We drove into Connecticut on Wednesday evening and stayed at a hotel near Hartford. Chris, Betty's husband, is the general manager there and was extremely generous to put us up for the night (and the next.)
The next morning, Aimee's sister Kate drove to the hotel to watch the kids (including 2 of her own), and Aimee and I headed over to New Haven for a 9:10AM appointment. We're not sure why they insisted we get there so early, as the treatment wasn't administered until after 1:00pm. Aimee was infused with the medicine for 90 minutes, and they kept her there an extra hour just to make sure there were no serious side effects. We were back in Hartford by 4:30 and left for Boston this morning.
Interesting people there at Yale-- there's definitely a marked difference between them and our Boston medical group. Boston, or at least Beth Israel Medical Center, is overtly professional and rigidly thorough-- amicable, but only after the proper job has been performed. At Yale, everyone's laid-back, as if cancer is a gentle and slightly painful lifestyle that someone chooses. Treatment is delivered while the patients sit in lazyboys; there are six people in one 12' x 12' room, so they're all eavesdropping on everyone's cancer story (but all in a friendly manner...). Appropriately, it's set up like a medical opium den. There's no hurry to get your meds, and having your vital signs measured every half hour requires a gentle reminder.
For them, interleukin II is only a legend, one which they've heard many tales about, but never thought really existed. Aimee was like a mythical war hero. At the same time, there were other cancer veterans in there (whose stories we overheard as well). One woman was talking about the chemotherapy she had received ten years ago! We hope to be doing the same in 2017....
All in all, the MDX seems like a cake walk compared to the IL-II. I think Aimee, for the most part, would agree.
- Will
Hi All,
MDX 010, part one, went very well. Besides feeling a little bit squicky (that is mildly sick, squeamish and yucky, and yes, that is the medical term) and having a small back ache, I feel remarkably well. I know, it is true, I am the luckiest girl around! Must have been all your love and prayers that are carrying me through. Thank you!
One down, three to go. Not too shabby for one day's work.
With lots of love (and many lame excuses for not having purchased a single postage stamp for all the Christmas cards I planned to send to you all),
Aimee
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
Dear Will and Aimee'-
Your description of Yale made me laugh. Along the sames lines... I got home from TMC today (vacation, hooray!) to find a very large envelope from the insurance company- packed with what might at one point have been useful material. The enclosed letter began "It has been brought to our attention (by whom, one can only guess) that you have received treatment for cancer.... .
They've been paying for it for 5 years! The packet included some information on detection and diagnosis, etc. Unbelievable. Anyway, the upshot is, in spite of the fact that they're unaware of it, they have paid a LOT of money for a great surgeon and all the rest. In any case, I expect to be trading stories with you over a very expensive and elegant dinner paid for by my husband ( although I might be able to submit it to CIGNA) in 2012, so you'll have to find someone else's ear to bend in 2017. Have a wonderful, chaotic, joy-filled Christmas!
Love,
Deborah/Ms. E.
SO happy to hear that your first treatment went well - and we look forward to congratulating you on the next three!
Enjoy your Christmas!
With love,
Katy & Todd
Merry Christmas, sweethearts. lots of love and kisses!!! remember to eat lots of chocolate! love Aunt lin and family
What a great post!
We are so happy to hear that things went well for the first treatment. Thanks so much to Chris and Kate for making things so easy for W & A!
We can't wait to spend Christmas Eve with you, and are always keeping you in our prayers.
Lizzy and Court
Dear Aimee,
Merry Xmas. I am glad the treatment went well. Thinking of you and hoping things get better and better.
With love,
Pallavi
Merry Christmas from Mike, Hana, and R2!
Aimee,
I found your blog through a Montrose newsletter. I was quite a few years ahead of you, so you may not remember me, but you have been in my family's prayers.
As a former Yale-New Haven Oncology nurse, I had to laugh at your husband's description of my old workplace! Yes, the staff there tend to be relaxed and laid-back, but the care is excellent and cutting-edge. I wish you all the best, and please email me if you ever have questions regarding the hospital or even if you need a recommendation for a local restaurant to eat at when you're traveling down there for treatments.
God bless,
Ellen (Gavin) Parkinson
Post a Comment