January proved to be a busy and trying month for Judy and John.
John and Judy arrived in Ft. Myers December 29, 2020. John’s (little brother Nick, good friend) drove our car to Florida along with his friend Michelle. They left Christmas day and arrived in Ft. Myers on Sunday around noon.
They had car unloaded so all Judy had to do was put things away in condo. They picked Judy and John up at the airport around 1 p.m.
Nick and Michelle stayed with us for New Year’s even though we were in bed before midnight. They were going to fly out on Saturday however their flight got delayed/cancelled—they spent 11 hours at the airport only to call and say do you want guests for a couple more days—flying standby they could not get out until Tuesday am at 6:05. On Sunday, January 3 John was having lots of pain in his right groin and sometimes could barely walk. On Monday, John wanted to go to the Emergency Room. They did a cat scan, sonogram; EKG, blood work, etc. We arrived at ER at approximately 9:15 a.m.—they saw John about 1:30 p.m. and did all those tests. They think it is gallstones however gallbladder is not infected; appendix looks good; really don’t want to admit to hospital with COVID—if pain gets worse come back to ER. Once we arrived back to condo from ER, Judy checked flight for Nick and Michelle—the 6:05 a.m flight was cancelled and they did not roll over the buddies to the next flight—John called Delta to get mistake corrected—waiting on hold almost 3.5 hours. Finally got that done.
Judy made appointment with oncologist and surgeon for John. Judy and John took Nick and Michelle to airport for 7:30 am flight—Michelle got on 7:30 am flight and Nick on the following flight—finally both back in Michigan around one p.m. On January John saw oncologist for follow up appointment—he told John no chemo until after you see surgeon—blood count low but let’s draw blood again to make sure—oncologist was going to get clearance from Humana for shots to raise blood count—oncologist called to say blood count was OK—shots not needed.
John had some pain again on Sunday but didn’t want to go to ER since he had appointment with surgeon on Monday. Saw surgeon, does not believe it’s gallstones—had another radiologist read reports and they found nothing. The physician assistant said let me try one more thing—had John stand up, found hernia (which she could not believe)—surgery needed. Surgery scheduled for January 15, 2021. Need to see cardiologist for clearance—John saw cardiologist in Michigan in December and he was able to provide clearance. Mike called that evening to say that he, Bev and Alyssa were going to fly in on Wednesday and leave the following Tuesday since he didn’t think I should be alone—we were both very excited.
Hospital called to go over medications; surgeries, etc. Hospital called later to say need COVID test prior to surgery. Mike called to say Bev not feeling well—having issues with BBPV (vertigo) and she wants he and Alyssa to still come to FLA—I told him he should stay home with Bev. She was in the hospital in December the week before Christmas when she was diagnosed (thought she was having stroke). Got call from Kim (daughter-in-law) in Texas that Larry (our son) and Christine (granddaughter) both tested positive for COVID. Christine was 16 in October.
Hospital called this morning, January 13 to say that they needed more blood work prior to surgery. John had COVID test at 10:30 am in Cape Coral; then blood work scheduled for 11:45 am in Ft. Myers—COVID test was very timely—waited almost an hour for blood work. On our return took short drive to hospital to find entrance “A”. Judy can go with John into registration but then has to exit hospital and wait for doctor to call after surgery is done. At this time they do not know if it will be outpatient or John will be in overnight.
The saga continues–today got call from surgeon’s office saying surgery is cancelled. Can you come to Cape Coral in an hour to see the surgeon–blood count too low.
First time meeting surgeon and we both immediately liked him. He was not aware that John gets chemo and when he heard Avastan–he shook his head. Judy called oncologist while in office and the surgeon and oncologist spoke to one another–the oncologist will work on getting John’s blood level higher and told the surgeon that yes, John, could miss chemo for another 3-4 weeks or longer. At this time the surgery is rescheduled for Thursday, February 4–time TBD like always.
I told John that GOD works in mysterious ways–must be why Mike, Bev and Alyssa cancelled trip due to the vertigo. I truly believe that GOD is working things out for John.
John had call from oncologist—need to take more blood; gave PROCRIT injection in stomach to raise iron levels.
On January 18 oncologist called and wants John to have blood transfusion to raise hemoglobin levels prior to surgery; had 2 pints of blood on January 19.
John saw oncologist on January 26 for blood check and didn’t like what he heard and sent him for CHEST X-ray. John got the MODERNA vaccine and is scheduled to receive second dose Feb. 25. CHEST x-ray came back negative. Oncologist called on January 28 and asked John to come in for iron infusion prior to surgery.
Today is January 31 and Judy is expecting the hospital to call for more blood work and another COVID test prior to surgery Thursday, Feb. 4.
