Leaving Madison

Actually I left yesterday, but was too exhausted to write any entry. It was a long and difficult weekend, and I am glad that it is passed. I spent a good majority of my weekend at home cleaning dad's apartment for his potential return to it. Due to the extent of the chemotherapy and it's adverse affects on his immune system, Mariam and I (with the help of Asha and my mom at times) cleaned dad's apartment thoroughly in order to minimize any chance of infection. This was hard work, and very draining.

Medically speaking, dad seems to be doing okay. They've given him several units of blood over the last few weeks and also given him shots of a medication called Neupogen that is supposed to stimulate blood growth. Dad's white blood count was up to a whopping 600 yesterday when the nurse checked his chart (normal white blood count is 4,500-10,000). So that means he's got something. Because of the improvement they are going to let dad out of the hospital tomorrow.

He could have left today, but yesterday we spoke with the social worker and as a family approached dad about transitioning to a nursing home while he undergoes chemotherapy. This is a difficult and an easy decision all at the same time. Difficult because it is not where he would like to be going, but easy because it is the healthiest place for him to be while he is trying to recover and undergoes treatment. After discussing it with dad, he agreed that it might be the best place for him and tomorrow he will be transferred to Middleton Village nursing home. We are hoping to eventually transfer him to Oakwood Village, as it is closer to family and Aunt Miriam works there.

It was a really difficult trip back to New York City. I had a hard time holding back the tears, thinking how sad dad seemed at the idea of a nursing home. I'll admit that a lot of it was probably exhaustion (and that fact that I hadn't had a moment to pause in five days), but it was much more difficult emotionally speaking than I had anticipated - especially knowing it was the best thing for him. It is harder than you might think to convince your parent that they belong (temporarily or not) in a nursing home.

I think in the next few months it will be very important for dad to have visitors (this is for any of his family or friends who are reading this blog), so please be sure to try and visit him or take him out of the nursing home every once in a while (although cautiously! his immune system will be compromised and he cannot risk infection!).

In the meantime, I am searching for the next flight back to Madison for me. Keep him in your prayers....