Tubular

Michael texted me last night at 2:24 to say they just started administering platelets to Sylvie. What that meant essentially is that from 2:24 am until roughly 6:30 am, Sylvie was getting platelets, red blood cells, Fortaz antibiotics and Tylenol. That amounts to an endless amount of beeping. Courtney, the nurse, checked Sylvie's temperature every 15 minutes throughout the night, too. I got to the hospital at 7:00 am so that Michael could take a quick shower and catch the train to the city. I feel like an "imposter" driving in rush hour traffic to the hospital.

In my mind, I imagined Sylvie's fever going away like it did the last two times, heading home on Tuesday afternoon and then back for chemo on Thursday. After about the fifth person, be it doctor or nurse, mentioned to me "the week" in the hospital, it became abundantly clear that Sylvie's not going home tomorrow. I had been hoping she might actually be HUNGRY and ordered from In Room Dining cheesy eggs, porridge, a bagel (I know... it's Passover!) and a banana. It went untouched until I ate the eggs. Dr. Taira came in and we hugged like long lost friends while Sylvie asked to see the photos and videos of Disney World on her Blackberry.

Amy, who is Sylvies nurse for today, came in to start Sylvie's NG tube at around 10:00 am. The stethoscope test failed. So did flushing it with fluids. This falls into the category of OH SHIT because it means the tube isn't working and I could only think of one remedy which was to replace it. Sylvie's had 5 NG tubes in 9 weeks. That is not good. Not to mention, she's officially traumatized by it. If there is ONE thing that Sylvie will remember from this whole ordeal, I can guarantee that it will be the NG tube. Once again, I was wrong. Dr. Halpern and the whole team made rounds. Sylvie's platelets went from 12 to 192 but her hemoglobin was still under 8 so Sylvie would need an additional transfusion today. I asked them point blank regarding what kind of surgery Sylvie they recommend Sylvie having since if she is to be added to a donor list, I am under the impression that it needs to happen next week when Round 4 chemo begins. And I mean, we desperately want to know as well!

**Just want to throw out there that I think Sylvie could use some A+ blood since she's been getting at least one transfusion weekly lately. Thank you again for everyone who has donated blood or platelets!

Moments after the flock of lab coats departed, Dr. Halpern, Ellen (Advance Practice Nurse) and Linda (nutritionist) returned and I already knew what was coming... They had talked amongst themselves and to Dr. Harris and wanted our consent to put in a Gastric Tube ("G Tube") in her abdomen because the NG tube really shouldn't be used long term, clearly it's not working well, Sylvie is traumatized by it and perhaps not eating as a result of it and lastly, because she has months of additional treatment. Really, how could one argue with that? They said that all under-three-year-olds get the G Tubes because the kids can't be force fed but Sylvie's tumor had been too large initially to insert one. They all think Sylvie will go back to eating once there is no longer an 8mm piece of pvc running down the back of her throat, esophagus and into her stomach. Again, can't argue with that. Two things come to mind when I think of gastric tubes: 1). My beloved grandmother during her final month getting a G Tube which was a sign of bad things to come and 2). The Ag School cows at the University of Wisconsin that had "windows" sewn into their abdomens so that you could observe them ruminating.

The tube is surgically implanted and sounds like yet another disgusting medical apparatus that we will have to learn how to use, clean and trouble shoot.

They haven't told us when Dr. Valda will perform the procedure; definitely not tomorrow though.

Today therefore was the first time Sylvie has swallowed oral medication in 8 weeks! Let's just say it took Amy pinching Sylvie's nostrils and squeezing her cheeks like Alfalfa on The Little Rascals to get her to ingest grape-flavored Tylenol.

My parents came by and were amazed and impressed when Siobhan stopped by with another doll, this one with a G Tube in its tummy. Previous teddy bears have port-o-catheters surgically implanted in their furry chests. I'm not sure if the dolls are for the kids or the parents.

I ran home and picked up Sylvie's BFF Samantha at 4:30 to bring her back to the hospital. They were psyched to see each other and for about 15 minutes, actually sat side by side together in bed until Sylvie made Sammy move and took her coloring book. Typical Sylvie although she actually apologized later. I ordered Samantha macaroni and cheese, chicken noodle soup, mashed potatoes, carrots and a banana in the hopes that Sylvie might be inspired to eat a little after watching Sammy eat. Sammy was pretty stoked to be sitting in bed watching "Enchanted" and "Barbie Nutcracker," making glitter glue art projects, attempting origami and especially eating mac n cheese. The farthest I got with Sylvie was her saying that it smelled good. Well, it's a start.

After Samantha left, Sylvie's temperature shot up to 101.4 so the redisident asked for another culture. While Michael was reading My Little Pony phonics books over and over, Dr. Alba stopped by and again, I ran over to hug her because we spent many long evenings together and I like her very much.

Sylvie's asleep and I hope to be snoring on the bench shortly.