Marge's Status

Thanks for all notes of concern, prayers and well wishes. We've appreciated all the notes of support and I'm trying to respond when I have the time.

The reason for these pages is because so many have called or sent email messages asking Marge's condition. I decided the easiest way to keep most informed was to set up a web page. Please bookmark this page and feel free to share it with others that you think might be interested.

As the information has grown it was taking too long to load on some computers so I've separated it into each of the months. The most current page will always be the "marge1.htm".

George & Marge

Wed. 12/31/03

Marge is still in the hospital and unable to take phone calls.

Marge had a fairly comfortable night with no complaint about being awakened by coughing. She was running high temps through the night --102.

When I got to the hospital Marge was obviously having a bit of a problem. She's been suffering from the "two-step" as a result of all the antibiotics and they had been trying different meds to counter that. It turned out the one they gave her late yesterday is another med that Marge is allergic to (or the combination of drugs). Anyway, she looked like a lobster and they were waiting for the doctor to give her something to counter the reaction..

We got some good and bad news when the doctor visited this morning. The good news was that Marge's white count was down to 17,200. The bad news was the results of the CT scan yesterday did not show any reduction in the size of the tumor as they had hoped. With the end of the current radiation treatments the current plan is for her to possibly start chemo treatments some time next week and additional radiation treatments beginning later in the month after more x-rays.

The other good news was that there is a slight possibility that Marge might get to come home this weekend. They will probably not make a decision until late Friday night or early Saturday. It all depends on her temperature, white count and if they can decide on the meds that can be given at home and the procedure for monitoring her condition..

She was transported to the hospital in Los Angeles for her 9th radiation treatment at 12:30.

Marge said to be sure and thank everyone for your email messages and cards and that she wishes everyone a Happy New Year.

Her temperature continues to be a problem -- temps this afternoon running around 100-102. This afternoon with the a portable oxygen system she was again able to make it once around the whole hospital floor. When I left for the night she was still having trouble with the "two-step" and they were still trying to find a med to counter it that she did not have a reaction to.

Tue. 12/30/03

Marge is still in the hospital and unable to take phone calls.

Marge had a comfortable night and no complaint about being awakened by coughing. She had a slight temperature this morning --100.

She was transported to the hospital in Los Angeles for her 8th radiation treatment at 9:30.

Her temperature and white count continues to be problems -- temps this afternoon running around 102-103. Good news though on her white count -- back down a little to 20,800. This afternoon with the a portable oxygen system she was again able to make it once around the whole hospital floor.

Mon. 12/29/03

Marge is still in the hospital and unable to take phone calls.

Marge had a comfortable night and no complaint about being awakened by coughing. She had a slight temperature this morning --101.

She was transported to the hospital in Los Angeles for her 7th radiation treatment at 9:30.

It was not a good afternoon after her treatment. Her temperature and white count continues to be problems -- temps of 101 and the white count went back up to 21,200. On top of feeling bad she also was short of breath so didn't even feel like trying to walk around the ward with her portable oxygen.

Sun. 12/28/03

Marge is still in the hospital and unable to take phone calls.

Marge had an uncomfortable night and complained she didn't get much sleep because the new IV making her run every couple of hours, coughing, blood being drawn, and meds. She had a slight temperature this morning --99.

No radiation treatments scheduled.

Her temperature and white count continues to be problems -- temps still running around 100-101. Good news though on her white count -- down to 19,800. They've started her again on inhalation therapy 3 times a day and it seems to be helping. This afternoon with the a portable oxygen system she was able to make it once around the whole hospital floor.

Sat. 12/27/03

Marge is still in the hospital and unable to take phone calls.

Marge had a comfortable night and no complaint about being awakened by coughing. She had a slight temperature this morning --100.4.

No radiation treatments scheduled.

Her temperature and white count continues to be problems -- temps still running around 100 -- white count down to 21,600. Because she's not eating they've started her on IV feeding for nutrition and strength. They also have ordered a portable oxygen system so she can take short walks to maintain her leg muscle tone.

Fri. 12/26/03

Marge is still in the hospital and unable to take phone calls.

Marge had a comfortable night and no complaint about being awakened by coughing. She had a slight temperature this morning --99.8..

She's scheduled to be transported to the hospital in Los Angeles for her 6th radiation treatment at 9:30.

She came back from her radiation treatment feeling a little better and hungry. We're still battling with the hospital to give her food she can eat and we usually throw away most of food they deliver and she eats what's taken in. Her temperature and white count continues to be problems -- temps up a little -- 100 -- white count 25,200.

Thu.12/25/03

Marge is still in the hospital and unable to take phone calls.

Marge had a comfortable night until about 2 AM when she had a coughing spell.

No treatments scheduled for today.

Her temperature continues to spike -- 99-100 -- but staying below 101. They are still trying to get her white count down -- 25,000 -- needs to be 12-15,00 and no temp before they'll think about letting her come home.

Wed. 12/24/03

Marge is still in the hospital and unable to take phone calls.

Marge had a comfortable night until about 2 AM when she had a coughing spell.

Good news on her temperature! This morning it was normal and her doctor was encouraged and they now think they might have a handle on the correct meds and combinations.

Marge had a nice surprise just prior to her treatment trip. She was transported to the hospital in Los Angeles for her 5th radiation treatment at 12:30. treatment.

More good news on her temperature. It's staying down. But they still have to work on the white count -- 24,000 -- coming down but a way to go.!

Tue. 12/23/03

Marge is still in the hospital and unable to take phone calls.

Marge had a comfortable night in the private room and said she was able to sleep without all the discussion and coughing from the adjacent bed in the old room. Her temperature continues to be high but not as bad as yesterday -- only 101 when I got the hospital at 7.

She was transported to the hospital in Los Angeles for her 4th radiation treatment at 9:30. The new ambulance crew could not believe she was being transported 1.5 hours each way for a 5 minute treatment.

Marge's best friend Dr. Egan contacted the other doctor within Kaiser via phone about a more aggressive radiation treatment plan and he agreed to consider it. He actually met with Marge when she arrived for her treatment. They will tentatively start the additional 8 radiation treatments 1/19/04. He also has scheduled "Virtual CT scan" for 1/13/04 and will meet with us to discuss it's results and the additional treatments. This new plan is also better for the chemo treatments because they were concerned about the pneumonia and the temperature problem and didn't want to start the chemo if she still had an infection.

Her temp was up a little and they have again changed the combination of antibiotics to see if they can get it under control.

Marge looked good in the afternoon and was able to eat about half of her dinner. This is good because she's just been leaving it. The new meds must be affecting her taste buds because I tasted the dinner and would not eat it :-).

Mon. 12/22/03

Marge is still in the hospital and unable to take phone calls.

Marge had a comfortable night but her temperature continues to spike. At 7 when I first got to the hospital it was 101.

She was scheduled to be transported to the hospital in Los Angeles for her 3rd radiation treatment at 12:30 and we were a little surprised when the ambulance crew showed up at 8:30 -- just a little mix-up by the ambulance dispatcher :-). They were back at 12:00 and they expect to be back at the hospital again around 5. Marge just loves the hospital food and had given me a shopping list of things to have when she get back.

Her best friend Dr. Egan met with head radiation department of the hospital where she used to practice and reviewed Marge's case with her. She suggested another doctor within Kaiser for another opinion and also suggested a more aggressive treatment program. We're going to call the doctor with in Kaiser and set up an appointment to discuss the more aggressive program. If Kaiser is unwilling, we'll explore methods of going outside Kaiser's network..

She came back from her radiation treatment not feeling good and very discouraged. She could not eat her dinner or the food I took in. Her temperature still continues to be a problem an it was 102 again this evening. Her white count has taken off again -- up to 28,000. Marge was moved to a private room because of her condition and to isolate her from bugs being brought into the hospital by visitors to the room she was sharing with another lady.

Sun. 12/21/03

Marge is still in the hospital and unable to take phone calls.

Marge did not have a comfortable night. Her temperature was up again and at 9:30 last night it was 103 and they'd given her some Tylenol, an ice pack and cold cloths to bring it down. From what one nurse said, it appears they only give the Tylenol when the temperature reaches 102. When I talked to her on the phone at 7 this morning they had not given her any Tylenol so we can assume that it's at least under 102. I'm taking our thermometer in so I can monitor while I'm there.

Her best friend Dr. Egan is with her this morning until I get there and will discuss the situation with her doctors if they make rounds before I get there. I'll be taking our dog Yoda to stay with friends so I don't have to worry about him and getting home to feed him. So if you call the house you probably will not catch me because I'll be at the hospital most of the time.

The hospital continues to try and stabilize her temperature. This morning is ok for a while but it was back above 102 at 2 PM. They have switched her IV antibiotics again today and she's getting it 4 times/day instead of the 2.day.

There is some good news as far as her difficulty in breathing. Either the antibiotics or the radiation treatments might be breaking up the pneumonia because she says it feels as though she can breath better and is able to cough up some of the junk in her lung.

The bad news is that it appears she will remain in the hospital until at least January 2nd. They decided to keep her in the hospital where she is and transport her into Los Angeles to the hospital where she receives her radiation treatments. She has 8 more of those and she'll be getting a treatment daily except weekends and holidays.

Marge's Status - 12/03