Although the rainy weather continues and the Red Sox choked last night, we're still excited about Dad leaving the hospital tomorrow.
The most exciting sight upon my arrival at the hospital this morning was seeing my father in real clothes (khaki shorts and a Red Sox sweatshirt) instead of a hospital Johnny. Janice left soon after I arrived as she had spent the night at the hospital to help make it more comfortable for Dad. Dad was able to sleep a bit better, as they took a couple of late night strolls, which helped tire him out. Before Janice left, she and Dad took a walk outside the hospital. This was Dad's first breath of fresh air in a week. It felt good to be outside and buy a Boston Globe, even if it was a bit cold and damp.
The other excitement of the day was discovering that Dad's friend and former colleague from the Rochester Times Union, Read Kingsbury probably upstate's best-known editorial page editor for decades before he retired in the 1980s, is in a room just a few doors down in the hospital. They're still figuring out what's going on with him, but it was lovely for Mom and Dad to catch up with Read and Neva although the circumstances aren't ideal.
The radiation oncologist stopped by and we learned that it looks like Dad will have chemo for a few months before getting the radiation. We are hoping that he'll be able to get the "cyber-knife" radiation, but that will have to be determined by scans after the second round of chemo. It is unclear who will be doing the chemo and where, but that should be figured out at the follow-up appointment in Boston at the end of July. The surgical oncologist said that Dad is looking good.
Perhaps the most frustrating part of the last couple of days has centered around the possibility that Dad has diabetes. We're assuming that he has diabetes and so we're learning all about blood sugar, carbohydrates and sugars. Dad is not a fan of pricking himself but he'll figure it out.
Tomorrow will be full of excitement before we leave the hospital: instructions on what medicines to take when, they'll take out the 32(!) staples in Dad's abdomen and send us on our way. It's a long drive back, but well worth it.
Showing posts with label Red Sox. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Red Sox. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Road Trip Rigors
There are a lot of inconveniences that rise almost to the level of irritants when one is forced to be away from home for an extended period. I'm about to grapple with one of those.
It's time to turn on the Red Sox-Orioles game and unlike at home, where I without fail record the games on my DVR player, I'm forced to watch the action from Boston virtually "live". This has severely disrupted my time-tested technique to maximizing enjoyment of the games, I turn them on about an hour after they start and fast-forward through not only all of the commercials and pre-game pap but also frequently half-innings when the bad guys are at bat. In fact, if the opposing team threatens to score, I'll usually dash through the rest of that inning, rewinding only if the Sox hurler somehow wiggles out of the jam. When the Sox are up and they haven't been doing much offensively I might also fast forward them but then if I see they have scored, I rewind and savor every delicious moment of justice once again prevailing. There is an upside to my current situation of course: frequently when the Sox are on the road, the MLB package which is my video lifeline during the baseball season, will pick up the feed from the opposing camp. This forces me to listen to the inanities and slanted reporting of those from the dark side. Some, like Jim Palmer of Baltimore, are passably good. Others, like Hawk Harrelson of the White Sox, are unbearable. I prefer my slanted reporting and inanities with the proper prejudice. And please don't even get me started on the Yankees announcers.
It's time to turn on the Red Sox-Orioles game and unlike at home, where I without fail record the games on my DVR player, I'm forced to watch the action from Boston virtually "live". This has severely disrupted my time-tested technique to maximizing enjoyment of the games, I turn them on about an hour after they start and fast-forward through not only all of the commercials and pre-game pap but also frequently half-innings when the bad guys are at bat. In fact, if the opposing team threatens to score, I'll usually dash through the rest of that inning, rewinding only if the Sox hurler somehow wiggles out of the jam. When the Sox are up and they haven't been doing much offensively I might also fast forward them but then if I see they have scored, I rewind and savor every delicious moment of justice once again prevailing. There is an upside to my current situation of course: frequently when the Sox are on the road, the MLB package which is my video lifeline during the baseball season, will pick up the feed from the opposing camp. This forces me to listen to the inanities and slanted reporting of those from the dark side. Some, like Jim Palmer of Baltimore, are passably good. Others, like Hawk Harrelson of the White Sox, are unbearable. I prefer my slanted reporting and inanities with the proper prejudice. And please don't even get me started on the Yankees announcers.
Friday, June 26, 2009
A single!
After a long, sleepy day, we watched the Red Sox win (4-1 versus the Braves). Getting the Red Sox on basic cable is another advantage of being in Boston. AND, Dad was moved to a single room, after spending last night with a noisy roommate! We are hoping for a quieter night full of sleep.
A new driver!
Just a quick update:
We saw Dad last night after he got out of 8 hours of surgery and 4 hours in the recovery room, and he was lucid, alert, and in great spirits. He had been listening to his ipod (the anesthesiologist selected his playlist) and was watching the Red Sox game. While disappointed they coudn't remove the entire tumor, he is excited to fight to the cancer, and said he felt the most hopeful he had been since the diagnosis.
Ellen got back from her work trip to Denver, and was able to go see Dad late last night - he was thrilled to see her. He talked about wanting a new golf driver (he borrowed one for his famous 330-yard drive), and wanting to keep our family vacation reservation on the coast of Maine. While he is having trouble sleeping, he is next to a window and the nursing staff has been great.
Many of you are asking about his mailing address - here it is! He will be at BIDMC for about a week. After that, please send things to our home in New York.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Patient: Jay Gallagher
West Campus, Farr 9
185 Pilgrim Rd.
Boston, MA 02215
We saw Dad last night after he got out of 8 hours of surgery and 4 hours in the recovery room, and he was lucid, alert, and in great spirits. He had been listening to his ipod (the anesthesiologist selected his playlist) and was watching the Red Sox game. While disappointed they coudn't remove the entire tumor, he is excited to fight to the cancer, and said he felt the most hopeful he had been since the diagnosis.
Ellen got back from her work trip to Denver, and was able to go see Dad late last night - he was thrilled to see her. He talked about wanting a new golf driver (he borrowed one for his famous 330-yard drive), and wanting to keep our family vacation reservation on the coast of Maine. While he is having trouble sleeping, he is next to a window and the nursing staff has been great.
Many of you are asking about his mailing address - here it is! He will be at BIDMC for about a week. After that, please send things to our home in New York.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Patient: Jay Gallagher
West Campus, Farr 9
185 Pilgrim Rd.
Boston, MA 02215
Sunday, June 21, 2009
A Happy Fathers' Day
We're all gathered at Ellen and Allyson's apartment in Somerville, where we just completed Jay's new favorite ritual: reading all the emails of support that keep pouring in. This is a highlight of the day - please keep them coming!!
We are now trying to figure out whether we can get to the hospital that's 6.2 miles away in less than an hour tomorrow morning during rush hour for a schedule CT scan. That's the same distance that Jay used to bike from home to the Capitol in about 35 minutes.
Jay was buoyed today by the Red Sox improbable 6-5 win over the Braves and by shooting an 83 on the golf course. He and Joe Spector*, whom Jay handily defeated at golf, made a joint command decision that whatever Governor Paterson was going to say today wasn't worth covering. Demonstrating his always-chic fashion sense, Jay was also a real hit with his blood vessels traced in magic marker on the sides of his legs in preparation for surgery. He was told it was a nice look.
Janice and Ellen continued to show themselves as the best and most brilliant daughters ever by buying him an iPod. If they can teach him how to use it, he hopes to drown out the depressing background noise of the hospital with Oldies, Audio Books and podcasts.
Tomorrow we will meet with the pancreatic surgery specialist in Boston, and hope to make some decisions. We will keep you posted.
*: full disclosure - Joe's Dad Barry actually won.
We are now trying to figure out whether we can get to the hospital that's 6.2 miles away in less than an hour tomorrow morning during rush hour for a schedule CT scan. That's the same distance that Jay used to bike from home to the Capitol in about 35 minutes.
Jay was buoyed today by the Red Sox improbable 6-5 win over the Braves and by shooting an 83 on the golf course. He and Joe Spector*, whom Jay handily defeated at golf, made a joint command decision that whatever Governor Paterson was going to say today wasn't worth covering. Demonstrating his always-chic fashion sense, Jay was also a real hit with his blood vessels traced in magic marker on the sides of his legs in preparation for surgery. He was told it was a nice look.
Janice and Ellen continued to show themselves as the best and most brilliant daughters ever by buying him an iPod. If they can teach him how to use it, he hopes to drown out the depressing background noise of the hospital with Oldies, Audio Books and podcasts.
Tomorrow we will meet with the pancreatic surgery specialist in Boston, and hope to make some decisions. We will keep you posted.
*: full disclosure - Joe's Dad Barry actually won.
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