Hospital

24 January	Finally admitted after all night and part of the day in emergency waiting for space.
25 January	The oncologist now thinks it may be carcinoma rather than myeloma. We probably won’t know for sure until Monday. Biopsy postponed due to blood thinners having been administered.
26 January	Biopsy done in the morning. Still much pain. Mary slept most of the day. Probable results on Monday
27 January	Ate a good breakfast. MRI done of spine and skull. Probable results on Monday. Compression of the first lumbar vertebra. Anti-inflammatories administered. Pain less but still present. Calcium levels near normal. Slept most of the day.
28 January	Orthopedic Surgeon reported that there is an extreme compression of the spine at L1 and surgery will be necessary. This will not cure anything, but should alleviate pain and provide more material to biopsy. Surgery could be Monday or Tuesday. Mary ate a good breakfast but did not like lunch or supper. Still not up to having visitors. Entire family was at her bedside.
29 January	Biopsy results came in, determining that what she has is indeed multiple myeloma, which is treatable. We were told that spine surgery is scheduled for tomorrow, but no one came to discuss it with us.. Mary has been alert and relatively pain free until 9PM. She does not like hospital food, and Sandy brought in a soup for her to eat.
30 January	Today was Mary's birthday, but we did not celebrate it. She was awake bright and early and ready to eat, but was fasting in preparation for the operation. We tried to find out when the operation was going to be, but to no avail. Finally at 6PM she was cleared to eat. Turns out that the operation will be tomorrow at 5PM. One of the reasons for the delay was to give the drugs a chance to begin their work. I think it was starting its work because Mary was more animated than at any time in the last 10 days. The first lumbar disk has been severely compromised and the operation should remove the tumor compressing the spinal cord and then pins will be put in to stabilize the spinal column.
31 January	Mary was very alert today with little pain. She ate a light breakfast and then was made to fast the rest of the day anticipating a 5PM operation. She was visited by the doctors and others in preparation for the operation. While she was apprehensive, her mind was kept occupied by Monica, Sandy and Gooby. At 4:30 she was taken to the operating area where the anesthesiologist, the doctor and the nurse detailed what they were going to do and getting us to sign the required papers. The prep time was about an hour and the actual operation began shortly after 6 and took about six hours. All went well. Mary may have to take papers with her when going thru airport security. She now has metal braces in her back. I'll have to see if the doctor will provide us with the proper documentation. At 1:30 we were able to visit her in ICU. She was fully sedated and on a ventilator and did not open her eyes. It is expected that she will remain there for at least a day before returning to a regular room. Please do not try to call my cell as it will have to be turned off and I do not have call back.