In Every Drop

       The past two weeks have been a bit of a blur.   Part of my mind is still back in October while the reality is that it's the middle of November.  Coming home from the hospital, visiting several times to check kidney function and also starting cycle 8 of DRd have kept us pretty busy this month.  If there's one thing that will keep me grounded it's working in retail at Christmas.    We're right in the midst of preparing for the Christmas season (with 9 pallets in the past 4 days).  There's much more coming next week, in addition to Black Friday.   

      Good news is that his kidney's are doing better.    One of their main functions is to regulate fluid in the body.   When they were failing last year they limited any liquid intake to 1.5 liters per day to allow them to have a lighter load and hopefully recover.   This time they were encouraging him to drink as much water as possible and also had him on a continuous IV drip to help re-hydrate them. It was quite the switch.     Because his kidney's were on strike they weren't processing the fluid and from when he entered the hospital to a few days after he was released he gained about 25 lbs (about 11) liters of fluid.  Having water tucked in every nook and cranny was a painful experience.   At one point, and for almost a week, his feet were swollen to almost round in shape, red and very painful to even the slightest touch.    Having to walk on them was torture.   The fluid pooled mostly in his legs which made walking difficult and put stress on his hips and knee's.   His kidney's were also very painful and leaning back at all was excruciating.   So, he spent most of his time in the hospital trying to get comfortable in a chair.    The pain meds would make him loopy, and it was a struggle to find a balance.   We both were a bit surprised when they came around for rounds one day and said they thought he could go home.   His creatinine and potassium were trending in the right direction and they felt he was out of the woods.     Knowing he would get better rest and be more comfortable at home we didn't fight to stay longer.   

      Meeting with his myeloma team at the start of his cycle on Wednesday they wanted to start to try and get the fluid off and put him on a diuretic.   His hemoglobin was also very low so they  scheduled a blood transfusion for the next day.   He started the diuretic on Friday and Monday when we went for labs he was down 30+ lbs, about the equivalent of 14 liters (or 7 large bottles of soda).   They were stunned and a bit concerned at such a drastic change and told him to cut back on the dose and scheduled more labs to follow up.   His kidney #'s at that lab were doing well, so hopefully taking it easier this week and continuing to drink lots of water this week will help his kidney's continue to be happy. 

        This week while the barrage of boxes was descending upon our store, one of my bosses, came by to help us.   He asked how Chris was doing and then shared with me a story and a quote that reminded him of Chris.    I was touched that he could recognize in Chris a trait that I also see.   There were a few variations of the quote, but this one I felt was the best in our situation.    This recent hospital stay was very physically challenging, but also for some reason very difficult emotionally as well.   Dr Sborov even picked up on it when we visited with him, but didn't really offer any encouraging words which left us both a bit down.   Now as he's feeling better, little bit by little bit, he's also recovering back to his cheerful self.   The smile on his face when I get home from work and the offer to do anything he can to help ease my aches and pains is the Chris that I  know and love.   I'm so grateful to have that back.