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Now we understand
the calendar without dates...
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Update on Adam Sunday, November 22, 2009
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A Calendar Without Dates
When we first arrived at Dr. Wexler's office, he very carefully and quietly explained what was happening and how they were going to be treating Adam. As far as we were concerned he was speaking in a foreign language. Like any foreign language, certain words were obvious, mainly cancer. But the rest of the conversation involved a diagnosis we couldn't pronounce and a treatment plan requiring drugs spelled with an excessive number of vowels.
Then came the reams of paper. Those papers have become our bible - a resource for understanding what is happening. The papers include handouts on the drugs; what they do and potential side effects. There is also extensive information about the clinical trial in which Adam participates. The pages are becoming well worn as we refer back, double check, and fret over each step in his treatment.
Among the papers is also a calendar for Adam's treatment. It outlines each step in the process. But here's the weird part, the calendar comes without dates.
For Sue and Kim, the calendar without dates was ridiculous. Those of you who know us, understand our need for order and scheduling...
We dutifully filled in the dates during the first 10 days of treatment and started planning into November and December; reserving the room at Ronald McDonald House, making plans for Thanksgiving in the city - taking back control through scheduling.
But that calendar with no dates is given out for a reason. We had scheduled a week off, a week to return to normalcy. Adam's body had other plans.
After returning home last Saturday, Adam didn't feel right. On Sunday he started feeling worse and was unable to keep food down or in - not for a lack of trying, with all the great food people have been dropping off or cooking for us. By Monday the situation was not improving. Sue and Adam made a middle of the night dash back to the hospital. The chemo had damaged the healthy cells his intestines and he was not getting any fluids or nutrients. Since Tuesday, Adam has been an inpatient at Sloan Kettering.
He is getting fluids and eating again. However, his white blood count is very low (neutropenia - see below for definition) and he will remain at Sloan until it rises. Our hope is his levels continue to rise so he can get out of the hospital in the next few days.
Each patient handles chemotherapy differently. Each body decides how to deal with the poison administered to kill the cancer. The medical staff try to predict and alleviate many of the side effects, hence the numerous medications in Adam's Medic Bag. They know what to do when there is a reaction, the rest of us feel helpless.
It's early in Adam's treatment plan but we have all learned a major lesson - be flexible and be ready for anything. There is a guideline but no concrete path.
Hey, do you think this may be a life lesson too?
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Adam's Suite at Sloan Kettering
He has a private room and a gourmet menu - can you believe this is a hospital room! This past week Adam has been confined to a sterile hospital room on the 9th floor at Sloan Kettering while waiting for his blood counts to rise. The goal of high-dose chemotherapy is to destroy cancer cells, however
these treatments also destroy other cells, such as the ones that help
protect you from infection. Leukocytes, or white blood cells, are essential parts of the immune system, and are susceptible to damage by high-dose chemo. It can also affect a patient's bone marrow. Inroads in cancer research have led to the development of G-CSF (Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor) used to stimulate the bone marrow to produce granulocytes and stem cells. Each evening Adam gets a shot to help his body rebuild bone marrow more quickly and
effectively. We LOVE research! It's been a long week stuck in one room, but Adam has made the most of it. He adds, "My friends have helped me greatly and the nurses have been amazing."
PICTURED HERE: Adam and Steve hanging out in the hospital room. Check out the quilt designed and sewn by Adam's uncle, Stuart. Not only is the quilt designed in RPI colors, the back has historical photos of buildings on campus.
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Family Visits from both Coasts:
California & New Hampshire
Yes, NH has beach on the Atlantic!
PICTURED HERE: Adam with his Great Aunt Nancy (visiting from Exeter, NY), cousin Daniel (visiting from downtown Manhattan), Uncle Stuart & Leah (visiting from Los Angeles).
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Vocabulary Word of the Week: Neutropenic
Neutropenia (adjective neutropenic), from Latin prefix neutro- and Greek suffix -πενία (deficiency) is a hematological disorder characterized by an abnormally low number of neutrophils, the most important type of white blood cell, in the blood. Neutrophils usually make up 50-70% of circulating white blood cells and serve as the primary defense against infections by destroying bacteria in the blood. Hence, patients with neutropenia are more susceptible to bacterial infections.
Thanks to Wikipedia for the definition.
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Adam Contact Information
Cell: (631) 312-4057
Email: lamsoa@rpi.edu
Address:
Adam Lamson
430 No Sea Mecox
Southampton, NY 11968
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