August 31, 2005 by Gail
(Pentax K-1000)
Maybe it’s a little early to say, but chemotherapy hasn’t affected his hair follicles thus far!
There are other side-effects, but hair loss hasn’t been one of them.
ADDITION: Friday, Sep 2
I spoke too soon — David’s hair started falling out today: Dave’s Logbook: Notes From the Irradiated
Posted in David, David's Writing, film photography, Living with Cancer | 2 Comments
August 31, 2005 by Gail
Background story started here, and continued here, here, continued over in David’s blog, and a follow-up over at Breigh’s blog. We’ve been either getting the runaround at the hospital or phoning EVERY DAY since David was released on August 19. I can’t even count how many people we’ve dealt with, but it’s in the double digits, for sure. After a week and a half, it’s pretty safe to assume someone has taken it. David was finally contacted by a manager at Mercy Hospital yesterday, offering to compensate the money if a receipt and tracking number is produced. We’re sorry this happened, Breigh — we’ll get that money back to you!
I’ve been doing yardwork, eg., trimming hedges (we have two BIG ones out front, three on the side, one in the back) and mowing the lawn and various things. But there’s so much weeding and other landscape-type jobs yet to be done. These are all things I never had to do while apartment living, but now that I’m in a house the maintenance involved is nuts.
David blogged about our new futon (thanks again Mom!), which is a vast improvement over the couch which never fully recovered from all of Hugh’s bedwetting. We tried cleaning it every which way, but if you’ve got a cat you know how toxic kitty urine is. I even called the Salvation Army to haul it away, and they wouldn’t take it! That’s how awful it was!
I’ve been shampooing the carpets because Hugh’s toxic pee has permanently permeated the fibres, but David suggests we hire a professional outfit because it’s a job for the Big Guns now.
I’m slowly winning the war against the retention of old bachelor items from “back in the day” — David’s days, that is. College days, and the days of railing against aesthetics, I say, since I can’t imagine some of this stuff being appealing in any era. I’ll spare you all the gory photos. Think ‘House of Usher’-style lamp, a baffling green and orange crocheted doily, kitschy ashtray…
Me: “David, you don’t even smoke!”
Him: “It was here when I bought the house.”
The kitchen is still partially renovated. It looks 100% better, but a long ways off from presentable.
I still have furniture to varnish — the dining room chairs, upstairs cabinet, bedside cabinets — and I want to rip out the awful carpets if the hardwood underneath can handle it.
I’ve decided I need help with the house, so I’m going to call a housekeeping service to come in maybe once a week. That way I can at least get the renovations going again.
David’s appetite has taken a steep dive, but I’m making an effort to get him eating properly. The oncologist warned us the chemotherapy has a tendency to make a patient’s weight drop, so we have to prevent that from happening, even if it means high-calorie foods. We bought a blender yesterday so I can make David smoothies and get him ingesting nutrients that way instead of trying to force him to eat. At least he isn’t nauseous like he was the first weekend out of the hospital, but often he loses interest in food and just doesn’t want to eat. I have to tempt him all the time.
David’s completed four full days of radiation, twice a day, and he has another six to go. The treatments are at 7:45am and 1:45pm, so it means early starts for us and I can practically do the trip now with my eyes closed. Every time I drive him to the Radiation and Oncology Clinic, I take advantage of their free automatic espresso and coffee machine and trashy tabloid magazines. I had to dig for those, under Field and Stream (a jarring early morning reminder that I’m ensconced in rural Pennsylvania).
We’re by far the youngest people at the clinic; we’re very conspicuous there because everyone else has white/grey hair. It’s no wonder the radiologist couldn’t believe David has small cell lung cancer: “You don’t smoke??” Yesterday morning the radiation machine BROKE, and the technician lives two hours away, so the whole day was moved forward. I hope this doesn’t happen often.
They’ve been giving David a new drug via injection 15 minutes prior to the morning treatment to deal with the esophageal burning, which helps.
They’re monitoring David’s vitals closely, before and after each radiation treatment. His blood pressure is good (apparently the injection has a tendency to lower it), but his blood counts are a bit low, hence extra diligence re: food, etc.
Chemotherapy is on a three-week cycle, so according to this schedule David should be starting another round at the end of next week. He has an appointment with the oncologist on Thursday, so we’ll find out then.
The chemo nurse said no crowds and no small children because David’s immunity is taking a beating with the effects of therapy, so we’ve been avoiding places like busy cinemas and malls. Netflix all the way!
I haven’t finished the documentary “The Fog of War”, but I will… my knowledge of the Vietnam War is sketchy at best. I wasn’t familiar with the name Thomas McNamara before the film was released.
Tom Hank’s “Castaway” = overrated. So much fuss over this movie, and why? I couldn’t see him stuck on a desert island undiscovered for four years in this current era of global activity. Maybe 50 years ago, but not today.
“Garden State” = overrated, not to mention glaringly deficient in New Jersey accents. It had its moments, though, eg. the shirt-against-wallpaper scene. Some funny bits in the Special Features section, especially the Jewish culture jokes.
We’ve received a volume of cards, e-mail, phone calls, etc., that we’re still trying to catch up on. If you’ve sent us something and haven’t heard from us, we haven’t forgotten, we’re just behind!
Posted in Acts of Kindness, House of Fielding, Living with Cancer, Reel + Screen | 3 Comments
August 30, 2005 by Gail
Vandigicam FIGHT CLUB [photo by filmgoerjuan]
Brilliant!
This one’s doctored by Filmgoerjuan. See here for comparison to the original movie poster.
Posted in Other Photogs, Vandigicam | No Comments
August 30, 2005 by Gail
We miss you Gail [photo by goddess_spiral]
I’m VERKLEMPT — how could I not be after seeing this???
Last Saturday the people in Vandigicam threw a farewell party for Laura, the lady who started the group back in March. She’s seen Vandigicam grow and flourish, and in a day or so she’ll be returning to her home in Atlanta — earlier than planned. I really wished I could’ve been there to take part in the surprise bash, but it looks like they moved the mountain partway to Mohammed because Mohammed couldn’t get to the mountain.
I went to New York over the weekend and phoned them briefly when I was sitting on a Central Park bench Saturday evening. I think they knew how much I wanted to be there, and that there was no reason more compelling than why I could not.
Long live photography!
Did I mention I was verklempt? What a stellar bunch of people! *sniff*
Posted in Friends, Other Photogs, Vandigicam | No Comments
August 26, 2005 by Gail
There’s an eatery here in Scranton called Coney Island Texas Lunch (check out their site, it’s a hoot) where practically all they make are heart-disease-in-a-bun things called Texas Weiners. Code words for chili on hot dogs and deep-fried hamburgers marinated in chili. Note the puzzling references to places (Coney Island, Texas) not in Pennsylvania.
Click on the picture and check out the menu.
We went here the other day for nostalgia reasons, and so David could get some stuff at the hobby store next door. While there, I thought to myself, ‘How do I know it’s 2005???’ Nothing in there dated to the present. The decor, music, even the prices were from another era.
Today I was a charwoman. Tried to escape to New York City for some urban stimulation, plan aborted due to virtually non-existent cab service to bus station. Will try again tomorrow.
Posted in Food + Drink, Local Colour | 1 Comment
August 25, 2005 by Gail
We were very protective of “our” bench during HSBC Celebration of Light. This was before the China’s fireworks, on Aug 3. Two days later, I was booking a flight to New York because they found a tumour in David’s left lung.
Life changed literally overnight for David and me.
Here’s a timeline:
Aug 5 (Fri) – after feeling ill for weeks, David finally goes to the ER, they X-ray him, find tumour, he calls me in Vancouver and I book a flight
Aug 6 (Sat) – fly from SeaTac to JFK, go straight to hospital, they can’t find any doctors to biopsy him
Aug 9 (Tue) – biopsy, preliminary report is lymphoma
Aug 12 (Fri) – biopsy results in diagnosis of small cell lung cancer, for which the survival rate is a shocking 20%
Aug 16 (Tue) – meet with oncologist, he books David a bed at Mercy Hospital for immediate treatment
Aug 17 (Wed) – David gets tested for evidence of spreading and his first bout of chemotherapy
Aug 18 (Thu) – reports show there is no spreading into bones or brain
Aug 19 (Fri) – David is released to continue his treatment as an outpatient, official diagnosis is limited-stage small cell lung cancer.
August 25: David’s first day of radiology
This group photo makes me smile every time I look at it. It’s also a “pre-diagnosis” photo. I’m trying not to think of time in terms of ‘pre-diagnosis’ or ‘post-diagnosis’, but it’s how my brain keeps track of things involuntarily these days. I know each day forward is positive and over time the diagnosis date will slowly become less significant to us.
Here’s to taking more photos, and celebrating the good times in our lives.
Posted in Haunted by Cancer, Other Photogs, Vandigicam | 3 Comments
August 24, 2005 by Gail
Artwork credits:
Melissa – age 6
Michael – age 4 (nearly 5)
Madeleine – age 3 (nearly 4)
Left: “Dir David I hop you wil get betr soon Luve Melissa”
Click on the individual photos to read the notes the kids wrote.
I let Hugh out this afternoon. No, let me re-phrase that: Hugh dashed by me when I went to the front porch to get the mail. He was glad I was more pre-occupied with the lovely drawings from Melissa, Michael, and Madeleine than his escape to explore new frontiers in the backyard, but gave me a hiss when I tried to make him go inside.
Stalemate.
But, we eventually reached a compromise when I placed the drawings on the steps and he let me take his photo beside his drawn self. Can this kitty be any more vain?
August 24, 2005 by Gail
The past few days have been to-and-fro, so herein lies a summary.
First of all, Breigh is wondering where her package went, and so are we. Today marks the FIFTH day that David and I have tried to track it down. I was unsuccessful Saturday and Sunday, David inquired on Monday, I navigated the intestinal corridors yesterday and came up empty-handed, then David returned again today:
New Schedule and Purloined Package
We don’t understand why it’s been so difficult to track down this package. Volumes of mail and such come into the hospital, are we just the victims of bad luck here? Or, does efficiency and organisation not reach subterranean levels? (The mail room/receiving department is in a corner of a maze that is the basement.)
David made contact with the manager this afternoon, who says he’s investigating. At least David found out who T. Lydon is — it’s a guy in the mail room, not a nurse. I think nurses have more sense!
In other news:
Monday
- called some friends in Europe in the morning
- decided to scale down the wedding
- decided to cancel the receptions here and in Vancouver
- will try and book hotel closer to the house for a small ceremony and dinner Oct 1
- drove David to radiologist to they could mark up his body
- futile trip to the hospital #3 (for package)
- David’s appetite finally kicks in after I tempt him with lunch at Circle’s in Wilkes-Barre
- we go to David’s office for the first time after his diagnosis
- we talk to our immigration lawyer about my visa issues
- we try and boost our spirits with the bodacious-as-ever Margaret Cho performing her latest show Revolution on Netflix DVD.
Tuesday
- futile trip to the hospital #4
- I enter the time warp that is the Coney Island Texas Weiner lunch counter
- stop in at the Radisson – Lackawanna Station to try and book a small room for our scaled-down wedding ceremony and dinner
- e-mailed vendors in Vancouver to cancel October 8 reception, and try to hold onto our deposits to book next year
- David’s radiologist warns: ‘No spicy food, no alcohol’, so I make him tandoori chicken
- our comic relief via Netflix continues, with Jerry Seinfeld’s documentary, Comedian.
Wednesday
- a morning phone call from the radiologist requests us to come in today instead of Friday for radiation equipment prep, radiation begins early tomorrow morning instead of Monday
- futile visit to the hospital #5, but this time a manager is involved
- I go to Wegman’s to get *REAL FOOD* (fresh lychees, longans, wasabi peas, brown basmati rice, Summerfresh humus, crystallized ginger, ginger tea, all-natural ginger beer, all-natural raspberry ginger beer, goat cheese, and more…)
- we receive cute pre-school artwork from the M’s via the post
- we’re both tired, and have to be up early… can we make it through the documentary Fog of War without falling asleep?
Posted in Acts of Kindness, Engagement/Wedding, Living with Cancer, Rants | 6 Comments
August 21, 2005 by Gail
Meet Penny, the most spoiled cat ever. But is that any wonder? Guess who spoils her?
We went to Mom’s house this evening, as is our custom on Sunday. David’s been having a rough time of it, so she whipped up the classic Jewish medicinal remedy of remedies: matzoh ball soup. It’s legendary for curing anything and everything — allergies, hangovers, hangnails, hangups, what-have-you… get a little matzoh meal in your kishka and feel a little more Jewish and a little less achey. (And even when you feel better you are still culturally obligated entitled to kvetch in a manner fit for an episode of Seinfeld.)
Of course, there was much more than matzoh ball soup. There was also apple sauce, cookies, milkshakes, gummie bears, clam chowder, chicken broth, Italian bread, and — well, I lost track after the gummie bears. We left the house with more bags of food than we get on the average trip to the grocery store.
Speaking of bowels by the way, further to the saga that is Breigh’s gift to David that arrived after he was released on Friday, I am unhappy to report it appears to have been lost in the bowels of Mercy Hospital. I returned there today, as instructed by the receptionist, and the regular receptionist took me for another wild goose chase, this time in the volunteers’ office where the package had allegedly been (mis)placed. We rummaged around together but to no avail. After some phone calls up to the 9th floor nurses’ station where the package was signed for, it was concluded that the only place it could be is the Mail Room….
*drum roll*
… which is only open during business hours. Yep, I was told to come back tomorrow, again. I’m sorry, Breigh! I tried! If I don’t get the package tomorrow, heads will roll.
In technology news, I am pleased to report that David successfully set up BROADBAND for Mom’s WebTV — now MSN-TV — and she is now able to read our blogs, look at our photos, and play online Scrabble without worrying that she’s missing a call from us or anyone else. It plays video, internet radio stations, and Microsoft propoganda at lightning speed.
Posted in Critters + Creatures, Family, Living with Cancer, Rants | 6 Comments
August 20, 2005 by Gail
Had to go buy mouse/rat poison at the grocery store today — I found mouse droppings in the cupboard. The regular mousetraps just seemed so… inhumane. Although, when you see what rodent poison does, that doesn’t seem like a preferable way to pass on, either. But it’s secondary to the thought of mice turds touching my food.
If Hugh would just get his arse in gear, I wouldn’t have to make these murderous decisions!
In other ARGH! news I went to the hospital today to pick up a package that Breigh sent to David in the hospital, but must’ve arrived after we checked out yesterday afternoon. Coincidentally, when I was talking to Breigh on the phone today, the hospital left a message telling us the package was sitting there! When I got down there, the receptionist informed me that the volunteer office where it would be was locked, and nobody was there to open it.
I was incredulous. “Doesn’t anyone have the key?”
I was already surprised because I called the hospital after hearing the phone message and was told to go to the receiving department. The information desk receptionist didn’t even know they HAD a receiving department (“I’m new! I’ve only been here a couple of months!”), and had to ask the hospital telephone operator. The operator didn’t even know where it was! Mercy Hospital isn’t very big — 500 beds? Sigh.
We wandered the halls of the hospital, looking for somebody to let us into the office, but the area was deserted. The receptionist said the only place where a key would be was the information desk, and she didn’t have it.
Wild goose chase. Better than a wild mouse chase, I suppose. Will try again tomorrow!!
Posted in Acts of Kindness, Hugh | 5 Comments
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