Melanie, Steve and Uncle Frank's notes from the week:
This week has held some pretty rough moments. Over last weekend we noticed that Steve's vomiting had a different personality - more projectile. On Wednesday, Steve had a an Upper GI as well as a stomach Xray to see what was going on. We discovered that Steve's tumor is now pressing in on his duodenum and so he is getting very little nourishment from the small amount food he has been able to keep down. So, instead of Chemo, an admission to the hospital instead. Steve was admitted to the Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplant floor b/c there was no room on the Oncology Floor. (The rooms were pretty nice, and all the pudding you could eat.)
Steve's brother Frank had already been planning on coming so that he could keep an eye on Steve while Melanie tended to Brennan's Twelfth Birthday Celebrations. On Friday the Docs made an attempt to put a stent (endoscopically) through the duadunum, but found that it was too tough to get through the tissue.
We've been at UAB for the weekend, watching the Kentucky Derby and awaiting a game plan for Steve's nutritional needs. Frank kept notes as he was sending emails home to family so we have copied them here to give you a new perspective.....
...............................
Couldn't get the procedure to work today, would cause more problems than good, so we are waiting for the surgical team to come see us to see when they will schedule the bypass/detour surgery. Could be today so no food now while we wait. He is sleeping and pretty out of it at the moment. May schedule tomorrow but doubtful on Saturday. I will let you know.
Regarding today's procedure, the location of the blockage would have caused complications with a stint inserted. He is fine drinking water and last night enjoyed chicken noodle soup. He said that he keeps forgetting how good chicken broth is and wanted to remember to ask for it more often.
Melanie left to get Brennan from school and prepare the party. This am Brennan and I hung a Dora the explorer pinata in the front yard tree. They will enjoy hitting it (don't tell nora). Melanie will come back this evening for a visit. I will stay in the room tonight and she will handle the sleepover.
........................................................................
We met with the surgical team. No surgery tonight. They are consulting further. We are about to move rooms out of ICU to the 9th floor.
Steve is in and out of sleep...when he wakes, we have good conversation.
Not sure if he will be discharged tomorrow or stay in all weekend to find more info on Monday. Probably won't get any news tonight. The surgery guys were not offering much info.
Steve ate half bowl of chicken noodle and almost whole bowl of veggie soup, some coke so hunger is better. First food since yesterday 6pm.
Dr. Curry paid a nice visit and called the Head surgeon to see what's up. Head surgeon is coming in the morning to discuss surgery options. It is a relief knowing that Steve won't have to wait the weekend and start everyone over on Monday.
You could tell Steve was very relieved to know there is planning going on (even though you have to make noise to make sure you weren't forgotten).
.......................................................................
We had a fairly peaceful night other than the required interruptions for vitals and meds. At 6am a resident surgeon came in with 2 others and woke us up to talk about surgery stuff...same stuff he was saying at 5pm yesterday. Not much help ...kind of a wiener. Then his boss, Dr. Heslin came in and he was great and made a game plan.
1. Today, drain lung to help breathing (been increasingly short of breath, been there before).
2. Full ct scan TODAY, and results today
3. Study scan to determine next move
Plan a...if the scan says it may work, do a direct feeding into the intestines by some sort of iv which can offer 24/7 nourishment with any liquid (boost, ensure, or anythin.g better like that).
Plan b...a relief valve tubing that can drain the stomach when nausea ensues and nourish with whatever he can intake by mouth with drip iv supplement
The plan is to get breathing better and nourishment better to get back on the chemo wagon. May do the tube valve in stomach anyway because it may help with chemo nausea...a simple drain of the stomach, easy touch button drainage...kind of cool idea.
They are still studying the new CT scan and we'll have a sure plan tomorrow or Monday. So, for now...wait.