Seton Hospital #1

Well, last week was a bear! I was told to check in Seton Hospital on Monday at 7 AM and did so, but due to a few communications blips, didn't start the first bag of poison until about 5 PM. They were kind enough to start the saline drip much earlier, though, so I was attached to the IV tree (nickname "Charlie Tree") 24/7 for the whole week.

The last bag, Adriamycin or "The Red Devil", is shown here under the brown bag. It is so devilish that they are afraid for anyone to see it. It is super caustic so while it is dripping (the final 48 hours) they have to check vital signs and blood draw from the catheter every 2 hours (night and day !!). This gives me an opportunity to check the overseas markets throughout the night and stay on top of things for all my clients.

I really do try to get a decent day's work in. After Dr. Doty leaves in the morning I watch the opening bell. Gary/Norma/Nick will call about mid-morning to check in and I try to finish reading IBD and any market analysis reports Gary has sent up. Cindy brings the new stuff from the office around lunch. We discovered I can walk Charlie and Cindy down to the cafeteria where the food is better, so lunch will be there from now on. I try to shoo Cindy away after lunch so I can work/read/make phone calls. She usually shows up again by early evening.

At least I didn't feel too bad most of the time. I did start to get a pnemonia-like cough Friday that got progressively worse through Sunday. Sleeping Friday and Saturday nights was almost impossible and coughing began to hurt so bad it brought tears to my eyes. It is better now, but I can tell my blood counts are low. I expect to be near full speed by Wednesday.

The next hospital stay will be 10/8 through 10/12. I'll get the same sequence of poison, but the poison is cumulative so the week and few days following may be a bit tougher. Since the blood counts will be lower, company will be more restricted. Dr. Doty said I may have to have blood and/or platelett transfusions. But my email works and I will post my cell number if anyone wants to call. There is a phone in the room but it does not have voice mail. My cell does. And, since the doctors and nurses frown on me taking calls while they are poking around, leave a message and I'll get back to you.

Our goal is still Stem Cell Transplant starting early-to-mid November. That will put us in San Antonio through year-end. We will have an apartment at La Cantera and I will have an office set up there. Nick or a messenger will bring files from the office weekly and I will recieve lots of stuff by computer.

I apologize for the interruption to face-to-face meetings, but we will get back to normal in 2008. Please don't hesitate to arrange a telephone conference through Norma. I want this to be as easy as possible on all my clients.

As always, thank you for your thoughts and prayers. They sustain me.

RICK