2001
| July 9, 2000 Yesterday, to confirm the diagnosis of Leukemia, they decided to do a bone marrow sample from my 18 year old. He was in the hospital on medication and fluids to rescue levels in the urine that were dangerously high and to hydrate him. He'd been there since Friday. I was told to arrive by 9:30 - so I did. He was told no food - so he didn't. By 2PM he was getting crabby. By 2:30 he was growling. I warned the nurses, "Starve him any more and you'd better be counting the doctors!" They gave his mouth a wide berth while changing bags, etc. Lest he bite. They decided to take him in about that time. Hooked up to his multi-bag IV and all. First they tried the table in the pediatric treatment room. Because he is at Children's, the Children's Hospital at Stanford, which has been rated as one of the best in the country. The table was a little small. And they could not find an extension. Then they hooked him to a probe to check his pulse - it has a red light on the tip of his finger. ET. I took a picture. He found that he could cause the machine to have a nervous breakdown - and did. Actually, they run the machines off their batteries until the batteries die. Or are so drained they cannot recharge. This one was complaining. We got another. His IV pump lasts about 15 minutes. Then he must plug himself back in. They came and went collecting themselves and the tools they needed while my son and I commented on the condition of the room. He wants to paint it over. He hates the color. He really disliked the Chinese lantern on the ceiling. They had numbed his back in two places earlier. Then had numbed the front of him, in case they couldn't reach the bone from the back. They decided that he could roll over and they would do the back. They pumped up the table - and then couldn't find the stepstool for the doctor. They also couldn't lower the table. The doctor had to stretch. They gave him a shot (or two) to sedate him a bit - not knock him out - just make him not care. About a 4-shot drunk. They draped his backside. I knew he was sedated when he didn't complain at his buttocks being revealed. There were now six women in the room, counting Mom and the doctor. They laid out the instruments. I was glad I had left my glasses in the room. The needle is long - 3-4 inches. With a handle. Not a needle-needle - it looks more like a knitting needle. They decide that it is time to go in. I have his feet, rubbing them in his ugly chocolate socks. He has asked his brother for bunny slippers. The doctor plunges in. Twists and turns more like. He lifts right off the table. One nurse is rubbing a leg. Another his arm. They strap O2 on him. He mumbles - he swears he was speaking clearly - oh no he wasn't! They drive this thing in and get - a little blood. Not enough. They need to fill vials. Several. After several minutes of struggle (they were asking the doctor if her arm was holding up), they decided to pull out and try again. Oh God! They had given him double the sedative. I was wondering if he should have more. The way he jerked up on the table said he felt something. But he was incoherent. He'd talk - we'd look at each other and shrug. Six women. And none blond, single and under 25. (He's looking when he is not sedated.) After another round of struggles the doctor finally hit pay dirt. The blood was coming up the vial. She got them all filled. All the slides coated. And then she pulled this thing out. Using some other needle thing, she pushed the marrow out. I could have done without seeing that! Gak! We were all talking to him and they were playing Barbara Strisand on tape. Once finished, the sedative was obviously wearing off. We cautioned him not to get up. He tried. Like a drunk who wants to drive, we had to order him down, put up the sides and ordered him to stay on the bed. He wanted to walk back to his room. We finally (me helping) got the awkward table rolled into his room. We had to keep him from hopping across the beds until they were locked. At last we got the kid into his bed and propped. He wanted water (quickly) and then food (some) - I heated egg (hard-boiled egg in the microwave) and ham and toast. He started with breakfast and picked at lunch. He's not eating all that is ordered. I helped. I had a piece of bread and a peanut butter pat. By 5:30 my older son showed up to visit. And then kidnap me and drag me to dinner. Having been there since 9:30AM it was time, we tucked up the kid with his TV and left. I had Portabello Mushroom Linguini and Cappuccino and then shared the biggest hunk of cheesecake I've ever seen. I then went home and fell asleep, as soon as I fed the animals and finished the load of laundry. I also called my son to check on him. Monday is coming far too fast. |
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