Today I look forward to starting Hospice care with the visit of a hospice nurse. This decision requires that we agree to palliative care and forgo any therapies which would be considered aggressive treatment of tumors. It also requires that I shift my medical coverage from Medicare to Hospice Medicare. That program provides supportive services, drugs and any equipment needed for my care: hospital bed, commode, wheelchair, etc. It is an important step and one I am ready and eager to make, mostly because the presence of the hospice nurse will assist us in balancing medication, addressing pain, and interpreting the progress of the disease.
Prior to contracting with Hospice I have been getting a injection of a drug to stimulate the red blood cells and counter anemia. These injections every two weeks must be taken at an infusion center to qualify for Medicare coverage. Since this treatment is unlikely to be covered under the Hospice plan, we decided to make one last appointment for an infusion before signing on with hospice.
I made an appointment with my hematologist, Dr. Nestor, for an exam and the infusion last Friday. Friday morning I enjoyed a complementary healing touch session with Elizabeth, a volunteer at the Bellingham Cancer Center. This has been a wonderful experience about which I will write more later. She noted that I had lots of family arriving that day and wondered if I really wanted to have an infusion before they came.
Later that morning, Marilyn and I met with Dr. Nestor (Late, I missed my first appointment because I relied on my memory rather than my calendar — a clue that my memory isn't always firing as it once did). We discussed the advantages of the infusion and found that it worked best when given over several months to advanced prostate cancer patients but would probably have little effect on my bone tumors which are caused by the renal cancer. The bone cancer isn't my primary concern anyway since at this point the liver has the greatest tumor mass. Side effects of the infusion were minor but could include a day of flu-like symptoms. We decided with the doctor's help that the cost-benefit ratio didn't support an infusion at this time.
As Marilyn and I drove home from the Madrona Infusion Center we passed Dairy Queen. Marilyn turned in and we both had an infusion of a peanut butter parfait instead.
Our visit with family over the weekend was wonderful and I was feeling good and enough energy to enjoy some meals out and long talks.
Posted by Donel at April 11, 2005 07:29 AM
Hello from the warm, warm Midwest!
Since you opted against infusion, maybe I can infuse a bit of good cheer instead. After much thought and prayer, I have decided to forego my "girls weekend away" with Claire in B'ham in lieu of a "Murphy weekend" in B'ham. Complete with all three of the Murphy girls, and I suppose my husband as well. :) Perhaps Amelia can tell you a knock-knock joke (with her VOICE - who'da thunk it?) or call you a dude. If it brings even a smirk or a tiny tear, it's worth it. When I told her today that we were all going, she said, "To see that boy who talks a lot at church?" Yep, dear, that's the one. She remembers you!
So if you feel like a few visitors (or at least a very cute three year old one) over Memorial Day, let us know.
I was reading your last few posts and was ever impressed with your strength. And I was going to tell you that - and tell you what everyone else does, that it gives US strength to see you have it. But then I remembered how, for me, sometimes it's worse to be told I'm strong... I mean, I go through a lot with Amelia, and I suppose I am strong, but I don't really have much of a choice, now, do I? And sometimes when I feel like breaking down, or being weak, or whining, or pouting, or screaming, I feel like I can't do it because I've let everyone think I'm strong. So I'm officially not telling you how strong you are, so if you want to pout or scream or break down in front of someone, you don't have to feel guilty about that.
Another bit of good news - Amelia goes back to school tomorrow. After almost two months out. It's the simple things sometimes that are the best.
Pam
Posted by: Pam Murphy at April 11, 2005 06:27 PM