So much is going on, I am not sure where to even begin. Nor can I remember where I left off. As I previously noted, Sam's left leg is giving him trouble. One night a few weeks ago, he showed it his very swollen ankle. Surprise! Shortness of breath also became an issue, so much so last week we were in Seward for my work and he insisted I bring him back on the 4th. Little did I know he planned to call 911...and what a shock I got when I decided to take advantage of coming home for a short bit to take a quick shower and find out as I am walking out of the bathroom wrapped in towels that he called 911 just before I got out. Hello. Admittedly, my first thought was, (my Anchorage girlfriends understand what I am saying here...) oh boy, AFD is coming to visit and here I am. Quick! Get dressed and comb out the hair! Took me about 20 seconds compared to my normal 20 minutes and that is before the blow dryer comes into play. Then I realized I probably should be worried about my husband, which of course, I was...but AFD was coming to visit! The paramedics who showed up were so kind and gentle with Sam, it really did almost make me cry. By the time they arrived, Sam's breathing had relaxed, so his vitals were actually quite good. Because he did not mention his leg, they told him that the shortness of breath was probably a result of the progression of the cancer and that even if they took him in, there was probably nothing anyone could do. Which, in the grand scheme of things, is very true. Would have helped if he had told them about his leg! And by the way, just because I am standing there does not mean I have permission to speak, don't you know? Anyway, long story short, at chemo on Tuesday he finally showed the physician's assistant and the nurses his oxygen levels went crazy whenever he moved, lowering to the low to mid 80s. Not good. But...again...everyone continued to insist it is due to the pulmonary tumors in his lungs because he still does not mention his leg. ARGH. If only I could have a few minutes with the staff....
Last night, after checking his oxygen content several times, and then asking me to wake him when I got up for work this morning, he promised to call the doctor and tell them everything. So off to work I go, and in the middle of my 11:00 meeting, I receive a text...doctor appt at 2, need ultrasound first, have to check in at desk by noon. Luckily, my meeting is close to home, I make it there in about 2 minutes flat, get to Regional in record time (all the while the back seat driver sitting next to me is telling me which route to take through Fairview to get to Regional the fastest, but please do not speed, ok?) We get into Radiology and I am watching the ultrasound and I am seeing what I expected to see...a blood clot. Not just a little one, either. It extends from just above the left knee to just below mid-calf. Sam is so very lucky. I pray we caught it in time. When he received the results, he said..."so it is true." Twice a day he is to inject himself in the belly with enoxaparin for 10 days. Tuesday, unless something happens before then, he goes back in for one final chemo treatment this round. Monday, this chickie is calling the doctor and chatting with him because today he was told by the staff it is due to him sitting in the wheelchair all the time. HELLO! The reason the wheelchair is even here is because of the pain he experienced when standing on the leg. I do not know who to be more angry with at this point, Sam for not telling everything (but, in his defense, he is on heavy pain meds, so he is lucky to remember his name at times) or the staff for being so...so...so I don't know what! Anyway, I am calling the office on Monday. Sometimes a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. Even Sam commented on the way back from the VA pharmacy that the blood clot might have been around for a couple months or longer. No kidding. Ok, the sarcasm is starting to show through, so I better get off this subject and talk about something else.
Tomorrow is Fairview's (our neighborhood) Block Party. If Sam is up to it, we are going to head on over during our Saturday stroll. This summer's weather has been amazing, even the week of rain we had.
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| CIRI property at Crooked Lake |
As for me, work continues to be extremely busy. Summer is field season and my job is to deal with land access matters, including educating everyone that CIRI is a private company which means CIRI lands are private lands, not public lands. It is a common misconception that the ANSCA corporations, especially the regional corporations, are public agencies. They are not, never have been, and never will be. Everyone needs a permit to be on CIRI and/or its villages' lands. Does not matter who you are or what you are doing, you need a permit. They are extremely easy to apply for and relatively easy to get (unless it's a big project and those tend to take awhile). If you do not have a permit, you are in trespass...meaning even those people who believe Fire Island is public land. Just putting the word out. In a couple weeks CIRI's Land Department is beginning a huge public education campaign. Even if we can get this message through to one person, we will consider it to be a success. So Alaska friends...take note, please.
Did I mention AFD came to visit?
q'ua
