Don: The list of cool things about the new room is long. 26″ flat panel LCD TV is at the top. It is followed closely by the DVD player. The old rooms had a 21″ old style TV and a VHS player and lots of videos that had been donated to the hospital. I guess it is a guy thing that those two items had to be at the top of my list! Shands has wireless internet throughout the many hospital buildings. They had a visitor room in the BMTU (Bone Marrow Transplant Unit) that we were in at the old hospital which is where they stored the video tapes but also had a computer in there that patients and their families could use. Yesterday our TWO visitor rooms did not have a computer but today they do! They don’t have any DVDs though.

I am sure that I couldn’t possibly list all the things that make this new building so great. Most of them are probably invisible to me. From a family member of a patient viewpoint, I can tell you that it really is a little awe inspiring. There are even two large framed photos in every room and lining the hallways. These were all taken by people who work at the hospital and there is a little name plate telling who took the photo and usually the location. The air filteration system to just too fantastic when you compare it to the one in the old room. Both quiet and super efficient. I am not going to spend any more time on this topic except to say that the staff here has been told that this is the most technologically enhanced building in Florida at this time. Michelle G. said there was an article in the Sunday paper in Tallahassee. I am sure you could find info on it online if you are into that sort of thing.

Hi everyone, 

As far as the move went, of all the days to get sicker…ughhh! I started to get chills, spiked and mild temp, and my stomach bloated up like a toad frog.  I was hurting so bad (It all started getting worse in the night).  It feels like I have concrete from the tip of my esophagus all the way down my stomach.  So anyway, I moved via wheelchair, with chills, under a pile of blankets, praying my pain medicine would hold up long enough to get to the new room.  They put me on dilaudid every two hours for the pain.

Probably one of the worst days so far.   They did an abdominal CT (neg), started me back on flagyl and some new antibiotics.  I’m not sure why this pain is so persistent, but it probably just goes with the territory, you know, chemo and all.

So, back to the room… This room is amazing!  It has a glass window that goes down one complete side like a hotel.  I can actually see trees, and people, and buildings, and I even got to see the full moon!  It has a futon couch, sconces for lighting… I just love it.  This room will help to keep my spirits up.

love all, karen

So you all seem to like me bald ?  Thanks for all the compliments.  Believe me, I wouldn’t let Don take  any photos until I piled on some makeup!  I will say, it’s not as bad as I thought it would be,  but it was hard posting photos.  I love you all, and I appreciate all the support.  love, Karen

She likes it! I love it! She is just gorgeous!

In the message below you saw Karen trying on her pretty brown wig and wearing her Pink shirt. Well, today is Halloween and when her parents came in they brought a new wig for her. Can you guess the color? She looks good in this one too! She is just too gorgeous, not that I am prejudice in any way.

Mom brought her some posters, crayons and colored pencils. It's a party now!!

I told everyone I was going to do it. Some of you doubted it but it is done. I think that Karen might be wishing I hadn’t and that I could glue at least half of it back on but it’s too late now! Love ya’ Baby.
P.S. Can I borrow one of those warm hats?

Don: The treatment has its ups and downs (I may have said that before) but there is a constant for Karen and it is one she doesn’t like. Her physical world consists of her room (with a view of a roof and the next building – no sky) and the hallways that she takes her short walks in. Today will be the last day in the old hospital. We will be going across the street; via a hallway that is literally a tunnel under the street; to the new hospital on Sunday. Every room has a view and we should have a better hallway for exercise. The rooms are supposed to be more like a hotel. We are both very excited and looking forward to this move.

I feel better.  Today was tough.  I woke up feeling like a prickly pear.  My rash had gotten so bad.  It was everywhere.  Luckily, physician’s assistants round by nine am, and then meet with the doctor.  Anyway, they changed my medications around, took me off what they think the culprit was and added a one time dose of steroids.  I feel so much better.  I still itch but not quite as much.  It seems to be going away.  Hope so.  They will be keeping a close eye on things.  they are so good here.

Also, I got my head shaved tonight.  I told Mom and Dad I was going to do it.  Mom saw me pull out a ton of hair in one sitting.  hair was everywhere.  the floor, my pillow, all over my bed, and clothing.  I just couldn’t take it anymore.  Daddy couldn’t watch.  The night nurse had a set of clippers handy so we did.  It is so liberating.  I feel so much better, but I need a hat because my head gets cold.  I took my shower, and I feel great.  I can’t wait for Mom and Dad to see it.  It really doesn’t look that bad.  I think I look like a small chinese boy off a karate movie, and Don thinks it’s something more like star trek girl. Eeither way, it’s just in time for halloween so it’s going to be fun. 

My rash and low platelet count, plus tons of scratching have left me looking like a speckled trout  or a lady in a symbiotic relationship from “Star trek”.  (that’s for you trekkies)

Have a great nite, and God Bless everyone!  Thanks for all the Cards, comments, love and prayers. Llove karen

Hi everyone,

I am feeling pretty good today.  Just a little sleepy.  Had some Chick fil A waffle fries with Polynesian sauce and it actually tasted Good! yum.  I may eat that again sometime. 

Yesterday, Melissa and Marco,  Crystal, and Dennis and Robin, along with my family, all came to visit, so it was a really nice day.  Thanks everyone.  The visit really perked me up.  These are some of my “horsey friends” so we got to talk about my favorite subject. 

Melissa gave me a wonderful shorter haircut so it should help as my hair continues to thin.  I will say it is still thick enough that you can’t tell yet.  Don took photos.  Maybe I will get to enjoy it another week or two.  I keep hoping I wont loose it, but it is definitely falling out.

Thanks to my friends at work.   They are really good about keeping me comfortable, but I don’t like to take anymore medicine into my system than I have to have.  My kidneys and liver are doing great and all other labs are hanging in there too.  They have given me platelets and some electrolytes, oh, and of course IV antibiotics, but that’s about it.   Oh wait, and then there’s the valtrex, diflucan, and preveced, and multi vite.  Oh, and the birth control.  No bleeding allowed in this joint.   Then there is the benadryl.  I seem to be allergic to something, so I have a rash around my neck.  I have a central line so they are making sure I’m not scratching.   It feels so good to scratch.  oh well, I guess I’m on alot of preventive stuff. They tell me I’m doing really good.  I seem to keep a headache, and the flu-like symptoms can make me cry, but sometimes I just feel okay.  That makes a good day! 

 God bless everyone.  I love you and thank you for all the calls, cards, and comments.

love karen