Monday, April 16, 2007

Do you want the good news, or the bad news?

So, bright and early this morning....OK, not so bright...me or the morning. Mom and I got in the car and braved the Taconic and flooding for a 9 AM PET scan at Westchester Medical Center. Tired and wet, we made our way into the offices and were scanned with out delay. (Mostly because everyone else cancelled cause they were unable to get through the floods.)
Anyway, mom and I went out for an early lunch because my appointment was not until 2:30.
After we got back to the office, we spent a couple of hours waiting. A few minutes giving blood, and then three seconds of calm before Dr. Ahmed scared the crap out of us.
He comes back upstairs after looking at my scans and says, "You always like to defy my clinical work." Or something along those lines. So...cue the brief moments of terror.
"The good news is there is no sign of the lymphoma. It is dead. It is deader then dead."
Mom and I collectively sigh in relief.
"The bad news is you have a touch of pnemonia in your left lung and I'm admitting you to the hospital for treatment."
I think he hates me.
After arguing for 10 minutes and then violently raging for 20, (not to mention 5 minutes of threatening physical harm if he didn't let me go home) I finally excepted my fate. And after several frantic phone calls, consultations and one trip from Katrina and Chuck to bring me some things from home....I am once again blogging from a hospital room...(two doors down from my old room.) I am actually not blogging, for some reasong I can't get on to the blog and this is being posted by email, through Katrina. Mom will also be contributing to this email, to let you know the out-comes of the card contest.
So, that is really all I know until I talk to the Infectious Disease Specialist tomorrow.
For now...
this is one very pissed off and really cranky Elizabeth
Hope your day was better than mine

Public Service Announcement from Mom
(...and a thank you to Elizabeth for allowing me to use the blog)

On Saturday, April 7, Elizabeth, three of her sisters, 2 brothers-in-law, 4 first cousins and 1 second cousin (over the age of 18) sat at my dining room table and poured over 125 cards received by Elizabeth at the hospital. I'd like to thank everyone who mailed her a card and especially those of you who rose to the challenge of searching for the "funniest" card that you could find. The entries were hysterical and not only did Elizabeth and her family enjoy them, but so did the entire staff of the transplant unit at WMC. It also served to decorate the awful green walls of her room. So after a number of glasses of wine to put everyone into the right frame of mind (?), and much jocularity (a word I learned on MASH once used by Father Mulcahey), the judges selected the following cards as winners:
Werner & Martha Brandt - Card pictured patient laying in bed day after day (Remember?)
Joe & Marge Wrobel - Flasher with the baby carrotts and tomatoes (Ah, baby carrots)
Julie - Squirrel (Memories of Gettysburg college)
Jennifer Kiederer - Lady at the Salad Bar
Lisa Christensen - Girls on the Beach with Thongs (Oh, my)
So now you can all let your imaginations run wild and the five winners should await a small prize being sent in the mail. Again our thanks to you all.

15 Comments:

At 10:27 PM, Blogger katrina said...

I got first post.
And I got to set up elizabeth's hospital room.
And wipe down her hospital tray.
And bring her down her pj's... and Nintendo charger...and her favorite pillow....

When did all of these things become an honor???

Elizabeth, I quote Stacy Birdsell when I say, "Pneumonia??? She just kicked lymphoma's ass and we're supposed to be scared of pneumonia???" Keep kicking butt!

 
At 10:50 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Elizabeth, I think it's amazing that you are back in the hospital at about the point where your room again needs to be cleaned, laundry done and bed linens changed....DID YOU DO THAT DELIBERATELY?? Hope this stay at WMC goes quickly.

 
At 12:14 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am so happy to hear this news :) Sorry about the pneumonia, but I agree with Elizabeth's quote. You remain in my thoughts and prayers :) <3
-cousin michelle (also battling the crappy weather all the way up here in boston. boo.)

 
At 6:48 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

What's with "Hope your day was better than mine".....hello, clear PET Scan, you know how many people would love to hear those words? So you have a couple of days in the hospital - your mom probably paid them off to get you out of the house for a few days - ha! It is all great news Liz, enjoy that. The hospital will be over in a few days, and you will still go home with a clear PET scan. Put it all in perspective, play the nintendo and let them wait on you for awhile. This too shall pass.

Love, Janette

 
At 7:51 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh Lizzie,
Life is full of twists and turns. Thank God this one is easliy maneuvered! I understand the hospital stay is not what you wanted...but guess what "better than dead" doesn't get any better than that!
YBS

 
At 7:58 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

And I reaffirm what everyone else is saying. .... PET scan is clear!!! What wonderful news!!! Incredibly wonderful news!! The pneumonia is just a slight hitch which will be quickly cured with some rest. Keep up the good work Elizabeth. .. You are doing GREAT!!

Love and prayers, Phyllis

 
At 1:57 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey Liz,

thanks got fred is dead forever and he won´t come back. sorry to hear about the pneumonia. but you are a fighter and god is just testing you. we pray for you and hope you will be well soon and be out of the hospital as soon as possible.
take care Liz.
we love you.
Lucy and the slovak family

 
At 6:29 PM, Blogger Mrs. Fitz said...

We are so happy to hear the great news, that Fed Is Dead and gone forever. We are sorry to hear that you have pneumonia, we know that you are strong and will make it through this.Looking forward to seeing you in May.

Love, Mr.Mrs. Fitz Sr.

 
At 9:52 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Emotions are so near the surface with, as YBS put it, all of life's twists and turns. Before Pastor could get out the words why you were back in the hospital I almost hyperventilated. Then, the good news of a clear Pet scan, but the mention of pneumonia...a roller coaster of emotions (this with the woes of folk suffering effects of the recent storm, and then the news out of Virginia) Last I saw, and heard you, was Sunday singing like an angel the piece from Handel's Messiah so beautifully that to hear you were in the hospital Monday was a bit of a shock. BUT the news IS GOOD!!! You will be home real soon...HEALTHY!!! Enjoy some rest and let them clean up your room for homecoming. Love ya, Mrs. H
PS Congratulations to the funny card winners!

 
At 9:07 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yea! I am very happy the doctor had good news. He even sent you to the hospital spa for a couple of days to celebrate (and let your family clean your room). I can see from the other comments that no one feels sorry for your stay since Fred is Dead!!!!
Lisa

 
At 10:53 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey, Liz, what can I say? I think you wore yourself out with that fabulous singing in church! :)
Hang in there, we're still praying for you!
Doug

 
At 4:26 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Happy to hear the GREAT news. That's rough about the bad news. I'm sure you are sick of being in the hospital but hopefully they will knock out the pneumonia and get you back home again in short order.

 
At 7:15 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am honored that my card has been recognized and happy that it brought smiles.
I'm sorry to hear about the pneumonia, but I'm overjoyed that the lymphoma is gone. Now get better, go home, and don't have to stay in the hospital again for a very, very long time (preferably never).
Love & Hugs

 
At 8:48 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Elizabeth, does this mean I don't have to help you clean your room???? Good planning! Kidding aside, that's great news. Are you going to let a little case of pneumonia get you down - after what you've been through? God is good!!! Brit

 
At 8:57 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

What awesome news! We knew you were going to kick ass and beat this beast!! We love you and hope to see you soon!
Kathy, Paul & Jessica Scherer

 

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