Monday, February 5, 2007 - The Demise of the "Goo" Ban

Hi All,

Jennifer writing from NY to give everyone an update. Friday, Dad was running a fever, and because the source of the fever was not known, they decided based on their conversation with Dr. O'Rourke that is was best to head back to the Winter Palace to get everything checked out. One affect of the chemo is that Dad's skin dries out and flakes off, which aside from being strange at best, also causes dehydration. The word at the hospital is that the skin condition and dehydration is the most likely cause of the fever. A contributing factor is the mix of anti-biotics Dad has been taking for the knee. You all might remember (or not) that Dad had a rash in reaction to Vancomycin during round one of chemo, and since he did have a course of this particular anti-biotic when the knee infection was first discovered, a rash resulted, contributing somewhat to the already ongoing skin peeling situation. To treat the skin issue, a dermatologist came and gave Dad a big tub of Vaseline-like stuff to rub into his skin.

Let's reflect a moment. Picture, if you can, my Dad rubbing a substance like Vaseline into his skin. Having a hard time picturing that?

Of course you are. If you know Dad, you know that he has had a life-long aversion - AN ABSOLUTE BAN - on lotions, creams, skin conditioners, botanical oils -- you name it* -- of any kind. If it's semi-liquid and meant to be rubbed into skin, Dad dismisses it as "goo" and gets on with his day. This skin treatment, however, has done wonders in terms of sloughing off the skin that is ready to go and revealing the new skin underneath. As I joked with Dad and Eileen, many people pay salons thousands of dollars for exactly this affect. So the indignity of having to apply "goo" is somewhat lessened by the benefit rendered. Dear readers, if you had spent your life watching Dad spurn all "goo" as unmanly**, only to watch him break his "goo" ban under such circumstances as these, I can tell you that you would be as heartbroken and filled with admiration as I am right now. Once again, Dad rules.

So.

Dad and Eileen are going to bunk at the WP until the cultures come back, because that's still a sensible thing to do even though they'll very likely be negative. Also, the hospital can keep him optimally hydrated while they are waiting for those results. So, probably for something near four or five days, Dad and E will stay put.

Other news: Dad's bloodwork continues to look just about how it is supposed to look, which is excellent. His platelet count was high enough today for the follow up biopsy. The results of that test should be available in about a week. The results of this report are no doubt important, but since he has had even more chemo since the last "remission" report, this is not the nail-biter that previous biopsies have been. Results will be posted, of course.

As soon as there is more information, there will be another post. Little Prayer Chain That Could, we are grateful for all you do, and ask that you stay on board.


Jen (for Dad and E)


* let's also include exfoliants, body balms, masks, toners, and -heaven forbid - sunscreen.

** while retaining the highest respect for the women in his life, and their (ok, my) chronic horror of "undergooing" the skin and suffering a loss of texture and elasticity. Or something.