Breaking News

Hello dear friends,

Our week started with a bang but, unfortunately, it is ending on a more somber note. Our attention at the end of last week and during most of this week was centered on determining the cause of the recent chest pains Bernice has been experiencing. Last Thursday, November 10, Bernice had her initial infusion of an experimental drug as part of the drug trial for which she had been accepted at Mt Sinai. Dr M the principal investigator and Bernice’s hematologist/oncologist at Mt Sinai had emphasized the importance of finding the cause of these relatively new pains. We saw Dr G her cardiologist on Friday and he was certain that there was no cardiac problem but thought it prudent to have an echocardiogram. Ironically, on Monday morning before the advent of any breaking news, there was an evaluation visit from a nurse from our long term care insurance company (who are paying for Bernice’s health aides.) At about 1:00 that afternoon Bernice went to our pantry, got a small can peaches, turned, lost her footing and fell on our tile kitchen floor. I heard the crash and with heart in my mouth saw my dear sprawled on the floor. Her right arm was scraped and oozing blood but she was fully coherent and, much to my relief told me it was not her head. She had chipped a corner out of one of her upper-front teeth. Now came some drama. I was unable to lift my sweetheart and I called our local fire department. In less than five minutes two strong policemen lifted her. We went to the ER and found that Bernice had broken her right wrist. She now has a hard fiberglass cast. We certainly did not need this she said. Since the heart was not involved in the chest pains we continued our doctor visits to see Dr B the GI doctor about a possible endoscopy. He thought that with her weakened condition and her low oxygen saturation levels, the anesthesia would make the procedure risky. He did not say so but I feel that he suspects her problem is esophageal and he gave her some pills to try for two weeks.

On Thursday we returned to Mt Sinai for the required weekly monitoring between the monthly infusions of the trial drug. We took Boeta, Bernice’s super health aide, along. On prior visits I could leave Bernice off at the hospital entrance and she could make her way navigating her trusty wheelie while I parked 5 blocks away in the special lot provided by the cancer institute. With her cast her wheelie was unusable. We arrived for our 11:00 appointment and were soon seated in one of the examining rooms. Bernice had the usual tests and answered questions from the research nurses and doctors under Dr M. Her blood was drawn but we did not see Dr M for some time, as it was a very busy day at the clinic. When we finally saw him he performed his examination, asked more questions, but ordered more blood drawn for additional tests.

He returned after a longer wait with the bad news. Her blood “had 27% blasts.” Blasts are immature blood cells that ordinarily mature in the bone marrow where all blood cells such as red, white and platelets form. More tests were to be performed so the full story is not yet clear. Last week there were only two blasts and that was unusual. Now there is an unwelcome crowd. Their appearance can signal a transformation to leukemia. We are scheduled to go to Mt Sinai at 10:30 on Monday and we will learn more. It is highly likely that her participation in the trial will be terminated. Once again Bernice made clear to me that she wants no extraordinary measures extended on her behalf.

We were ready to leave Mt Sinai at about 3:30 and figured we would beat the rush traffic streaming out of the city. But, somebody or something that arranges such things had evidently decided that something comedic was now in order. I arrived at the parking lot and handed in my ticket. This lot has cars stacked on five levels and I could see my mine on the second level. The attendant pushed the proper buttons and swore. The car lift was not working. Repair mechanics were called. More patrons were gathering in the lot. I laughed and soon returned to Bernice and Boeta. We grabbed some food in the hospital cafeteria but did not get underway for our trip home until 7:30.

Boeta came today and, among other helpful chores, helped Bernice with a shower (with a bag covering the cast.) She also prepared lunch. We will see her on Monday when she will accompany us to Mt Sinai once again.

Bernice wanted me to get this news out on the blog to avoid long responses to how things are progressing. We do appreciate email and phone calls but I have now communicated much in one fell swoop.

Love to all from both of us,

Merwin