First non-medical excursion in a month

From l. to r.: Karin, Aunt Scottie, Murray, Eric, Kris,
and Uncle Dan (Kris' dad's brother.)

Today we went to a Benson family gathering at Kris' sister Karin's house; with husband Steve, Uncle Dan and Aunt Scottie, brother Eric and wife Lisa, me, and Murray, who wouldn't leave Kris' side all day, and ended up in the middle of every picture. It was also Murray's first extended excursion in a car with us, which, unfortunately, did not go as well. Upon arrival at Karin's we had to wash the back seat cover, among other things. 

Keeping Kris' seat warm at work

Basil is doing her best filling in for Kris at Alouette.
She has difficulty aswering the phone, but she is real good at letting us know when somebody is at the door.
Feel better, Dolly!

Resting with Murray.

Kris has been resting mostly. The chemo has made her nauseous, tired and she is not eating much. Am trying to buy foods she will eat, like soups, crackers and soft foods. Murray has been a great asset, a real sweetie. He still has some fear issues but not when he's with his mom, Kris.

Second chemo session today

Kris reading her boook... she's been nauseous and not very hungry, but she just ate a whole take-out order of pierogies from Velselka in East Village, where we stopped on our way home from NYU Infusion Center. The Infusion Center has very nice staff, very well run. Also got some Vegetable Soup for dinner (my favorite since 1977). I finally got approval for the anti-clotting drug from Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy, should arrive tomorrow.

Who's that girl?

Trying a wig on for size, with oxygen.

Kris is starting to feel ill from the chemo

She has felt nauseous since yesterday, feels very weak and is not eating much. Everything makes her queasy. We are still waiting to get approval from our insurance company for the blood clotting injections. It is DAY 3 and I am going in circles, stuck in a loop of responsibility shirking, going from Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy to the prescribing doctor to the insurance company and back again.

Kris cut off all her hair

Kris wanted to cut it before it started to fall out and get brittle. Using my electric trimmer, it is now 1/4" long. John and Sandy assisted. I now call her Sinead O'Benson. She saved all her hair in order to have a custom wig made from her own hair. If anyone knows where to do this and how much it costs please email me (abbyw@abbyw.com).

Meet Murray, our new doggie

Our sweet new dog, Murray is a godsend.  He is a two-year old rescue dog from Tennessee who we adopted over a month ago. Turns out he is a wonderful comfort dog who will spend hours in bed cuddling at Kris' side.

Kris has a blood clot in her arm

Another day another complication. Kris is doing OK after her first Chemo treatment. She's got a headache and is achy but otherwise fairly normal, besides the breathing issues. There are many other drugs and supplements she has to take with the chemo, like Glutamine powder, vitamins, anti-nausea pills etc... Furthermore, Kris developed an infection and then a blood clot from the IV in the hospital. We were really upset at them but then found out that this is not that abnormal. Cancer patients are 7 times more likely to develop dangerous clots. So she had to start on ANOTHER DRUG - a once daily injection of LOVENOX (enoxaparin) which she will need daily for the entire course of treatment. After visiting our regular local pharmacy, Greene Pharmacy, we learned we had no choice but to order from Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy and they would send it FedEx overnight. Yet despite having a written prescription from a doctor within our plan and having our Encologist call in and confirm the script, Walgreens called me at 5:15 PM to tell me that because it is a specialty drug they needed an additional approval from the insurance company -- after most people have already gone home for the day. We still have not gotten anything. So I had to buy a 7-day supply at Greene Pharmacy at the retail price of $30 a syringe. I am tired of playing Pharmacy Roulette - where one has to physically go to numerous pharmacies to get our sometimes-life saving prescribed drugs. Great system we have here.  

Started 9 weeks of chemotherapy today

Got a ton of forms, instructions, brochures and a free tote bag to carry them with. Nice place. A bit inconvenient - infusion center is on a street with access to midtown tunnel entrance. Parked in wrong lot where it was $43 instead of $21. Next time. Appointment was 11:30 AM, got home by 6:15 PM. She feels tired and nauseous but otherwise OK. The worst side effects should come within first three days after an infusion. 

Her hospital x-ray shows one lung 2/3 filled with fluid. Kris still has shortness of breath and is using her rented oxygen machines (r). The top machine fills a "portable" canister which lasts two hours. Met with social worker and nutritionist. We are trying to rent a better portable unit with wheels.