Debi from Barbara

[Guest guest]

Debi -

Thanks for your incredibly kind note. As I wrote in my other post, the PICC went in without a hitch....just a small question of whether or not it might actually be in too far. I know what to look out for and will stay on top of things. Infusion nruse (all of whom I know very well )will be coming out at least twice weekly, so there's no concern on that front either. Besides the fact that it may be in too far, the only issue is that given that my left hand and arm are literally useless, I am unable to flush the line with saline or heparin on my own and unable to change the dressing. The nurses will be very helpful in that respect.

With regard to my friend, I will pass along the prayers of folks here but she's very private and struggling to just "stay in the moment" with all that is slamming her way. The prayers and warm thoughts I think are the best. We won't know more until they can wean her off of the coumadin by her giving herself belly shots of luvonox....Once her bleeding time is better they will progress with biopsies, full body scan, etc. While I ache at the possibility of losing her, I also don't want her to suffer for even one moment. She has struggled too much already and she's only in her early 50's. A dear friend of mine said to me yesterday something that struck home enough that I have written it down and put it up over my desk.....so fitting. "Sometimes I suppose all that we can so is close our eyes and jump and keep our hearts open as wide as possible." If I can do even that then I will feel like I have accomplished in

my friendship with her what I would hope to. Just too sad.

I hope that you have a good day and sincerely thank you for your support. I can't even begin to say how much it means. Barbaradebbdol@... wrote:

BARABARA ,IVE SEEN MANY OF YOUR POSTS ON LINE AND YOU HAVE EVEN EMAILED ME IN MY TIME OF NEED, I WANT TO EASE YOU MIND ON THE PIC LINE, I ALSO HAVE THOSE "SHRIEKING VIOLETS" ARE SHI%TY VEINS. I HAVE HAD 3 PICS PUT IN UNDER FLUOROSCOPE AND THEY HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL, IM NO LONGER A Candidate FOR THE CENTRAL LINE AS THEY ARE OCCLUDED AND I HAVE HAD SEVERAL BACTERIAL INFECTIONS IN THEM. ONE TIME MY TEMP WAS OVER 105 DEGREES. NEEDLESS TO SAY I ENDED UP ON A COOLING BLANKET IN ICU. ALSO IVE HAD 3 PNEUMOTHORAX (COLLAPSED LUNG) FROM THE PROCEDURE SO TRUST ME THIS IS THE SAFEST WAY TO GO AND THERE IS A HIGH SUCCESS RATE. IF YOUR GOING HOME WITH THE PICC BE CAREFUL AROUND KITTY LITTER AND ALSO KEEP IT AS STERILE AS YOU CAN! I TO COULD ONLY HAVE IT PUT IN ONE ARM AS THE OTHER VEIN IIS OCCLUDED ALSO

WHEW!!!!!!!! IVE SAID A MOUTHFUL BUT TRULY TRYING TO HELP, YOU HAVE BEEN SO GOOD TO EVERY! ONE AND YOU POST QUITE OFTEN. YOUR ALWAYS THERE FOR EVERYONE. IAM GOING TO PRAY FOR YOUR FRIEND AND HOPE THINGS WILL GO OK FOR HER. MY HUSBAND PASSED AWAY OOF CANCER IN 1999 AT 50. MY ADVICE TO YOU IS TRY AND GET HOSPICE INVOLVED IN HER CARE. THERE GREAT PEOPLE AND THEY HELPED US A LOT. WITH THOSE LITTLE TUMORS PRESSING ON HER AORTA ARNET THEY AFRAID OF IT RUPTURING? I DON'T MEAN TO UPSET YOU BUT YOU SEEM MEDICALLY VERSED AND IAM SURE YOU HAVE WONDERED ABOUT IT. SHE HAS GONE THROUGH A LOT IN HER LIFE. MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU AND HER AND I HOPE YOU BOTH CAN GET TOGETHER SOON. IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR BOTH OF YOU. YOU NEED IT AS MUCH AS SHE DOES. OH GOD I FEEL SO SORRY FOR YOU AND HER. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO? OR DOES SHE HAVE A COMPUTER? I WOULD LIKE TO SEND JUST A THINKING OF YOU CARD TO LET HER KNOW THERE'S A TON OF PEOPLE THINKING OF HER AND PRAYING FOR HER A SPEEDY RECOVERY. I WOULD

NEVER BRING UP WHAT I KNOW ABOUT HER CONDITION. IVE BEEN WITH THIS GROUP JUST A FEW! SHORT MONTHS AND I DON'T GET ALOT OF RESPONSE AS THEY DON'T KNOW ME T HAT WELL YET. BUT I CERTAINLY FEEL THIS IS A WONDERFUL GROUP AND EVERYONE IS SO GREAT. AND COMPASSIONATE. YOU SAID U DIDN'T KNOW HOW YOU WERE GOING TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL. DON'T THEY HAVE A DISABILITY VAN? WELL IM NOT SURE WERE U LIVE BUT I LIVE IN LOCKPORT NY NEAR BUFFALO NY AND IF YOU WERE NEAR ME I WOULD TAKE YOU. BARB GOOD LUCK TODAY AND AS I SAID BEFORE I WILL BE PRAYING FOR YOUR FRIEND AND YOU TO. DEBI (RSD4)