Hi, everyone ---
Dansk (Ian) is in the hospital. As you know, he posted to us on Wednesday morning (after the Tuesday night vigil) saying that he felt very bad. Claire ended up having to go home from work because he was feeling so weak and having some trouble breathing.
Here are her emails. (She said it's ok to post this information.)
7/20 6:08 pm [EDT]
Hi Marjorie and Jim,
Claire here. It's almost 11pm and I've just tucked his highness into bed. He hasn't seen the email you sent today, he's been far too weak to get up the stairs to get to the computer, so I'm taking it upon myself to reply to it and to thank you both soooo much for your kindness and thoughts in everything you are doing for us to try and help us (but especially Ian) through his illness. Yes the package was safely delivered this morning.
I came home from work this morning because I rang home and heard that Ian was having difficulty breathing and was very tired. I got in touch with the Macmillan nurse (do you have these angels? they're specialist nurses dealing in cancer and palliative care) and she popped round this afternoon. She's got him in to see the consultant tomorrow, got him stronger pain killers from our GP, is arranging for him to have a wheelchair and getting a 'blue badge' for the car so we can park in the disabled spaces, nearer to the door of the shops/hospital etc. All in the space of 10 minutes!! Now that's service. :)))
It also sounds like he may have to go into hospital again soon and have more fluid drained off his chest, this appears to be causing breathlessness again. He is also going to consider some form of chemo, I hope the consultant will have a word with his buddy haematologist tomorrow and discuss a plan of action. I'll keep you posted. I'll also write after our trip to Bath and fill you in with all the details.
Many many thanks once again and much love to you both.
7/21 11:36 am
Hi Marjorie,
Claire again.......can't stop....just letting you know that we went to clinic today and they decided to keep Ian in, his lung is full of fluid again and needs draining off. He'll probably be in till Saturday. He's not a happy bunny!!!!! I'll keep you posted.
Clairexxxxxx
7/21/05 2:11 pm
Hi Marjorie
Yes it would be fine to let people know. Ian gets such encouragement from the board, when he's well enough to go on.
Just got back from the hospital. He has a drain in the side of his chest for a few hours and they have already drawn off 2 litres of fluid. They're then going to try a pleuradesis, sticking the layers of pleura together with ...would you believe....sterile talcum powder! If they close the cavity between the layers of the pleura then it can't collect and cause pressure.
Anyway, he'll be in for a couple of days and then hopefully we'll be setting off to Bath. That's about a 4-5 hour drive, so we'll need to take his pillows for the back seat and make him comfortable, probably have a couple of stops on the way.
Once again, many thanks for your concern. As always I'll keep you posted
Lots of love
Claire