Day 11: Need Sleep

It was another night of poor sleep for Krista. Various nurses, assistants, and cleaning people regularly interrupt the quiet night. And once again, Krista spent the morning battling a migraine. She is suspecting that the interrupted sleep and the migraines are related. The oncologist said that she already had a standing order for sleeping medicine, so tonight she's going to try that to see if that helps.

Krista didn't do as well this afternoon as she had done yesterday afternoon. She mostly slept, but had some periods of alertness. At one point she asked me to help her find her glasses. I looked around and couldn't find them until I looked at her face... there they were! Her eyes are starting to go blurry even with the glasses on so it seemed like she didn't have them on. This evening the nurse explained that this can be a side effect of the medicine's she's getting. It should be reversible once those stop. It does seem like each time she gets these heavy treatments, she has to go in for an eye exam anyway to adjust the prescription.

We're planning on having the boys visit Krista this weekend. I just reserved a hotel room, one of the last in the whole area. I called around and everyone is booked because of the last horse races of the season at the Santa Anita horse track just a few miles away from the City of Hope. The attendant at Americas Best Value Inn & Suites was very kind and gave me a discount even though there were no discounted rooms available just because we're being treated at the City of Hope.

My mother has been caring for my father who had surgery earlier in the week. Apparently he is doing pretty good -- good enough to drive himself to Costco today! Mom thinks he should be able to take care of himself by Sunday, so she's planning on driving up to Santa Barbara then to stay with the boys a while. She'll drop by the hospital on her way and drive the kids back. Glenn and Jannelle are planning on staying a little while near the hospital before they head back to Colorado. They've been a huge help taking care of the boys for two weeks. Thanks Glenn and Jannelle!

A few people have asked if they can send cards to Krista in the hospital.Yes! (But please do not send flowers or uncooked foods as they won't even be allowed on the floor. They are very restrictive here.) The address is:

Krista English
City of Hope Helford Clinical Research Hospital
BMT Room 6135
1500 East Duarte Road
Duarte, CA 91010

I heard a song earlier today based on Psalm 46 that always speaks to me. (I couldn't find any legitimate links to audio or video of it.) I will end with that today.

God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging
(Psalm 46:1-3)