((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~
Jim’s infusion went very smoothly today.
The medical center has wheelchairs, which are just basic frames with wheels and no seat belt, lined up outside the building, like carts at a grocery store. The valet brought one to John’s car for Jim, so he didn’t have to walk at all.
John pushed Jim (chairs can’t be self-propelled), then left us to go back to his job, once we arrived at the infusion center.
While we waited in the lobby for 20 minutes, Jim was recognized by a variety of people, nurses, lab techs, a radiology tech, a pharmacy rep. Everyone smiled broadly and said, “I haven’t seen you in a long time!”
The nurse with our last name spotted us and came out to the lobby. Jim introduced me, and I extended my hand, “I’m his other wife, Rose.”
We told her that I was there, because Jonathan had passed, and she was crestfallen. “I’m so very sorry. Oh dear. He was your everything. My heart breaks for you.”
I realized when we left that we hadn’t shown anyone Jonathan’s picture. We will do that at tomorrow’s infusion.
Jim’s nurse today is a sweet, young woman with a lovely smile and personality. She explained that Jim wouldn’t likely have any adverse effects or reactions, as it is unusual, and the iron he was being given was very mild in a small dose.
The infusion lasted about 1 1/2 hours, so we were finished by about 1:30. I texted John, he arrived promptly after we rolled outside.
ENTERTAINMENT
We set up camp, with the iPad on the over-the-chair tray. Jim played his favorite card game, and I chimed in occasionally.
Meanwhile, I deleted photos from our phone, because I’d run out of space and wanted to take a photo of Jim. So many photos of Jonathan, all of which I kept, of course, and shared with Jim.
At one point, I showed Jim a photo and asked, “Do you want to keep this photo of your Shingles?”
We also met a therapy dog, who was making the rounds! A cute 20 pound terrier mix in a baby buggy, wearing a Hawaiian straw hat with colorful feathers and paper flowers. Cody looked at me as if to say, “Please, help me get rid of this hat!”
I told Cody that he looked ready to go to Hawaii, and asked, “Can we go too?”
His eyes said, “Lady, you can have anything you want, if you get this hat off of me.”
His owner said, “Let’s all go to Hawaii!”
Jim, his nurse, another nurse, and I all said, “I’m in!”
Cody’s owner gave us a squirt of Purell, wished us well and traveled on to the next patient.
AMBIENCE
The infusion center is huge, airy, well laid out. Windows on one side look out on the boulevard below, and probably to the distance of the foothills and mountains. But the blinds were closed, as some patients were sleeping.
Everything was super clean. An elderly gentleman in scrubs was wiping down all of the chairs, equipment, etc. between patients. He was putting fresh pillow cases on, cleaning up any debris. I just watched him in amazement. He has to be older than Jim and me.
Smiles for miles from everyone, including other patients. The majority of the patients were women, middle aged to Seniors. I was pleased to see their husbands beside most of them. Others had a friend or relative, but some were alone.
Then, I thought about all of the times Jim was there alone. My heart broke a little.
The last patient near the exit, a woman, with her husband beside her. I was pushing Jim’s chair, and Jim and I turned and smiled at them, as they smiled back.
“How is it going for you today?” I asked.
The woman said, “Good. Thanks. And you?”
“Good,” Jim answered.
Then, it was all our thumbs up for each other. “Take care,” I said as we left.
Then, we encountered a new patient, a Senior woman, and Jim’s nurse was taking her back to Jim’s chair. When I said, “Oh, we just left there!”, the lady asked me, “Did you leave it nice and warm?”
“It’s toasty warm. And, the nurse for that chair is wonderful.” I winked at Jim’s nurse.
BACK HOME
Jim is fine. He’s quite tired, naturally, because he didn’t get his morning nap, and this was stressful, even if he had. He had a brief nap, then it was a run to the bathroom, which continues all day and night from Lasix.
We had soup and sandwich for lunch, so he’s eaten and can relax.
Jim’s nurse said today that it can take a week to two weeks to feel the boost from the iron, although given via IV, that time is usually less than more.
So, now we pray that it works.
John asked me whether I feel okay about taking Jim tomorrow, and I do. As long as Jim is able to climb into and out of our van, we should be all right. We have a valet service, and the valets love Jim. I’m perfectly able to push the wheelchair.
John and his wife are going to a Rob Thomas concert tomorrow night. I wouldn’t want them to miss that! I wish that Jim and I could go with them.
Up to the minute, that’s all the news. Thank you for your prayers, love, and continuing support. We love you and pray for you and your loved ones every day.
Blessings upon you all ~
Love & Light,
Rose
Jim’s infusion went very smoothly today.
The medical center has wheelchairs, which are just basic frames with wheels and no seat belt, lined up outside the building, like carts at a grocery store. The valet brought one to John’s car for Jim, so he didn’t have to walk at all.
John pushed Jim (chairs can’t be self-propelled), then left us to go back to his job, once we arrived at the infusion center.
While we waited in the lobby for 20 minutes, Jim was recognized by a variety of people, nurses, lab techs, a radiology tech, a pharmacy rep. Everyone smiled broadly and said, “I haven’t seen you in a long time!”
The nurse with our last name spotted us and came out to the lobby. Jim introduced me, and I extended my hand, “I’m his other wife, Rose.”
We told her that I was there, because Jonathan had passed, and she was crestfallen. “I’m so very sorry. Oh dear. He was your everything. My heart breaks for you.”
I realized when we left that we hadn’t shown anyone Jonathan’s picture. We will do that at tomorrow’s infusion.
Jim’s nurse today is a sweet, young woman with a lovely smile and personality. She explained that Jim wouldn’t likely have any adverse effects or reactions, as it is unusual, and the iron he was being given was very mild in a small dose.
The infusion lasted about 1 1/2 hours, so we were finished by about 1:30. I texted John, he arrived promptly after we rolled outside.
ENTERTAINMENT
We set up camp, with the iPad on the over-the-chair tray. Jim played his favorite card game, and I chimed in occasionally.
Meanwhile, I deleted photos from our phone, because I’d run out of space and wanted to take a photo of Jim. So many photos of Jonathan, all of which I kept, of course, and shared with Jim.
At one point, I showed Jim a photo and asked, “Do you want to keep this photo of your Shingles?”
We also met a therapy dog, who was making the rounds! A cute 20 pound terrier mix in a baby buggy, wearing a Hawaiian straw hat with colorful feathers and paper flowers. Cody looked at me as if to say, “Please, help me get rid of this hat!”
I told Cody that he looked ready to go to Hawaii, and asked, “Can we go too?”
His eyes said, “Lady, you can have anything you want, if you get this hat off of me.”
His owner said, “Let’s all go to Hawaii!”
Jim, his nurse, another nurse, and I all said, “I’m in!”
Cody’s owner gave us a squirt of Purell, wished us well and traveled on to the next patient.
AMBIENCE
The infusion center is huge, airy, well laid out. Windows on one side look out on the boulevard below, and probably to the distance of the foothills and mountains. But the blinds were closed, as some patients were sleeping.
Everything was super clean. An elderly gentleman in scrubs was wiping down all of the chairs, equipment, etc. between patients. He was putting fresh pillow cases on, cleaning up any debris. I just watched him in amazement. He has to be older than Jim and me.
Smiles for miles from everyone, including other patients. The majority of the patients were women, middle aged to Seniors. I was pleased to see their husbands beside most of them. Others had a friend or relative, but some were alone.
Then, I thought about all of the times Jim was there alone. My heart broke a little.
The last patient near the exit, a woman, with her husband beside her. I was pushing Jim’s chair, and Jim and I turned and smiled at them, as they smiled back.
“How is it going for you today?” I asked.
The woman said, “Good. Thanks. And you?”
“Good,” Jim answered.
Then, it was all our thumbs up for each other. “Take care,” I said as we left.
Then, we encountered a new patient, a Senior woman, and Jim’s nurse was taking her back to Jim’s chair. When I said, “Oh, we just left there!”, the lady asked me, “Did you leave it nice and warm?”
“It’s toasty warm. And, the nurse for that chair is wonderful.” I winked at Jim’s nurse.
BACK HOME
Jim is fine. He’s quite tired, naturally, because he didn’t get his morning nap, and this was stressful, even if he had. He had a brief nap, then it was a run to the bathroom, which continues all day and night from Lasix.
We had soup and sandwich for lunch, so he’s eaten and can relax.
Jim’s nurse said today that it can take a week to two weeks to feel the boost from the iron, although given via IV, that time is usually less than more.
So, now we pray that it works.
John asked me whether I feel okay about taking Jim tomorrow, and I do. As long as Jim is able to climb into and out of our van, we should be all right. We have a valet service, and the valets love Jim. I’m perfectly able to push the wheelchair.
John and his wife are going to a Rob Thomas concert tomorrow night. I wouldn’t want them to miss that! I wish that Jim and I could go with them.
Up to the minute, that’s all the news. Thank you for your prayers, love, and continuing support. We love you and pray for you and your loved ones every day.
Blessings upon you all ~
Love & Light,
Rose
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