The Poisonous Apple

The week before we left for Barnes, I reminded Bob that he didn't have to go through with the transplant, but his mind was totally made up. He stood firm with his decision. We spent the week tying up loose ends and packing, however, I still only had three hours of sleep before we left as I kept thinking of others things that we might want. (Sadly, this is my usual packing routine.) Once the porter unpacked the van and delivered our bags and boxes to the hotel room (it took him two trips with the cart), I realized I must have been manic.

I don't want to forget mentioning our drive to St. Louis though as we had scene after scene that we called Larry Kanfer moments in honor of our local photographer. The sky was filled with semi-angry storm clouds, but we didn't constantly have rain. What we had was this light that brought out the intensity of the colors on the barns and in the fields. The reds, yellows, golds, tans, and browns seemed to almost glow, really highlighting the beauty of the season. I had never seen this before, and it was a wonderful treat.

We had time to enjoy the shrimp tacos and margaritas, (one each...well, it was happy hour) Bob wanted before checking into the hospital, and we toddled over to admitting with this luggage. We were brought up to the fifth floor and given a tour. There's a family lounge with coffee and machines filled with soda and snacks, a big TV, chairs for visiting, and tables for board games and puzzles. A couple was working on a White Mountains Puzzle entitled The 80's. Guest bathrooms are provided that have showers for family members who want to bunk in with their loved ones, and there's a pantry with soup, bouillon, crackers, ice cream cups, and so on - things that might appeal to anyone with a churning stomach. And, lastly, there is a room with exercise equipment in it for patients and loved ones.

Bob settled into his room, was checked by the nurse, and at 10:00 p.m. began receiving IV melphalan  hydrochloride, a chemotherapy drug that kills everything in the bone marrow. He sucked on ice before, during, and after the drug's administration hoping to prevent or decrease the amount of mouth sores that are often side effects. No turning back now.