Its the 24 Feb, the day Kim get the bone marrow infusion, as I lean on the work vehicle in Wem waiting for the time to leave. I ponder this thought, The national blood service* had started processing Mandy bone marrow over night. And I wonder how well this infusion will work on kim.
The engine stops as my phone rings. Its a nurse from the QEH telling me Kim is not well, That I should be ready to head over to Birmingham. This does not sound good, I need to think about what to do. I decided to think as I have breakfast, Just in case I end up on a mad dash to the QEH, as it could be my only meal of the day and me flaking out would not help anyone.
I sat at a table that would not look out of place in a fast food joint, including the ketchup splatter that missed the last users plate. I look out thought the double fire exit doors, at the students laughing and joking seeming not to have a care in the world. As I sat here like a fish in the fish tank of desperation. My thoughts on the different between the life of These students and that of Kim are interrupted by my phone ringing.
It was the hospital, Kim has been moved to Intermediate Care Unit. They said I should start heading over. Quickly I talked to my colleagues and the boss, telling them what happening. And ended up with the keys to a vehicle to get there.
I pull up outside home, to pick up the Sat Nav and a couple of passengers. I set up the Sat Nav, wrote a parking note, using the key words the nurse told me**. As a friend Izzy turns up with Mandy's Iron tables. I was not overly happy with Mandy coming as she was feeling the affects of the procedure she had yesterday, But if Kim was very bad. I could not stop her.
We are making good time as we reach Telford, I feel something shift in my back. As my need to pee grows, I guess it was mirco stone in my Kidney. It was no good I would have to pull over into the services. I get out at the services to umm, get rid of my waste water. Leaving Tom, Stu, Mandy and her mate Trudy in the vehicle for a short time, then it on the road again to complete the 68 miles dash to Kim side.
I pull up in the one of the spaces the nurse told me to use, stuck the note in the window and hid the Sat Nav. As I walk away from the vehicle my phone rang.
It is Shell, crying.
*www.blood.co.uk
** They have a way of stopping you being booked, and I am not telling.
Dear Reader
This posting is outside the time line, and posting day of the blog.
This is cause the 24th of February is milestone day every year, for me, for us, Kim family. Why you may ask, well that would need at least two postings to answer. and they coming on the Friday 25th February and Friday 4th March.
Until then dear reader, take care.
This is cause the 24th of February is milestone day every year, for me, for us, Kim family. Why you may ask, well that would need at least two postings to answer. and they coming on the Friday 25th February and Friday 4th March.
Until then dear reader, take care.
Taking the marrow
Last week, Mandy had a drug to increase the amount of bone marrow cells. Ready for Harvesting at BCH.
Today, the day 23 February is the day the harvesting happens, a mile stone in the treatment of Kim, and a big day for Mandy. It not everyday you have a procedure like this. And I can tell she nervous. Trying to Park a Over hight* vehicle by the BCH is not easy. So Street parking it is, down side, it bloody expensive.
The Receptionist looks up from the computer, I give her the details of the letter. “ What part of Wales are you from” She asks. I sigh “ about 3 miles from the border in England” She smiles. As We walk down to the day ward, I wonder about my accent and how here I sound Welsh and in Aberystwyth I sound like I come from the Midlands.
On the ward. Mandy is checked over again, as the aspiration is done under general anaesthetic. So blood pressure, oxygen level, Hight, weight** and a few others are done so they can get the amount right.
Mandy gets into a unflattering little Number, that showed a strip of her back to the world. Soon it is time for her to head off to the theatre.
As she is wheeled off. I am left there to wonder about the procedure she is about to have. And the strength she must have to go though the mill for her sister. Then the worry started to creep in.
I head outside to have a smoke, put another parking payment ticket on the vehicle. I start to think about what is going on in a theatre in the the hospital.
Mandy lying on her side, A large gauge needle is pushed into the hip bone***, and the fuild in the bone marrow including the Hematopoietic stem cells, that are needed drained into a bag. But it not just one needle its two, one each side of the hips.
She looked quite white when she returned to the day ward and totally out of it. She slowly came around from the anaesthetic. Had something to eat and after being checked was deemed fit to go home.
There where some rules, Rest, take iron tablets and change the covering regularly. She was quiet going home, and fell asleep for most of the journey. Poor thing, she had given so much to this. A lot more than just the bone marrow. She had given it her all, her heart and soul. The love she has for her sister, at the very core of this selfless painful act in a bid to save her sister.
* A vehicle that is over 2 metres in hight.
** She does not like being weighed. And being a gent I did not asked what it was.
***The crest of the ilium for the medical minded amongst you.
Today, the day 23 February is the day the harvesting happens, a mile stone in the treatment of Kim, and a big day for Mandy. It not everyday you have a procedure like this. And I can tell she nervous. Trying to Park a Over hight* vehicle by the BCH is not easy. So Street parking it is, down side, it bloody expensive.
The Receptionist looks up from the computer, I give her the details of the letter. “ What part of Wales are you from” She asks. I sigh “ about 3 miles from the border in England” She smiles. As We walk down to the day ward, I wonder about my accent and how here I sound Welsh and in Aberystwyth I sound like I come from the Midlands.
On the ward. Mandy is checked over again, as the aspiration is done under general anaesthetic. So blood pressure, oxygen level, Hight, weight** and a few others are done so they can get the amount right.
Mandy gets into a unflattering little Number, that showed a strip of her back to the world. Soon it is time for her to head off to the theatre.
As she is wheeled off. I am left there to wonder about the procedure she is about to have. And the strength she must have to go though the mill for her sister. Then the worry started to creep in.
I head outside to have a smoke, put another parking payment ticket on the vehicle. I start to think about what is going on in a theatre in the the hospital.
Mandy lying on her side, A large gauge needle is pushed into the hip bone***, and the fuild in the bone marrow including the Hematopoietic stem cells, that are needed drained into a bag. But it not just one needle its two, one each side of the hips.
She looked quite white when she returned to the day ward and totally out of it. She slowly came around from the anaesthetic. Had something to eat and after being checked was deemed fit to go home.
There where some rules, Rest, take iron tablets and change the covering regularly. She was quiet going home, and fell asleep for most of the journey. Poor thing, she had given so much to this. A lot more than just the bone marrow. She had given it her all, her heart and soul. The love she has for her sister, at the very core of this selfless painful act in a bid to save her sister.
* A vehicle that is over 2 metres in hight.
** She does not like being weighed. And being a gent I did not asked what it was.
***The crest of the ilium for the medical minded amongst you.
whats the odds
Here is a quickly update on what happened since the last post.
Kim had a ECG* to check up on her heart murmur.
She was moved to an Isolation Room.
She was not well at all on her 17th Birthday.
I am visiting Kim with Mandy, and Kim's birthday presents. She is not well, I stop at the door to look at her notes, as Mandy heads with her presents.
It does not look good she has a chest infection. As I look at her chart the consultant arrives, We head into a small office near by. “ She not well at all, and it does not look too good to me” I said. This line started a convocation that I found hard. The Bottom line was a decision, well more of a statement.
' If we hold off on the bone marrow, and treat the infection, she dies. If we do the bone marrow treatment she could die' and the odds. I knew it was not good, as the consultant took a deep breath and gazed over at Kims notes for a second then looks at me. “20% chance of survival, 80% She wont. If we hold off, its almost 100% chance she wont survive beyond 2 weeks”
This knocked the wind out of my sails. I know am straight talking with medical staff, and get it back from them. I would not have it any other way. But nothing prepares you for odd like that.
With my heart sunken and heavy, I when into see Kim. I put on a brave face. Kim looks at me, I have a feeling she can see though the mask of a battle hardened Volunteer First aider into my soul and see the dark side of failed CPR, major trauma, and the news I have just received.
Mandy had helped her open her birthday presents, that were laid out all over the bed. Mandy asks for some money to go grab a drink. When she leave Kim turns to me, we look at each other with a knowing look and kim says
“I'm dieing”
*Electrocardiograph – A machine that show the Electrical activity of the heart
Kim had a ECG* to check up on her heart murmur.
She was moved to an Isolation Room.
She was not well at all on her 17th Birthday.
I am visiting Kim with Mandy, and Kim's birthday presents. She is not well, I stop at the door to look at her notes, as Mandy heads with her presents.
It does not look good she has a chest infection. As I look at her chart the consultant arrives, We head into a small office near by. “ She not well at all, and it does not look too good to me” I said. This line started a convocation that I found hard. The Bottom line was a decision, well more of a statement.
' If we hold off on the bone marrow, and treat the infection, she dies. If we do the bone marrow treatment she could die' and the odds. I knew it was not good, as the consultant took a deep breath and gazed over at Kims notes for a second then looks at me. “20% chance of survival, 80% She wont. If we hold off, its almost 100% chance she wont survive beyond 2 weeks”
This knocked the wind out of my sails. I know am straight talking with medical staff, and get it back from them. I would not have it any other way. But nothing prepares you for odd like that.
With my heart sunken and heavy, I when into see Kim. I put on a brave face. Kim looks at me, I have a feeling she can see though the mask of a battle hardened Volunteer First aider into my soul and see the dark side of failed CPR, major trauma, and the news I have just received.
Mandy had helped her open her birthday presents, that were laid out all over the bed. Mandy asks for some money to go grab a drink. When she leave Kim turns to me, we look at each other with a knowing look and kim says
“I'm dieing”
*Electrocardiograph – A machine that show the Electrical activity of the heart
The train now arriving
As the Train neared Smethwick Galton Bridge, I mulled over why I was sitting here.
Mandy and me are travelling to Birmingham Children's Hospital (BCH), For her to be check for Bone marrow harvesting. I have a problem with the brakes on the landrover, Not the best thing to have if you are travelling to Birmingham. So I decided to get the train instead. Allowing me time to think about the problem.
The train Pulls into Smethwick Galton Bridge, our change over point for Birmingham Snow Hill. As we alight, I Look at the time, 1hour 22 minutes not bad. 15 minutes till the train to Snow Hill, Just enough time for a smoke. Handy the timetable being set up like that. Since the ban on smoking on the platform, but I don't think the timing is for smokers.
It was only a 10 minute ride to Snow Hill, and 6 minute walk* to BCH. We book in, wait a bit, then go in. Mandy had in Shrewsbury had the compatibility tests, where she was unwell, well went white, cold, clammy. All the sign of shock really, when the bloods where taken. So was not looking forward to this one bit. Being called in.
We sit down in a the consulting room. As the 3 people introduced themselves and I instantly forget they name and what they did in the team, typical of my memory**. After being told there would be no bloods taken today, Mandy relaxed a bit. She was asked if she was ok with the taking of bone marrow, as they have the incident at Shrewsbury in her notes.
Then it was checks of blood pressure, temperature, questions about her previous medical history, what medication she takes if any, her current health, and her hight and weight measured. With all the check done. She was asked, If she was giving her bone marrow of her own free will. A bit of an odd question you may thing, but it to stop kids being forced into having harvesting done against they will by their parents.
Mandy replies with “ I'm a match, Would you walk away from an chance to help your sister in a big way? “ The Doctor agrees that, she would do the same for her siblings. And the appointment is over.
As we leave the hospital, I give Shell a ring to tell her we are done. She tells me Kim has had her line replaced, She is a bit sore and uncomfortable for now, but that will settle down later today. Well at least she has a new line for the Bone Marrow treatment.
We head back to Snow Hill and on to home. Its nice to take a break from driving and let the train do the work.
* 0.4 of a miles for the geeks among you. To work out my walking speed.
** I am surprised I have got this far with the blog.
Mandy and me are travelling to Birmingham Children's Hospital (BCH), For her to be check for Bone marrow harvesting. I have a problem with the brakes on the landrover, Not the best thing to have if you are travelling to Birmingham. So I decided to get the train instead. Allowing me time to think about the problem.
The train Pulls into Smethwick Galton Bridge, our change over point for Birmingham Snow Hill. As we alight, I Look at the time, 1hour 22 minutes not bad. 15 minutes till the train to Snow Hill, Just enough time for a smoke. Handy the timetable being set up like that. Since the ban on smoking on the platform, but I don't think the timing is for smokers.
It was only a 10 minute ride to Snow Hill, and 6 minute walk* to BCH. We book in, wait a bit, then go in. Mandy had in Shrewsbury had the compatibility tests, where she was unwell, well went white, cold, clammy. All the sign of shock really, when the bloods where taken. So was not looking forward to this one bit. Being called in.
We sit down in a the consulting room. As the 3 people introduced themselves and I instantly forget they name and what they did in the team, typical of my memory**. After being told there would be no bloods taken today, Mandy relaxed a bit. She was asked if she was ok with the taking of bone marrow, as they have the incident at Shrewsbury in her notes.
Then it was checks of blood pressure, temperature, questions about her previous medical history, what medication she takes if any, her current health, and her hight and weight measured. With all the check done. She was asked, If she was giving her bone marrow of her own free will. A bit of an odd question you may thing, but it to stop kids being forced into having harvesting done against they will by their parents.
Mandy replies with “ I'm a match, Would you walk away from an chance to help your sister in a big way? “ The Doctor agrees that, she would do the same for her siblings. And the appointment is over.
As we leave the hospital, I give Shell a ring to tell her we are done. She tells me Kim has had her line replaced, She is a bit sore and uncomfortable for now, but that will settle down later today. Well at least she has a new line for the Bone Marrow treatment.
We head back to Snow Hill and on to home. Its nice to take a break from driving and let the train do the work.
* 0.4 of a miles for the geeks among you. To work out my walking speed.
** I am surprised I have got this far with the blog.
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