Riverside Medical Center

01/10/2010: Gina's progress and condition

December 2009

• On December 17, 2009 Gina was admitted to ER for pneumonia and had about a week in hospital with antibiotics. She was allowed to go home before Christmas with IV in her port pumping in antibiotics.
• The Home HealthCare staff have been excellent in easing our minds and answering the many, many questions we have. I was shown how to change her antibiotics through her IV and flush her port. After about a week of ported IV antibiotics, Gina was allowed to go on oral antibiotics and no more pumping through her port. (Yay!)
• Unfortunately, as a result of the antibiotics that Gina is taking, she had to be taken off ALL chemotherapy (Avastin IV and oral Tykerb).

Updates for January 2010.

• Oh where to start? Let's see, on Thursday, January 7, 2010, I had to call 911 as Gina was in a lot of pain, hallucinating and falling a lot, and getting very little sleep.
• Just quick note, Gina has been pretty much bed-ridden and needs assistance getting around. Thanks God for recliners as we got rid of our couch and got two new recliners. We figured with help of nurses that all the laying around Gina does in bed is not good for her. So, we decided to lose the couch, get the recliners and Gina could at least sit up, even if reclining, and be with the family. Worked pretty good as it gives her piece of mind being out of room with other family members and sitting upright.
• I've been helping her to eat, giving meds, trying to take care of her as best I could. it never seems like I can do enough to make her comfortable so I spoke to nurses and had to call 911 and have her admitted to Riverside in hopes of managing her pain, making her feel comfortable and figuring out whats wrong.
• Well Gina's been in Riverside for three days now and she had to get moved to Intensive Care Unit last night (Saturday). They have been trying to get her pain under control since she has been crying and moaning for last three days here; even though, shes been heavily sedated.
• I cannot stand to see her suffer so I asked they do what they can to give her some comfort. After speaking to all the family members, it was decided to let her go to ICU. Since last night, it has been a long night, around 1230am - 100am, she was still in pain and fighting the meds. Gina finally, finally got some rest and peace and quiet as is sleeping as we speak.
• I wanted to take a moment to mention a very special angel in our lives right now and her name is Dr. Macdonald. I know in my heart she is doing all she can to ease Gina's pain and make her as comfortable as possible. Thanks to her and all the staff here at Riverside.

At this time, I ask that all friends, family members and loved ones hold off on calling or stopping by Riverside as I just pray she gets some rest and relaxation. the doctor said it looks like we are at the end of our journey and I need to come to terms with all of this. It is true what they say when you finally find someone you love more than life itself, it is impossible to let go just like that. Gina is, AND ALWAYS WILL BE, the love of my life and my eternal soulmate.

I thank all of you for the years of support, caring and unmeasurable love you have shown my wife. Keep praying for a miracle as it is all I am told I have left. The kids still have to be told, except for Jesse so please let me be the one. We are all praying for one last miracle and I cannot accept this all right now. still trying to figure it all out and make sense of it all.

Will keep you all posted. --- love, Bob & Family