Skip to main content

Our Arrival at Moffitt Cancer Center, Two Views

From Mat’s journal

3-1-14

They transfer me to Moffitt -  the promise land, in the middle of the night. I’m sufficiently medicated, its comfortable.

When I get there my nurse is hard of hearing, their faces are not warm.
They say I cannot move around good enough to go to the bathroom on my own since I must use a walker.

I warn people about the danger of liquid on my lungs. They asked me the last time I pooped. “48 hours”

Liquid diet breakfast served
-apple juice
-8 oz vegetable broth
  • regular jello-
  • coffee
  • -sugar
No pain meds yet.


My View

We arrived at Moffitt just after midnight. The ambulance parked in front in order to unload Mathew. I had to park in the parking garage and race back to the main entrance. The last time I had been at Moffitt was back in the 90’s when my sister Elizabeth received a bone marrow transplant.

And there we were. On the fifth floor, 5 south, in a large room and suddenly I felt so alone. The admitting doctor and the nurse were strangers, everyone was, and they asked the same questions Mathew had been answering all along. I wanted someone to fire the starting pistol and get things moving. I still feel alone and lost when I think about those first few days, but then that became our routine, our ‘normal’.


TXTS to Joseph

Got here a little after midnight. Waiting for the 
doctor to make rounds. Great big room.
Visitation 24/7 even a comfortable cot so when 
ou come to visit you can sleep and shower here. 
Hotel quality bathroom.
Sent 3-1-14

Mat has been sleeping good. Anxious 
to get going with treatments.
Sent 3-1-14

                                                                     Great!
                                                                     Rcd  3-1-14

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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 ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why is it Called Confections for Cats?

I want to take a moment and talk about why Project Mathew is called Confections for Cats. The main reason is that it was going to be the title of his first album. He had sketched up some artwork. We were working on it in Photoshop. Here is an early permutation of the artwork. Mathew's life, his story is mainly about music, his music, and his journey through cancer. When he created his Facebook page, he named it Confections for Cats and I continued with that name. I have been thinking about a logo, a way to incorporate cats, Sarcoma and his music. I like to brainstorm. So, I was thinking about the word confections. When Mathew first told me that title, this was before his diagnosis, I recall thinking about how he practiced his guitar into the night and early morning and that his cats have been his constant audience. Sweets, confections for his cats, and his music as delicious morsels for our ears. I looked up the word confections and yes, a confection is a sweet. Bu...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Rollercoaster of Chemotherapy Fewer Highs and More Lows

TEXTS BETWEEN ME AND ARPIE Mat sees Dr. Reed Thursday at 9 and then at 1 he goes to have biliary stent changed to a larger gauge. We had to reattach a bag this morning. Sent May 12                                                                  I have Dr's appointment myself Thursday                                                                  will call after and see if you are still                                                                  with Dr. Reed.   ...
Post a Comment
Read more