Update 1-29-10

Gene’s update: Jan. 29, 2010

Breathe a little more deeply: Although they still do not know what is in Gene’s lungs, what they do know is that it is getting smaller, there are no new spots and it is not aspergillis, the fungus they least wanted to see. So, hopefully that means that there is no need for a drug with potentially stronger side effects, that it is clearing, and that it may not interfere with the timeline to go home, or for transplant.

Fevers are still spiking, though over the number they consider fever (100) on Thursday, was yesterday only high 99’s. Gene himself has come up with a theory on what may be causing them, as the docs continue to say they do not know. Days after he went into the hospital, he was scheduled for periodontal work on some persistent pockets in his gums that do become inflamed and do need to be oral-surgically addressed, and yes, that he had procrastinated about. He said that if he flossed regularly he could keep the inflammation at bay, but he has been under strict no-flossing orders since he got admitted, as they said, flossing dislodges concentrated bacteria between your teeth. Doc A said to tell Doc B when he sees him today…..so we’ll see what they think of that theory. Even if it is correct, not sure what they could do about it.

Gene thinks his hair is thinning. No clumps, but he said there is more in the shower drain, more in his comb, more can be seen sitting on the shoulders of his dark green vest. So Manny, his nephew, who also lives here in San Diego, is coming over today to give him a very short haircut, to help ease the transition. I took a few pics last night, he actually didn’t mind, so that we could have a “before and after”. We’ve discussed the kind of hats that he thinks he wants….will need to look for them this weekend. One he described as a hat like he has seen some Muslim men wear. It is like a pillbox, or short cylinder shape, made of cloth, sometimes a narrow band along the opening. I have no idea where to find something like that. Although the “7-11 Mosque” is right here in Clairemont, only a few miles from the house, don’t think I’ll start there. I’ve been thinking about the skull-cape type of hats that the skaters, and other young people wear, and thinking that might be good to keep his head warm, but still be soft, and maybe a bit stylin’. I know the hair thing will be a difficult transition, because until now he looks exactly the same, perhaps a bit paler. And he is a hairy-headed guy! Facial hair they say possibly a few weeks after that on top of his head, so that might help smooth the way.

And then there is the heart / breathing thing. One day a few days ago he said he felt a pinch in the area that the picc line goes, basically into his heart. It actually goes into the aorta, but when we were watching the EKG, you could get a glimpse every once and awhile. He says that for the last few days when he takes a sudden deep breath, he feels “pressure”. So, yesterday they ran a clot-scanning machine. I wasn’t there for that and Gene forgot to tell me, but Patty did. So they hooked him up to a heart monitor for 24 hours. So when I got there, he had the IV line, (which he can now get unhooked from for several hours a day) and then all the heart monitor wires with the box that is the wireless transmitting unit. Made those full-body healing hugs a bit difficult. He keeps his sense of humor though, saying that he’s not telling docs anything new that happens because when he does they “do something to him”. He doesn’t mean it though. The good news is that they are monitoring him SO closely. Not sure how that will translate once he is in outpatient status.

So even though I’ve complained about no weekend, it really is the weekend, and there really is one. It means that I can take a bit of time in the morning to think, that we can visit each other during the day, instead of the last few hours of the day when we are both very tired. And some time to do some of the very few errands that Saint Patty and Saint Jim haven’t jumped in to do, only because I’ve not asked. I had a good canyon walk with Susan yesterday, convincing myself that snakes don’t like mud. Work has been easy this week, I’ll have to get a bit more deeply involved next week, taking on some of the more taxing parts. Maybe even get a walk on the beach this weekend. We’ve kept the “No-visitor” policy all week, and it has proven to be a very good thing as Gene is finding time for a short morning AND short afternoon nap, which is what the docs would like. So, I’m thinking that this weekend, while he is still at his lowest, that we’ll keep the visits on hold. I’ll give calls to the folks that we had to cancel last weekend, and maybe see if we can get you in for a short (15 min.) visits late in the afternoon, but I’ll contact you. Hopefully next week he’ll begin growing the right kind of white cells, and will have a bit more energy. He is into his second kindle book.

And your gifts and cards just keep coming! Thank you, thank you. We really want to respond to each one, but it has been overwhelming. A bit like a wedding with all the gifts for us…..from the SpEd folks, a healthy dinner delivery service….what could be more perfect? Books, movies, candy, healing icons, goodie-boxes of healthy and time-filling things, food and more food, and above all your support, wishes and prayers. Gene says he has no doubt that he’ll be back at work in August. Until then, I can’t imagine being more supported. Thank you, thank you.

Gail Moriarty
gail.moriarty@me.com