Finally Out!

So this week was an unexpected trip back into the hospital. Last weekend I got a visit from a little bacteria, and since my immune system is severely depressed due to the chemo I wasn't able to fight it off. So, Monday afternoon, with a pretty bad fever, and nausea, my doctor sent me off to the hospital. It was pretty scary for the first few days since I was really sick, and they had no idea what was causing it, just that it was something in my blood. By Wednesday I finally recieved word that it was a staph infection. It's a pretty dangerous infection, but luckily I responded well to the antibiotics they gave me. I also recieved several blood transfusions, since my red blood cell production was way down. I had several interesting tests to make sure the infection hadn't spread to my heart, and lungs, including a EKG conducted through my mouth. Towards the end of the week they decided it would be best to take out my port, since it's a possibility it was infected as well. So Friday morning, I went back into surgery for an unprecedented 5th time this year! The port came out without a hitch, and I was hurting for a day, but started feeling better after that. Sunday I finally got the OK to head home, and was pretty happy to get out, relax, and breath some fresh air! Thanks to everyone who came to visit, and bring me food, DVD's, books, etc, you're all awesome.

Tomorrow I head back to Albany, and will be Upstate through Christmas, with the exception of a trip to NYC for one doctor's appt. After that I should have a better idea of what the next 2 months will hold in store. Thanks again for the blogs, and calls, you've all been helpful in these last few rough weeks.

-Jeff