A Day in the Life…

Today is “day 4” for Ceci and I thought it may be interesting to take this blog today and give you a glimpse of what a day in Ceci’s life is like. On day 1, 3, 6, 9 and 11 her day starts very early…12:20 a.m.! She is given a dose of chemo at that time because that is the time her transplant was completed. This chemo assists engraft vs. host complications. Each morning at 4 a.m. the nurses will come in and do lab draws so the results will be ready for the doctors to review when they make their rounds. The draws give them all kinds of information from platelet counts to how this is affecting her other organs. It is so amazing! What else is amazing is that Ceci can sleep through this 4 a.m. visit!! This girl has developed some “sleeping genes”!

At 6 a.m. each morning the nurses roll in a large set of scales to weigh her…gotta keep that cute figure! Actually, her weight is a critical component in this whole process because she cannot lose weight. She does get to crawl back in bed and snooze until breakfast which is midmorning. She has not had a huge appetite; however, she has had a few bites of pancakes and ate a breakfast pastry this morning for her breakfast. Since she has been put on the nutritional TPN med, her theory on eating is “chocolate during the day and veggies at night”!! Doesn’t she have the best sense of humor?

After breakfast, she showers and her bed linens are changed. She has to make sure she does mouth care four times a day because it is another critical component; it is the gateway to her system. Cleanliness is paramount. Ceci is also required to do four breathing treatments a day. This keeps her lungs clear of any mucus.

A physical therapist arrives to encourage Ceci to get on the exercise bike. This therapist does not know our Ceci and that she is “self motivated” and does not need her bossing her around! She also has other exercises that are required but she can do those in bed.

She, of course, can take those needed naps in between all of these activities! Whew, aren’t you exhausted for her?

The nurses are in and out hourly checking the pumps, changing the meds, giving her more, etc. At 6 p.m. they bring the scales in again and weigh her. You may be wondering this is a lot of information how does she keep track of what she does? There is a white board in her room and true to “Ceci form”, she gets to check it off when she completes it! Great visual and it’s organized!

The schedule during the night is just as rigorous. At 8 p.m. a 12 hour drip of fats and lipids are started (those would be the veggies!). 9 p.m. rolls around and she gets an iv of attivan and at 11 an iv of protonics and zofran. Midnight comes and the vitals are taken. At 1 a.m. she receives hydrozoxine and more attivan at 3 and another dose of zofran at 5. Ok, are we all exhausted?? There is something to be said for uninterrupted sleep! Ceci, you take all the naps you can girl!!

Aunt Jane

Penning for Ceci