I have so much happening each day right now it takes two blog entries to capture it all.
Still am not sure what is Craig’s next move. The doctor has approved his dismissal from the hospital to a Rehab place. However that paperwork is slow to happen and hard to know if and when beds will be available. As fast as Craig is improving by the time we find a bed he might not need it. Plan A is still for him to go to an intensive Rehab place for five or more days. He would receive rehab for three hours a day spread out during each day. Plan B is for the hospital to keep him through Thursday so he can receive the last needed dose of IV antibiotics and then send him home with the understanding someone will be with him 24/7 until he is stronger and able to totally care for himself. The doctor told Kathy this afternoon he would agree to either plan. May have some answers tomorrow. Part of it will depend on how much Craig improves tomorrow. He is on the edge of being able to come straight home on Thursday and skip Rehab. Can’t believed how much he has improved from Friday.
It was so nice to have great nurses again last night and today. They really care about their patients and go above and beyond to help them feel comfortable. He had a really good PT person today too. A big shift from the nurses we had the first two days and nights. Grateful! Restores my faith in Nurses!
Kathy came up around noon to take my place so I could get back to Emporia for my appointment. Craig’s doctor was outside Craig’s room so I waited about an hour after Kathy got there before I left so I could talk to him. Unfortunately the doctor got called away to a different floor for an emergency so I had to leave before he or the social worker showed up. Kathy got to talk to them. The social worker called me and we discussed different options.
I stopped for a sandwich on my way out of town. My timing was good as I was eating when the social worker called me. We talked about what places were options for him and she was going to contact them and hoped to have some answers by tomorrow. Nicole text me while I was still at the restaurant so I was able to safely return her text.
Drove home and got to my surgeon’s appointment about thirty minutes early. I didn’t have enough time to drive home and back into town so went early. It was nice to sit in the quiet in his office for a bit and relax. I was surprised with what he had to say. Evidently new thyroid cancer treatment guidelines are coming out for 2018. The new guidelines call for agggressively monitoring the type of cancer I have but not treating it unless it starts to spread. My doctor said getting an ultrasound next week is a good idea to have a base line but doing the radioactive iodine treatment is optional unless the ultrasound shows something. The Endocrinologist implied the radioactive treatment was not optional and in fact she may add radiation to the mix if the ultrasound shows something.
I will have to sit with this new information and decide after the ultrasound what to do. The ENT doctor did say the Endocrinologist are the experts but he said something about them protecting themselves too. The doctor today said only 2 – 5% of people that have the type of cancer I have will have a reoccurrence. As long as I am followed closely he doesn’t think any further treatment is needed unless something new comes up.
After I was done at the doctor’s office I headed home and got part way home before I remembered I had promised Craig I would go to the veteran’s art show. Craig had entered some of my dad’s art pieces. Craig was convinced daddy was going to win a prize but he didn’t. I stayed over an hour until they announced the winners then left. I was tired and wanted to be home.
On the way home I remembered I hadn’t voted yet and made myself drive to Cottonwood Falls so I could vote. There were only two races on the ballet – both for school board positions and one of them didn’t have an opponent. With the way things are politically I had to vote today. Can’t complain unless I vote!
I’m about ready to take a bath and go to bed. I need to go back up to Topeka to spend the night tomorrow unless Craig gets moved tomorrow. Jason is up with Craig tonight and Jason has to work Thursday so Jason will need to come home tomorrow afternoon. I’ll probably head up a little after noon tomorrow so Jason can have part of a day off. There is a possibility Craig will move to a Rehab place tomorrow though. Will have to play it minute-by-minute and see how the day goes.
If Craig is able to come home Thursday the kids and I will have to put together a schedule so someone can be with him all the time for the next week at least if not longer. Nicole gets home Thursday sometime so she can help out too. Between Michelle, Tim, Jason, Nicole, Kathy and myself I think we can have someone there all the time without wearing anyone out. Craig has a second bed so it will be easy to stay over at his house.
I thought about having him come here to stay but decided against it as I don’t have a TV and I think it will be easier for the kids to help watch Craig if Craig is at his own house. Craig will be more comfortable at his own house too. In some ways it would be easier for me if he stayed here but as long as the kids help me out we can do it at Craig’s house. If everyone takes one day and one night a week it will be easy for all of us. This will be an adventure I am sure!
What a day! Good news day! Craig is much better again! My cancer may not be as serious as I was lead to believe. Lots to think about for sure. All is well on the prairie!