Visits , Low Blood Counts and Chemo Delays, and More Music

On Tuesday, I had a big shopping “mission” from Nadine. Pickles, healthy lollipops or hard candy, baked tofu, cantaloupe, cheese, carrots, and (surprise) a cucumber, among other things.

Nurse Jessie came over at about 11:30 to draw Nadine’s blood. Although Nadine was still pale, I figured they were fine by now as Nadine had energy. Jessie left Nadine’s port “accessed” so no one would have to poke her on Wednesday at clinic. It’s so nice that with the port she didn’t have to have the veins in her arms assaulted like before.

Nadine wanted a nice quiet day with me. I was originally going to go swimming with Betty, but instead suggested that we meet for ice cream at Bruster’s, which is near Wegmans where I could get the food Nadine requested. That was a luscious delight. Black raspberry ice cream is both of our favorite -- a nice thing for friends to share. The shop took a while -- an unfamiliar store.

I left the store in the middle to watch a huge, glorious thunderstorm, with drenchint rain that rivaled my beloved Midwest storms. The line of rain was visible in the parking lot, the thunder cracks were satisfyingly loud, and the wind was blustery. The sun suddenly came out afterwards, promising a rainbow that I never found.
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Later in the afternoon we got an unpleasant surprise -- Margaret called to say Nadine’s “counts” were still not up -- platelets were fine, but the hematocrit was still at 23,000 (appropriate for a transfusion) and her ANC (absolute neutrophil count) was only 100, actually DOWN from the week before. This was nasty, and it meant Nadine’s chemo would have to be put off ANOTHER week unless it went up fast the next day. Her face had also been pale, and she had been lethargic and uncomfortable at times. Other times, she was still lethargic but cheerful.

We still spent a pleasant evening -- we relaxed in the upper room with the air conditioner, and played my “birthday” request for a game of settlers togethe. Nadine had music hooked up on the computer, and we could listen. just the two of us. It was fun.

Denise, a woman who took the fiddlers’ camp (that was mostly kids) didn’t even know me, but she had offered to bring me supper, and that night she brought a bunch of it -- enough for a Mexican meal plus a chicken dinner -- she and her husband visited some too. Nadine stayed upstairs resting. Later I visited with Nadine, and read to her again -- she really likes that.

Afterwards, Alice’s daughter Daphne and her brother plus Diane’s kids were playing in the performance room. Nadine first joined Daphne in a game of scrabble (they both play well) and then all four kids (including Nadine) sprawled out on the floor and played a multi-decked card game and other stuff I didn’t recognize. I could see Nadine was having a wonderful time at this, and I enjoyed watching her, plus chatting with Alice.

On Wednesday (yesterday) Nadine had her clinic appointment. We got there on time this time -- still there was a wait, but not like last time. Her blood got tested, but predictably her counts weren’t high enough for any chemo except for the asparaginase injection, which she received. At least her hematocrit was up to 27,000, so no transfusion happened. Yay. Margaret had her usual appointment with Nadine, and I consulted with the educational specialist.

Nadine saw Dr. Bruckner (her “official” doctor) for the first time in over a month -- it’s usually every three weeks, but Dr. Bruckner was away last time, and Nadine saw Dr. Mullen instead. Dr. Bruckner did a long, thorough history and exam, and went over the variants and quirks that had happened so far -- the prolonged low counts, the anti-nausea saga, etc. She said that the prolonged low counts could mean the chemo is “really” working on the leukemia cells as well. However, if the counts are still like that next Wednesday Nadine may need more testing. I was told that probably the counts would go back up, however sluggish they were, as the monocytes and platelets were already high and the hematocrit was rising .

I admit I’m getting a bit edgy about it.

This week-end Nadine and I are planning to go back to Hinsdale for the first time since she was diagnosed. I’m excited and so is she. I’ll have a lot of work to do cleaning out the place.

Nadine’s flute teacher Sophia Gibbs Kim came over last night, and she and Nadine had a lively and fun conversation together -- it was nice to see them as “people” and not only as flute teacher-student. Sophia brought Nadine a huge poster of James Galway with a note from him from Nadine, from the National Flute Association conference. It was a fun visit -- I enjoyed getting to know Sophia as a “person” too.

After Sophia left, there was a late surprise. Nadine sat down at the piano and practiced and practiced and practiced the Beethoven sonatina -- and she “got” the entire first movement, including memorizing almost all of it; then she started the lovely second movement and got some of that too. All with a lilting and appropriate style. She worked into the night with me next to her watching and admiring and supporting.

Very early this morning, Nadine came to my bed -- she was itchy, really itchy -- finally I suggested a shower, which she took, and she seemed to feel better after that, and stayed in bed very, very late after that. She deserved it.

After that, she went back to bed.