The past weekend's update.

As I posted last, Kent had been making great progress. We hit a wall this weekend. On Sunday morning they gave Kent the worst of the chemo drugs. There was a massive dose at 8:00 a.m. and a big bottle that was supposed to drip for 23 hours as a booster. When I got to the hospital around 11:30, Kent was alert but was obviously not comfortable. They brought lunch at 12:30 and it took him over an hour to eat it. He complained that it was kind of a chore. He got so cold he was shivering badly and we asked for a couple of warm blankets which they brought right away.

Around 2:00 he laid his bed down and said he didn't feel right. He complained of disorientation, like things were really fuzzy. They tried to take his blood pressure several times before they had any success. When they did it was 55/28. They responded immediately and moved him back to Cardiac ICU. They stopped the chemo, gave him dopamine to stabilize the heart and blood pressure, and lots of fluids including antibiotics since his cell count dropped dramatically. They took blood for culture to try to determine what was causing the problem. After about 6 hours of pressure less than 70, his pressure started coming back up. 

He really wanted to get out of ICU as he hates all the monitor leads and he wanted to get started again with the chemo to get back on schedule. They said when his pressure stayed above 90 for 1/2 hour they could restart the chemo. He thought that meant getting back to his room in oncology and off the monitors. I told him they would send the chemo nurse to him to get it started in ICU and when he was really stable they would move him back. But he knew what he wanted to do and worked toward that end. I admire his tenacity.

At 10:00, his blood pressure finally reached 94 and stayed in the 90s for 45 minutes. The chemo nurse came back and was going to restart the bottle, but when she found out how much dopamine he was getting (they were still keeping his blood pressure up artificially with it), and how little urine he was putting out (like 50 ccs out while taking in 2 liters), they decided it was best to start him on the antidote for the chemo. Apparently when the dopamine gets up to a fairly high level, it works against the kidneys. They really need the kidneys working well with this chemo because it is very toxic and needs to be filtered out of his system.

He kicked me out at 11:30 when he felt safe and was confident that they were monitoring him well and moving in a proper direction. His blood pressure had stabilized around 100/50.

During the day Monday they gave him a couple of units of packed red cells which helped his blood pressure and started weaning him from the dopamine. The doctor reported that he had a hospital-born bacteria infection that attacks folks with compromised immune systems. Of course, the chemo induced his compromised immune system.

As it turns out, he started reporting chills and severe shivers at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday morning. That should have triggered some action out of the staff, but didn't. They could have waited a while on the chemo and given antibiotics earlier and perhaps avoided this latest trek to ICU. The good news is that even though they had to stop the chemo before completing the dose, since his kidneys were not flushing it out, the doctor thinks that he may have gotten a more effective treatment than if things had not gotten out of hand.

Tuesday morning: Kent has been completely weaned from the dopamine and is stable. They are waiting for a bed to become available back in the oncology ward so they can move him back and resume treatment. I believe that today's protocol is the vitamin antidote for Sunday's chemo and to watch him closely.

Throughout all of this Shelby behaved like a champ. Sunday when things started crashing, she stayed in her corner where she could see what was happening, but kept very quiet and calm. She could tell that I really needed to focus my care and attention on Kent. On Monday, Kent's doctor reported no more visitors and everyone that entered the room was to wash their hands first thing as to not spread any germs they might be carrying to him. I figured that meant I should not bring Shelby with me. I arranged for my friend Becky to doggie sit. Becky came over and picked up Shelby to take her back to their house. Little did I know what would transpire during the day.

Becky's husband Dave hadn't been feeling well, but insisted that Becky take me up on my request. Later that morning, after Dave arrived at work, he was rushed to the VA hospital where they determined that he had had a minor heart attack. The hospital called Becky and she rushed over. She found a nice shady spot to park the car and left Shelby with lots of water and ventilation. As Becky reports it, Dave would get 15 minutes of attention and Shelby got 30. Dave kept asking about Shelby and was so jealous that Becky was getting her warm fuzzies and he couldn't. I think Shelby kept them both focused on something else and helped them stay sane (as sane as either one of them ever gets -- sorry, Becky, cheap shot J). At last report Dave was doing fine and should be out of the hospital in a few days. Dr. Shelby will be glad to come visit any time as we know what great healing power she has.

I believe that God knew what was in store for Dave and Becky and lead me to make that first call for help.

Kent's doctor said that Shelby is welcome to be back in Kent's room since dogs naturally carry fewer germs that the average human. We will still take precautions, but everything should be fine.

He is allowed NO VISITORS except family at this point. As you have read, it doesn't take much to trigger a major event. Cards, e-mails and lots of prayers are still welcome. Thank you all for your care and support.

Here's to getting back on the right track.

Sally

We can be reached via cell phones during Kent's recovery.