In the Hospital

Well, it's been a very scary 72 hours.

Thursday morning my dad took Joe to Strong Radiation oncology for a back x-ray and appointment with Dr Chen. He came home and was very tired, thus slept the entire afternoon. When I returned home from work we both went to Tom's soccer game - and he was fine - a little chilly because the night cooled down -but otherwise himself. At 2 am he woke up very confused and disoriented -not knowing who any of us were, himself included, and in a great deal of discomfort - not pain - but discomfort. He kept saying he had to continue to go to the bathroom. That should have been my first clue as to an infection, but because he was so disoriented, I believed him to be over tired -and thus I watched him through a very restless night. He began talking gibberish at 3 am and I finally gave him some additional pain meds to get him to relax and go to sleep. Sleep finally came at 4:30 am, however, upon waking at 6:30 he was no better- actually worse. He didn't know who Tom was or anything simple. He was clearly agitated and confused. I sent Tom off to school and called our visiting nurse and Joe's sister Roxanne, who he had been talking to and calling since about 3 am. She and Nanette told me that they would be here to help at 10 am. I tried to wait for them, and Dr Kohli's office - but he was getting worse by the moment so I called an ambulance.
Joe was admitted into the ED at 10 am and they began a series of tests to check for everything from infection to brain tumors. Gina came home and got Tom from school. Joe didn't know either of them or his sisters, or Paul or Maureen when they came back. Father Werth visited and gave Joe the anointing of the sick - Father Werth married Joe and I, and baptized Gina. Joe got admitted into 6-3400 (Oncology unit) at 6:30 pm and we were greeted from ED by our favorite nurse Jack and the nurse manager Patty. They, along with the entire Strong staff has been wonderful. About 9 pm Friday night the docs began a regime of antibiotics, believing he had peritonitis again, or another infection. "Stuff" was still growing in the lab to determine his exact infection. We had yet another rough night - restless and agitated. He still did not know where he was or who any of us were. In the morning he was a little better - knew me and himself, and when the kids walked into the room, he knew them. What a relief! They attempted a second brain scan, but Joe refused to lie still for it, so at this point we have no idea what may be going on inside his brain. However, late yesterday afternoon the infectious disease team told me that he is 'growing bugs all over' - blood - abdominal fluid - urine - and that they believe him to be on the correct medicine. They have ruled out meningitis and a brain swell, however, do want to see if there are tumors on his brain.

Yesterday afternoon he visited with his mom and sister Yvonne and Fred, and Rose and Lou Petrella - he knew them all. My dad came up and apparently he was sleeping - I ran home to catch a much needed shower! Last night he ate minimally but did know Ann and Gene when they came up and when I left at 10 pm he was finally, sleeping soundly. The hospital appointed a sitter for him overnight so that I could come home and get some rest.

So - I am headed back to the hospital and then to Paul's mom's funeral service today. My brother -in-law Bill will sit with Joe while Gina, Tom and I pay our respects to Mrs. Cassarino. I am hoping that he is better this morning. He was improving over the course of yesterday.

He is still pretty weak and has not eaten much. He is on oxygen because his O2 levels are low, but his vitals signs are strong.

I hope to see Dr Kohli today to discuss if he believes we can start chemo. Without it, the cancer will continue to grow. With it, we have hope.

Thanks to all for your help and love. Thanks to the Vadas family for cutting my lawn! Thanks Rose and Louie for the food - you fed us all! Thanks to Rox, Nan, Yvonne, Fred and mom for visiting. Thanks to the Pettinaro's for taking in Tom, and Thanks Lucy for keeping Tom safe and OK at school Friday for me.

With continued hope for a stronger Joe...

Love,
Vicki, Gina & Tom