April 2, 2020
Stephen is at CARTI alone today. In order to better protect their patients, they are allowing
patients only at this time. He has not wanted me to sit with him during his infusions (they are long& boring, and he wanted me to be at our office). However, I have always gone in with him. Each time, I met his nurse for the day and stayed with him until he got settled in for the infusion. So it felt strange to just drop him off today. A little like dropping your child off at the front door of school after being able to walk him/her into the classroom and say "hi" to the teacher. It got me thinking about all the parents who are having to leave their children alone at hospitals around the country.
THAT has got to be tough! At least Steve and I have been able to text several times already today.
We went into treatment a couple months ago with a bit of anxiety about the cancer and chemo. In recent weeks, our concern has shifted to Covid-19. Not only does the chemo have Stephen's immune system weakened, but he also has asthma which he treats daily with preventative medication. He has been very concerned that if he gets exposed to the virus, he will be one of "those patients" that doctors push lower on the waiting list for treatment because "why treat a weakened patient when you have a better chance of saving a person without underlying health complications".
That being said, he had a similar conversation with his oncologist, Dr. Patel, today before going in for the chemo infusion. Below is Steve's reply when I texted to see how that conversation went with Dr. Patel:
So....when today is done, Steve will be 5/6 of the way through chemo; next Thursday is scheduled to be his last infusion. I have already warned him that I will be taking celebratory photos on that day.
Please keep him in your prayers!
😘
