Thursday Quickie

During her visit to the SCCA clinic last week for her regular blood draw, Jamie was told that Dr. Goff had requested a PET scan for her. As usual a hesitant scheduler at the UWMC nuke department was becalmed by Goff’s name and by the following Thursday we were back at the hospital, me learning my way around a new floor.

I will spare you guys some of the grotesquities, and preserve Jamie’s modesty, but basically they inject you with glucose with a radioactive isotope that the cancer cells are attracted to. They run you through some sort of scanner that I imagine to be like the wheel on Stargate and the cancer cells, if present, light up on the image.

As usual the staff in the nuclear medicine department were all most accommodating, but we will never forget Pam, the third nurse to try and be successful with Jamie’s IV who says “just like the cooking spray” and then giggles in that unique way of SE Asian women. After “non-stick” Pam, we had Rusty, 4th daughter of a Russell who had no hope of sons, and finished Jamie’s prep.

After Jamie retuned from her scans she was ravenous and so down to the basement for a quick bite before our 3 pm infusion appointment on 8 SE.

Again new territory for both of us, the 8 SE outpatient clinic is located directly above our home wing 7SE. Staffed by what can only be described as a silly group of women slightly older than the 7SE crowd, they made for a very light and comical atmosphere in what is otherwise a more open, sterile type IV-infusion room.

In an hour we were out of there, thanks to a diligent nurse whose name evades me, but I will remember her as “patient hog” as described by her co-workers. When we entered the clinic Jamie announced that she had a Power Port that was already accessed and this woman literally elbowed her way in.

Afterwards, traffic and our stomachs directed us eastbound 520 to the Wood’s where Joel
provided us with scrumptious Santorini gyros. Although frequently mis-pronounced by some, these are always a favorite of Jamie and mine.

After dinner we were entertained by what can only be described as Madeline’s performance and of course Erik’s new walking skills. Katrina also dazzled all with a fantastic 100% from scratch pumpkin pie.

So it was back to work for one more day before Saturday chores and then pack it all up again for IP chemo starting Sunday. More later.