The “C” Word – Day 75 Blood Transfusions

Today George spent the better part of the day at Good Samaritan Hospital – but this time as an outpatient.  Thanks to Sara who was able to block out her time to spend getting him checked in and settled in for the afternoon.

He had to be at registration around 11:30 in order to get his blood cross checked at noon.  While they had hoped to be able to start a little ahead of his 2PM transfusion, it took several nurses multiple attempts to find a good vein between his limbs being swollen still and his dehydration.  I think it sounded like 7 or 8 attempts were made to find the final location.  By the time they were able to start it was around 2:45.  Each bag takes about 2.5 hours so he was going to be there awhile. 

Sara helped order up some food for him and said he did quite well at eating.  I arrived around 3:45 to take over.  It was a long quiet afternoon and evening and we managed to get out at 8:30PM. 

I have to say that the outpatient treatment we received on the 5^th floor was far better than our two week stay.  The nurses stayed on top of the process and there was no wasted time waiting for things to be switched over. 

George was more alert when we were done this evening.  Were it not for the Benadryl they gave him at the onset he would probably be even more alert.  The anemia and vitamin deficiency has caused memory loss for George.  He has not been able to remember things well at all unless they are written down.  Fortunately this is “reversible memory loss” if we can get his body to function at a more even keel!  I don’t think I could have two people in this house with Alzheimer’s/Memory Loss!

I hope that a good night of rest will enable him to feel better and stronger tomorrow.  The magic mouthwash is enabling him to start eating more now.  That is a good sign and gives us hope that things will start turning a corner.