2001
| December 16, 2001 Well, well, well. It's time for the every-6-weeks lumbar poke - my son's chemo regimen. Actually, it was supposed to be two weeks ago, but they couldn't get in and he was screaming. So after three trys, two doctors, I said, "stop". His doctor, VERY pregnant, just about gave birth right there. She was in false labor and holding her stomach every time he screamed. It's hard when your 20-yr old is screaming and crying in your arms. You try to be patient but enough is enough. Mother dragon protects her young. He can't be sedated too much or his blood pressure and heart rate hit the floor. But he was feeling it too much last time - and they were missing. So, this week, it's off to the APU (ambulatory Patient Unit). But first----- They need to research what to give him. He did not wake up too well in January (that little incident where he did not wake up from the endoscopy and ended up in the PICU) (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit). When his blood pressure dropped to 20. They had book 12 of his medical records. They sent for books 10 and 11. Then they talked to me. The walking book. Atavan - no. Verced - tricky. Phentenol - tricky. Morphine - no. Whatever they did in January - no no no. (For those of you who are medical - it's phonetic spelling time). And what happened. Blood pressure drops - caffeine and soda and reverse the drugs. One of them puts him out like a rag doll. Another and he loses his pulse rate, his O2 sat and his blood pressure. It was 1:30 before we got up to the prep area. First he had to have an exam. Two doctors - very cold hands - checking various regions for lumps - tell-tale signs that the tumors came back. The regions include the nether parts of his anatomy. They apologize when his eyes roll. Then we wander over to admissions and they give us bands. And then up to the prep area and another waiting room. We shared a couch - pig-piled on it really. Waiting. I have had my Starbucks cafe mocha decafe non-fat no-whip. He is NPO. When they decided to begin serious review of what to use, they brought him into the room with the gurneys. I am the walking book on how to access him (his port) - 1 1/2 inch 20 gauge needle- 1 inch can work if you are very, very skilled. And he has two ports - the one closest the center works - the other one is blocked. And that big bruise? Where they put a transfusion in the clogged port without checking if it was clogged. Last February. And so forth. They access him. I chat with the anesthesia person. They note that his eyes are already dilated - nerves. He is very upset about this whole thing. The rosary is missing - still - It was missing and then I found it the day that the plane crashed in NY - that was a Monday - and we were to fly on a Tuesday - I calmed down - and the little thing - still in its pouch - vanished again. It did not want to go to Florida. It evidently decided not to be with us today - I have instead the deep Brazilian amethyst cross - Pepper has a matching one - I wear it in and then put it in his pocket. But my baby is nervous and I am worried. When they at last come to take him in, I ask if I can be with him. Until he goes out, they say. Actually, I was there the whole time, because I am a walking book. I hold his ankle. They set him up on his side and a male nurse was holding his feet so his knees were bent - two others worked on him tucking his chin - I held his ankle. They tried - and tried - and finally, his doctor, who will give birth any day now, called for back up. The needle was out - thank heavens! Because my son woke up! I am not a nurse - not trained for this - the pregnant doctor was scooting backward and dragging the sterile tray with her. Because my son woke up and UNCURLED - flinging five people around the room! His eyes were wild, he was thrashing, they were yelling (so he would hear) that he was OK. He fought the mask - they said "only Oxygen" so he stopped fighting. It took a few minutes to get things back to normal and him recurled on his side. The second doctor tried. No luck. They tried longer needles. They we sat him up and positioned him that way. He told the male nurse (who was doing what I usually do) that he "needed to work out" - because he didn't have any pillows. He suggested that he (the nurse) go away and send in a woman. He then quipped to the doctor the "Bin Laden is not in my spine". The anesthesiologist tried. She couldn't get in either. We tried pushing him up and around a bit and the second doctor tried once again. A hit! Relief! Because he needs this chemo. He needs a 5" needle - not 3 1/2" and he MUST be sitting up to get in that little space in the vertebrea. And he gets 10% of what isnormal anesthesea for a person of his size. And only the quick-acting short-life span stuff. The walking book took note. |
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