Crunching the Timeline Tip #2

My niece Allison was going through her oncology fellowship in Orlando, Florida, at this time. In the beginning and throughout the entire time, she availed herself to me whenever I needed her. She also gave me information that helped me crunch the timeline and navigate the journey.

At this point, I am texting her saying they want to send him home. It frightened me that he was in so much pain. I couldn’t imagine being able to care for him at the house.

She messaged me back and told me not to let them send him home, that I didn’t have to allow them to release him under those circumstances.

As I am writing this, I wonder if he had been sent home if it would have taken longer to get him to Moffitt. I believe because the doctors came in every day and saw him failing, dying, they were pressured to pass his care on to a more experienced and knowledgeable medical team. Specialist for cancer, at this point, that was still unidentified.

FROM THE NOTEBOOK

Monday 2-25-14

Family Dr. Dr S, pain meds

ultrasound to testicles

lower left

MRI pancreas 11 am because it was pushed down because of tumor

morphine

biopsy Tuesday morning

Comments

Replace the 3 Lumen Pic Line with a Port

Mathew's 3 Lumen Pic Line was replaced with a Power P.A.C. Both Mathew and I were given Medical I.D. cards to carry at all times. I have mentioned before that texting from the DRC is almost impossible. The staff told me it used to be the X-ray department so the walls are leaded. Again, the phone tree would have helped so much. I texted the following information to my niece, my sister and Mathew’s Dad and Stepmom. And probably Joseph and Carlos. I know that could have been reduced to two texts, three at the most. At the time I didn’t know about group messaging as my phone was an old Android. Texts Between me and Diane Hi. We are at the hospital early because Mat is in a lot of pain. We think the bill stent may have moved. Sent 3-31-14 Because he was NPO for other procedure they should be able to fix today. Sent 3-31-14 In the DRC sending texts is almost impossible so if you don’t hear from me for a while don’t worry. If ...

A Cancer Poem by Mathew Rodgers 2014

From Mathew’s Journal 4-5-14 “I lie awake in my pain bed metallic noises chirping from my strange computer companion”

Thoracentesis to Remove Fluid on the Lung

2-28-15 From the Notebook Fluid on right side of lung Needs to be drained, done from the back Can be done bedside Send out for testing CAUSE? could be a bodily reaction - most likely this because fluid wasn’t present when he arrived or could be tumor has entered the lung. Mathew had been complaining about his right shoulder hurting (this was from the fluid on his lung). He thought it was from the previous October when he was taken by ambulance from work when they thought he was having seizures. He wondered if the EMT's had hurt his shoulder when restraining him. He will reference this in his music and writing. A local oncologist is brought in who says he will be starting Mathew’s treatment. More news on the diagnosis: -Neg for lymphoma -not traditional carcinoma -uncommon sarcoma -pancreas -looking for rare cancers Again my ignorance, I thought that a rare cancer would get more results. Backward thinking. Here is a photo of t...

Confections For Cats

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