Back stem and moving right along

     I failed to mention Tuesday.  My sister was released from the hospital.  Brother in law was to fetch her home.  Basically they had to turn around half way home and back to the E.R.  She was in CHF.  Which is a known by product of this particular radiation.  Nope they didn't do an xray before releasing her.  Asses.  So he'd gotten home about 2:20.  Gets up normally at 4 for work.  On Wednesday he'd be running on 2 hours sleep.  Good for him.

     Back to the tale.  We'd arrived.  Had to be about 6:15 or so.  Went upstairs to her new room.  Yup sound asleep.  There was another patient in the room with an attendant.  This patient was under what's called C/O.  Constant Observation.  Woman was polite enough with us.  So we went down to the lobby.

     It was around 6 :30.  I told my brother in law to go to work.  I was certain it was just a panic attack.  I'd hang out until 9.  And off he went agreeing with me.

     Sat in the lobby and played one of the games on my IPhone I enjoy.  Went up at 7, sleeping.  8, Sleeping.  9 I decided okay all was well.  I could go home and shower real quick and get in half a days work.  Boy was I wrong.

     I had made really good time, and of course missed the exit.  So had to do a loop around.  I was playing a podcast on my radio and just enjoying myself.  Then my phone rang.

"WHERE ARE YOU!?" in a panicked and teary voice.

I replied I'd been there for 3 hours.

"I NEED YOU HERE!  PLEASE COME AND HELP ME!"

     Well I was already pointed westward and said I'd be there.

"HURRY!"

     I assured her it was not full bloom rush hour and I'd be there when I could. The call ended and I knew this day was lost.

Enter the convoluted...

     Leading up to the last 2 weeks of the treatments things got weird.  Firstly they were still threatening to have my sister moved.  I told her fine.  Because I knew it wouldn't happen.

     The next was that she was becoming somewhat incoherent.  Rambling mumbling phone calls.  She'd be falling asleep during visits.  General stuff like that.

     The last night I saw her there I had her sign some paperwork.  I was glad she was a bit coherent.  She started to wander into half sleep soon after.  It was from social security so I knew it was important.  I mean it all gets thrown onto my back at some point.  But you know this right.

     Wednesday.  The phone rings.  It has to be about 4:45 in the morning.  I know this because I haven't showered yet.  My sister was on the phone in hushed scared whispers.

"You have to get me out of here please."
"What's wrong?"  I said figuring a panic attack on the other end.

"There's something not right about this place.  They're doing experiments on me.  There are aliens.  You have to come and get me NOW!"  PLEASE!"

     Those are the best 2 lines I can remember.  I've already forgotten the distance, assured her we'd come along.  Brother in law standing there uselessly.  I laid out the plan of attack.

     Get your gear for work.  It's a panic attack.  He worked just a few miles from the hospital.  I said we'll take 2 cars.  This way only I'll miss a few hours at work.  We have to get moving.

     Forgot the distance I told you, it was of course the beginning of rush hour.  Ugh. We'd arrived about 6:30.  Not bad time at all.  

     Can you say cliff hanger?

t.b.c.

The hospital

     As noted it was a fair distance from work or home.  Place is about 100 years old.  Literally right off of the parkway.  Kind of cool about that.  I liked the parking.  It was all outdoors.

     Not a fan of parking garages myself.  Had to park in the farthest lot, still wasn't that bad.  To get into the lobby was odd.  it was an angle.  Not a regular straight way path.  She was in the oncology ward.

    Of course these wards are not the most cheery places in the world.  They also differ in nurse to patient ratio.  Where as it is probably a 9 to 1 ratio on a normal floor.  Here it was 4 to 1.

     My thinking was that my sister would be the easiest.  Not depressing, not very demanding.  But I really have to admit, a few of the nurses just out and out seemed to resent her. Maybe it was because she wasn't quote in fact dying.  I just don't know.

     Up to almost the end of her treatments one Dr. kept wanting to send her to a nearby nursing home just to get rid of her.  That would not happen.  You see it would have to be within a 10 mile radius for free transportation.  But it did make for a very uncomfortable stay.

     Towards the end of her stay she started to peter out a bit.  Loose coherence.  That would eventually be explained.  

Sorry on the clock now.

t.b.c.

Thanks and sorry for the long hiatus. We'll finish the flu thing quick.

     Okay now that I've sorted that out.  IE at work wouldn't let me type for some reason.  What's new gang?  Almost a month to the day.

     I'd rather jump real quick and finish the flu tale.

     Things went well.  That weekend didn't do much but recuperate.  Made work on Monday or Tuesday.  Don't actually remember.  The week ended badly for my sister.

     Apparently out of no where she started bleeding again, the tumor thing.  Back across the road to the hospital.  Her oncologist has an associate there.  They decided on a hospital pretty far west of us.  I'd never heard of it.  They specified in pin point radiation and could handle....oh what was the word...can't think of it now.  Basically large people if you get me.  Bariatric I think.

     About 17 miles from work, 45 or so from home.  1 way.  This would encompass 3-4 weeks of my life for awhile.