that was enough drama for one day but we weren't done yet. Once the decision was made to treat this as a bacterial infection, for now, Bob was hooked up with the antibiotics through one of those three ports on his chest. Way better than being poked. Bob decided to walk around the room with the pole--not really pole dancing at this point. It is a double room with only one bed so a fair bit of room. We hadn't been told whether Bob could leave the room yet and as you know me I am a rule follower. Bob turned and the front of his shirt was wet and I know he hadn't had the tap on. We started to look and the port fell out of the line to his chest. I ran to find a nurse. Bob clamped the line---not even sure how. We praise God that He gave Bob that nudge of protection. When a nurse and I came into the room there were splatters of blood all around Bob. She checked the line and called for help. I, in my wifely duty, wet towels and cleaned the mess. Starting with the blood on Bob's chest then down to the floor. Bob and both nurses had to put masks on and I sat in a far corner hiding from the whole scene and asking God to protect Bob. The nurse asked who had clamped the line. Bob said he did and she replied good thinking. As I look at it now I am convinced God's angels took Bob's hand and put it in the right spot. Once everything was back to "normal" we were told that a workplace file was being processed as that should never have happened. If there is fault to be laid it is in the radiology dept that put the line in and one of the ends was not proper. This line ends by the heart so should an air bubble have gone through Bob would have died. That is my understanding. Once again we thank God for His protection. Bob could have been sent home with a faulty line or gone into chemo or?????????
We don't understand all of this, don't know what will happen tomorrow, but once again I will say PTL we know Who knows tomorrow.
I was encouraged this morning by: Col. 1:11 "We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father." well actually, all of 1st Colossians.
Thank you for your prayers on our behalf.
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