Conan has 7 more treatments -- there will be 2 treatments on July 3. (6 hours apart)
For the most part he doesn't feel ill, but he doesn't feel good either. He is so thankful he hasn't been hospitalized since the surgery, but he gets frustrated because he doesn't feel good either.
The roads in and around Iowa City are opening up, but the two main routes from 80 to the hospital are still closed.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
CAUTION: Water on Roadway
No medical changes, but there is travel information I thought you might be wondering about.
Sunday night Conan & Gretta drove to Iowa City via Burlington. It made the trip 3 times longer, but they arrived safe and dry. They stayed in Iowa City Sunday and Monday nights with Gretta's sister Jennifer.
I-80 opened back up on Monday afternoon, so Tuesday's drive home was normal. The bridge they used to cross the Mississippi at Burlington has since closed.
In Iowa City, the routes in and out of town are still extremely limited. Today is the first day the hospital is having non-essential staff and patients, so traffic will be unpleasant. The rest of the University is closed to students and staff all week.
They did see both the radiation oncologist and the medical oncologist on Monday and Conan had a plain MRI and a contrast MRI. As I had mentioned earlier, the doctors didn't expect to see much change on the MRI at this time. Everything is looking all right and so treatment will continue as planned.
Sunday night Conan & Gretta drove to Iowa City via Burlington. It made the trip 3 times longer, but they arrived safe and dry. They stayed in Iowa City Sunday and Monday nights with Gretta's sister Jennifer.
I-80 opened back up on Monday afternoon, so Tuesday's drive home was normal. The bridge they used to cross the Mississippi at Burlington has since closed.
In Iowa City, the routes in and out of town are still extremely limited. Today is the first day the hospital is having non-essential staff and patients, so traffic will be unpleasant. The rest of the University is closed to students and staff all week.
They did see both the radiation oncologist and the medical oncologist on Monday and Conan had a plain MRI and a contrast MRI. As I had mentioned earlier, the doctors didn't expect to see much change on the MRI at this time. Everything is looking all right and so treatment will continue as planned.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Long Day
I don't usually post twice in one day, but I thought you should get an update.
Conan's trip today took 11 hours. He left Rock Island today at about 8:30 am with his friend Chris behind the wheel. It was about 11:30 when they got to University Hospitals. (usually an hour trip) They left the hospital at noon, but kept trying roads and then would have to turn back. (It sounds like many law enforcement officials tried to be helpful and offer alternate routes all day, but roads kept closing) Around 4:00 pm they were back to Iowa City to restart their detours. They are just now getting home at 7:30 pm.
Also, Conan & Gretta got water in the basement of their house during last night's storm. A number of helpers (Eric, Jim, Joseph and some others) came over and cleaned things out this afternoon. BIG THANK YOUS to them.
Conan's trip today took 11 hours. He left Rock Island today at about 8:30 am with his friend Chris behind the wheel. It was about 11:30 when they got to University Hospitals. (usually an hour trip) They left the hospital at noon, but kept trying roads and then would have to turn back. (It sounds like many law enforcement officials tried to be helpful and offer alternate routes all day, but roads kept closing) Around 4:00 pm they were back to Iowa City to restart their detours. They are just now getting home at 7:30 pm.
Also, Conan & Gretta got water in the basement of their house during last night's storm. A number of helpers (Eric, Jim, Joseph and some others) came over and cleaned things out this afternoon. BIG THANK YOUS to them.
Water Water Everywhere
Conan did get to University Hospitals today for his radiation treatment but it was not without difficulty.
Travel to Iowa City was greatly hampered with the closure of the I-80 bridge over the Cedar River. The first alternate, Hwy 6 just south of I-80 was also closed, so they continued further south to 218, and then headed west to Iowa City.
Travel within Iowa City is a mess. (there is just no other way to describe it) There are only 2 bridges open to cross the Iowa River: the I-80 bridge and the Burlington Street bridge. The traffic jams are horrendous.
The staff at the hospital told him to call before he comes on Monday. Travel into Iowa City is now being discouraged.
Travel to Iowa City was greatly hampered with the closure of the I-80 bridge over the Cedar River. The first alternate, Hwy 6 just south of I-80 was also closed, so they continued further south to 218, and then headed west to Iowa City.
Travel within Iowa City is a mess. (there is just no other way to describe it) There are only 2 bridges open to cross the Iowa River: the I-80 bridge and the Burlington Street bridge. The traffic jams are horrendous.
The staff at the hospital told him to call before he comes on Monday. Travel into Iowa City is now being discouraged.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Start, Reset, Continue
Conan's sinuses have been pretty bad this week. Yesterday and today during radiation, he moved, so the treatment halted. The radiation is very carefully aimed to minimize damage to the healthy cells. Getting him situated takes 10 to 20 minutes before treatment starts, so if he moves, it takes 10 minutes to reposition, and then the treatment continues. The radiation lasts for 10 minutes. If it stops, it restarts where it left off.
He is now on antibiotics for a sinus infection, so hopefully tomorrow will go better.
And by my calculations radiation is half over!
The route to the hospital has changed (and may have to change again) because of road closures due to Iowa City flooding, but the hospital is on top of the hill and is dry.
So, while we continue to pray for Conan's strength to defeat his tumor, let's also remember the many victims of this spring's thunderstorms and the battles they are fighting.
He is now on antibiotics for a sinus infection, so hopefully tomorrow will go better.
And by my calculations radiation is half over!
The route to the hospital has changed (and may have to change again) because of road closures due to Iowa City flooding, but the hospital is on top of the hill and is dry.
So, while we continue to pray for Conan's strength to defeat his tumor, let's also remember the many victims of this spring's thunderstorms and the battles they are fighting.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
To and Fro
The higher temps and higher humidities (not to mention flooding & wild weather) are tough on Conan's sinuses, but he managed to keep still for treatment today. He expected to travel through big storms today, but the clouds parted and let him travel across I-80 in peace!
Also, a continued thank you to all the volunteer drivers. It helps out sooo much.
Also, a continued thank you to all the volunteer drivers. It helps out sooo much.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Busy Busy Weekend
Conan overdid it a bit this weekend, with graduation parties and Gretta's birthday gathering at her parents. He also played with his truck. (He called it cleaning, but I called it playing!) It was a fun weekend, about enjoying time with our loved ones, and we are thankful for that.
On Monday, he began to lose some hair at the site where the radiation is focused. Initially it was a bit of a shock, but he recovered quickly and on Tuesday afternoon he had his head shaved. He had been waiting for the incision to be a little more healed (there's still a bit of a scab line) before he got his hair cut again, but Tuesday was it!
Every Tuesday is an appointment with the radiation oncologist. Everything is proceeding according to plan. Conan & Gretta got a few questions answered:
1. Driving: Conan is clear to drive if he feels up to it. While he needs to be cautious and aware of fatigue, this is one more piece that makes him feel more like himself, and less like a patient.
2. Next MRI: There will be an MRI in a couple weeks, before the end of the radiation treatments. The oncologist stressed that they will not expect to see much reduction in the tumor's size at this time, but will be verifying the placement and targeting of the radiation treatments so far. Another MRI will be performed about 5 weeks after radiation ends.
A little more steroid tweaking (1 mg daily), but this battle continues without complications.
On Monday, he began to lose some hair at the site where the radiation is focused. Initially it was a bit of a shock, but he recovered quickly and on Tuesday afternoon he had his head shaved. He had been waiting for the incision to be a little more healed (there's still a bit of a scab line) before he got his hair cut again, but Tuesday was it!
Every Tuesday is an appointment with the radiation oncologist. Everything is proceeding according to plan. Conan & Gretta got a few questions answered:
1. Driving: Conan is clear to drive if he feels up to it. While he needs to be cautious and aware of fatigue, this is one more piece that makes him feel more like himself, and less like a patient.
2. Next MRI: There will be an MRI in a couple weeks, before the end of the radiation treatments. The oncologist stressed that they will not expect to see much reduction in the tumor's size at this time, but will be verifying the placement and targeting of the radiation treatments so far. Another MRI will be performed about 5 weeks after radiation ends.
A little more steroid tweaking (1 mg daily), but this battle continues without complications.
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