Finally settling down in San Diego. The trip to Houston was 6 or 7 weeks long, much longer than any other trip I've taken away from the house. . Thankfully, our neighborhood is okay and there was no problem leaving the house unsupervised. The only casualty was the yard, as I had turned the sprinklers off! The yard now looks like raw land somewhere in the desert that has never been watered!
We're settling into our routines, with the addition of course, of making time for my therapy. Lorraine has to make the bags with the liquid medicine for my pump to infuse into my body. This was all part of the training while we were in Houston.
We visited the clinic every single day of the week- this allowed her training to be my caregiver, and for me to get treated everyday while we were there. It takes Lorraine 45 min. to an hour to prepare the bags of medicine for us to install in the pump. I am tethered to the pump 24/7 by the catheter port that was installed into my chest while in Houston. It sounds scary, but the tiny tube that comes from the port allows direct access for medicine to be installed into my body. Also, when blood draws are needed, they are done through this device so that they do not need to use needles in my arms repeatedly. Lorraine has been taught how to maintain this port and change the dressings, in addition to flushing it with saline solution when needed.
The Antineoplaston therapy is a clear liquid that comes in thick plastic bags... The type of bag that is used for IV treatment. When she has to do to them in order to prepare for use, is make sure there are no air bubbles in the bags of liquid. This requires she tap around the edges of each bag, dissipating the small bubbles. Then she has to attach the tubes that go to the pump and me. There are two bags of medicine installed in the pump, and to do this right takes her quite a bit of time every day. In addition, blood tests are done every other day and we must fax the results to the clinic when we get them. The clinic in Houston calls us every single day to see how I am feeling and if there are any changes to report.
This whole process is rather amazing, and I'm sure that if this was not a government controlled (FDA) clinical trial, the process would be a lot easier. I cannot complain though especially if the antineoplaston treatment works as well on me as it has in others over the past years. I have faith that it will, and I'm very anxious for my recovery!
Just a few hours ago, I was dreaming that I had full recovery/use of my left arm and hand. I know this will happen eventually ; Lorraine and I are already making travel plans. I have promised her we will go anywhere in the world she wants to go when I am able. She has hinted for years about a Greek cruise so I am sure that may come first!
Please keep us in your prayers. We have no idea how long this will take but we do know we have the determination and the fight within us to see it through.
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Sounds like you are on your way =) Yeah, just keeping those medi-ports patent by keeping them regularly flushed does the trick! Lorraine sounds like she's ready for her RN license haha... Glad to hear you are having much more comfortable weather there at home! SInce I have heard of your being under the care of Dr. Burzynksi, I have heard ALL GOOD things about him from several different sources! He truly sounds like he is a pioneer and very successful at curing this type of disease. I am glad you decided to go this route vs. the traditional chemo/rad. Of course, I will continue to keep you in my prayers! And visualize the 2 of you on a luxurious romantic Greek cruise very soon! =) I have always wanted to visit Greece-and see all the ancient ruins and eat the awesome Greek food =)
As for me, I am moving the last week of August (need to be out by Aug. 31st) so after 8/31 I am going to have free wifi access at the local coffee shop or Panera Bread-but hoping to be able to set up my router at my friend's home soon! I am sooooo grateful for the love and support of my freinds (thank YOU too) well keep in touch.
Love,
Chris xoxo
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