Money vursus Avastin

Money is the big motivator, and without it we don't get far.  Apparently without medicaid we don't get Avastin, you know, the drug that is shrinking the tumors.  Therefore, Wayne and I have filed for divorce so that he can get  SSI and his medicaid.  It's crappy and I am mourning my 25th wedding anniversary that is coming in a year and a half, but we didn't have a choice.  I HATE this.  I got married because I believe in marriage and I want to stay married, but we moved to the poorest state in the west.  Sure wish we;d known that!  So while we wait for the medicaid, no avastin and I hope it doesn't cost him too badly,  I am heartbroken and Wayne is pissed. 

I know this is only on paper.  But that doesn't make it right\.  Any system that tears families apart when they need to be together is a crappy system.  I don;t care if you;re a democrat or a republican, this is a bipartisan issue.  We need solid health care for ALL.  Not just the all who can pay for it.  That goes against what our country is founded on: "All men are created equal."  If we were all equal, then why will some people die because of substandard health care and others get the very best?  Think hard about this.  My husband;s life is at stake.

Getting Smaller

Our computer is down so I am using the one at the doctor's office while I wait for an rx.  Wayne's tumors have all reduced 50% in mass.  This is the best Christmas present I could ever have asked for!

He has been in the hospital but is going home today, and we have free home care servicess doing PT, OT, social work and skilled nursing, just to be sure we have everything straight.

We have moved into our apartment.  Thanks go our to Bob and Fern, who packed us up and moved us and Glenda who is also moving things in for us.  It's great to have our own space, but we sure appreciated living with Fern and Bob for all that time.

Well, I hope they are about done.  This is my happiest update yet!

Oxygen Helps!

Wayne has had a very rough last few days, and this morning we found out why.  He was low in red blood cells, the ones that carry oxygen into your bloodstream.  The doctor suggested blood and what he got was packed red blood cells.  And what a difference--almost night and day.  

Wayne hasn't been eating much either.  Yesterday he ate a bowl of cereal, about 1/3 of a junior cheeseburger from Wendy's, and a few bites of white rice and chicken.  Total amount of food for the day was less than a cup full.  He didn't eat any breakfast this morning, but once they started the IV he had a cookie.  And then another.  And he decided to go out to dinner. We went to I-Hop and he ate!  Not all of it, but more than he's eaten in a while.  And the doctor gave him some female hormones, that are supposed to increase appetite!  As long as he doesn't start looking like a girl!!

He's also been having some problems with cognition.  He's been confused about things off and on and this morning after he put on his clean clothes, he started to put his dirty ones on, on top of the clean ones.  Not enough O2 in the brain causes hypoxia.  I have had hypoxia.  It's not fun.  Your memory sucks.  You know that you aren't operating at optimum level.  And it's hard: it hurts your pride as much as your cognition.  After getting the blood, that has improved drastically.  And while I can't say the old Wayne is back, he is certainly better.

He gets to take a week off from chemo next week.  Then in two weeks, he will get another chest x-ray.  I think that we will see how that compares before making any changes.  However, we both felt that the doctor was hinting around today that the brain tumors are still there in full force.  That's not what we want, obviously.  We are still hopeful, but being realistic as well.  So please keep up those prayers.  We are still hoping for a miracle.