Day 15 - Survived our first night at The Timbers - September 28 2011

Jani snug as a bug on the living room sofa bed doctored with our memory foam mattress.

 jm on the bedroom bed at The Timbers - Day 14 in to Day 15

For the first time in weeks, I slept solid for 5 straight hours. I really needed some uninterrupted sleep.

Home Sweet Home - The Timbers - September 27 2011

Out Timber space has a living room/kitchen with a bedroom and one bath.

The living room sofa makes in to a bed for Jani.

The television channels here at the Timbers is only slightly more expanded than the channels on the tv at the University of Colorado Hospital.

My first cousin, Vic Lundberg called me from California tonight. We only visited a short while since I was very tired and nap material. Vic's father, Rex Lundberg, was my M's older brother.

Day 14 Discharge from University of Colorado Hospital September 27 2011

 "I want out that door". My discharge was scheduled for noon and I was ready!

 Jani hauled the last of my things out to the car with her rolling dolly.

 Really hard to do the hand foaming as she leaves the room with the rolling cart - what a good sport - that Jani!

Nurse Sarah discusses the discharge instructions with me. Arrangements had been made with a home health care agency to come to the The Timbers to give me intravenous Foscavir for my shingles. Then, the social worker, Melissa, came in and said the medication was unavailable (it is difficult to get in the U.S.) and they were going to have to come up with another plan for my shingles therapy. Hence, my discharge was delayed more than 4 hours!!!!! At one point, after I was officially on paper discharged - it looked like they might re-admit me just to give me the shingles medicine through Thursday September 29. I remained calm and told them if I had to stay - they owed me a trip outside in to the air - at the very least. Finally, all the powers that be decided that I could be discharged on an oral shingles medicine called Famciclovir - WooHOO!

 jm with mask on as I leave the University of Colorado Hospital Room 1125. It's difficult to see with the mask - but, I'm grinning ear to ear!

 I sat down in the Atrium area of the hospital while Jani went to the Atrium Pharmacy for the 3rd time today - to pick up the shingles medicine. That piano plays all by itself. I have to wear a mask whenever I'm going to and from the hospital from now on.

Hallelujah - AIR AT LAST - I'm outside again and loving it!!!!!

Day 14 - Morning Update - Discharge from Hospital Day September 27 2011

My new baby stem cells are doing great! White blood cells are 2.8 and my absolute neutrophil count (ANC) is at 2.5. However, I remain anemic with a hemoglobin of 9.5 and my platelets are flat at 19. I will be getting a platelet transfusion this morning before I am discharged from the University of Colorado Hospital to stay at the The Timbers Hotel.

I received a platelet transfusion at 7 AM which brought my platelet value from 19 to 41.