Settled In Our New Home

What a lovely place we will be living in for the next 7 weeks. It is such a beautiful and calming place to stay.

When we first arrived yesterday, we got the royal treatment and a tour first before going to our room. There are 29 rooms for families just like mine. The bedroooms have beds, dressers and chairs, but no TV and no tables, on purpose. They want us to mingle with others, so they have common areas where we all gather. The kitchen/dining room area is in the middle of the 2nd floor. It has four full kitchens in one room with tables and chairs for everyone. Many people can be preparing food or cleaning up without getting in each other's way. We have a section of one of the fridges and freezer, and a cupboard that locks with our room key. We have to provide our own food and do the preparation and cleanup. The kitchens have everything you can think of for cooking, and the counters hold "shared" items that are for all of us, like cookies someone makes, or a box of Florida oranges someone brought in. Food is only allowed in the kitchen area. No food is permitted in the other rooms.
There are many lounges or living areas with couches, tables, TVs, games, magazines and fireplaces. There is a fitness room, laundry room, computers rooms, library, meeting room (people have their craft projects set up in there to work on as time allows). As you walk around, you can't belive how many people actually live here, because there are so many little nooks for a person to go to. They also have ideas to do outside of the hospital/Lodge area.
A few more rules; you must wear shoes or socks, you must sign in and out if leaving, you must be quiet between 9:00pm and 7:00am near the bedrooms, and you must take care of everything to the best of your ability. Everyone is held to a high standard for keeping the Lodge beautiful.
They gave us a "suite", so we have a room with 2 beds, a room with 2 chairs, and a bathroom. It is nice for me if I want to stay up later than Justin. We love it here, and know we are mightily blessed.

We MUST Know!

No matter how I figure it, staying in a hotel is going to break us. It will cost more than $1,000 for a hotel during his treatments, IF we get the hospital rate, IF the weather holds, IF he feels good enough to travel, and IF my car holds out. That thousand dollars is right off the top, before gas, food, rent, utilities, and all the other things that have to be paid, all while I am not working.

I just HAD to call the Hope Lodge, to see if there was ANY way he could get in. Even if it was only for a week or two, that would be better than nothing.

So I got on the phone and called them. Treatments start tomorrow and we just can't wait any longer. The not knowing is killing me. When I called, they were very kind, got me right to the person I needed. I tried to act casual, as if it was no big deal, instead of desperate like I felt. I asked what the status was on Justin getting to stay there, and how long was the waiting list, just in case?

She was so friendly, and acted surprised that I didn't already know. She told me he was in, there was a room waiting for him, ready now.

WHAT?!!! He's in?!!! Now?!!! Wow. I kept thanking her over and over and she just laughed. I told her there was a snowstorm coming overnight and she said it was OK to come today, a day early. The room was ready for both of us.

Praise God! He had everything planned and in place before we even knew we needed it.

So we are done packing and ready for our adventure, minus the hotel. Yes!

We MUST Know!

No matter how I figured it out, our cost for a hotel at the hospital rate would start at about $1,000 for Justin's stay. IF the weather holds, IF they give us the hospital rate, IF he feels good enough to travel, IF they give us a later time for his treatments, and IF my car hold out. We would try to go early Monday morning, spend Monday through Thursday nights at the hotel, and come home after his Friday treatments. I couldn't figure out how it was going to work financially. A thousand bucks right off the top, before gas, food, rent, utilities and other normal costs just didn't seem doable.

I HAD to call Hope Lodge, just to see if there was a chance we would get in. Even with a waiting list, a few weeks there for no cost would make a big difference.

So I got on the phone and called. They were really nice, got me to the person in charge, who got on the phone almost immediately. I tried to act like it didn't matter, and just casually asked if they knew if Justin could stay, and how long the waiting list looked IF he got in. I didn't want to seem desperate, even though I was.

She acted surprised that I called, like I should have been notified sooner. She said, "Oh, he's in, and we have a room ready now. You can come today if you would like."

What?!! Just like that and he is in?!! NOW?!! Wow. I thanked her over and over and she just laughed. I told her that due to a snowstorm coming in, we would love to come over a day early!

So we are throwing together our stuff and taking off!!

God is so good, He had plans for us even before we knew we needed them. Praise Him for his mercy, grace, and goodness!

Support From Everywhere

Everywhere we turn, people are there to support us. They always have a kind word, a prayer or a hug. It is so greatly needed! Being alone through this would be very difficult.

Thanks to EVERY PERSON who has stood in the gap for us; prayers, encouragement, hugs, cards, gifts and support. We feel such peace through this that we KNOW people are praying.

Thanks to my family and small group for going above and beyond for us. We love you so much.

Vacation?

I'm officially off work until March 2. It is too early to tell what it is like not to have to go to work every day. I think I will like it (but not forever).

We are trying to plan what we need while in Iowa City. We still haven't heard from the Hope Lodge, so we are just getting basic things ready.

It is hard to believe this is really happening.

Getting Started

We left bright and early this morning and had no trouble with weather or traffic. It is quicker than 2 hours to the hospital, so we actually arrived early. Justin's only issue was, "when can I eat?"

The resident doctor came in first and asked Justin a bunch of questions about his general health and then wondered it we had questions? We asked a few, then we got to watch a video all about radiation treatments. It was actually short and informative. Then the nurse came in and went through a bunch of information with us, all about side effects, scheduling, diet, medications and what they would be doing to get ready for the treatments.

Justin's doctor came in and went through a few things, made sure we understood it all, had us sign some papers and talked to us about our lodging, yet to be determined. He was absolutely SURE we could stay at the Hope Lodge and said if they turned us down to let him know. We filled out an application. There is a waiting list; we just don't know how long. The doctor is so kind and assuring. It is very nice to feel everything is in good hands.

The nurse came back in and was to put in an IV for the CT scan dye. We told her he was hard to get an IV in, that there had been some issues the last time he was at the hospital. She tried several times and was very puzzled at why she couldn't get it in. After about 3 major tries, she went and got another nurse, who also tried many times and finally got it in, although she said it "wasn't very good".

Next came the people from the radiation area. They did a dental impression with some liquid goo. It hardened and was hooked to a part of the radiation unit. When Justin bites down into the impression, it fits him perfectly every time so they know they are radiating the right area. It is sort of like a GPS unit. Once that was done, they took him to make a mesh mask. A hard plastic mesh was soaked in warm water to soften it, then spread over his face. They pressed down all over his face to make a perfect image. It had to harden, then it will be made into a mask that will be attached into the table he is laying on it for the treatments. It will also hold his head still. It looks a little scary and a little confining, but that is the way it is done.

Then they were off to do the CT scan and the MRI. I waited in the lobby for a long time. Finally one of the nurses came out and said that his IV had failed and they had been working on it to get it in again. Four people and 12 tries later, it was finally put in by a resident doctor! Poor Justin. He is all bruised and sore, with holes all over. They finally got the CT scan done. An emergency came in and needed the MRI, so Justin was put on hold for that. They told us to go get some lunch, but to be very careful with the IV! We went up and got something to eat, to the bookstore for a new John Grisham book and then back to Radiation Oncology. We waited a long time, and again the nurses came out to let us know that there was a delay and they would see him as soon as possible. He finally got in about six hours after we arrived. The MRI went fine, he actually got some Valium and slept through most of it.

Justin may lose some hair in spots during the radiation, so we went to buy a Iowa Hawkeyes hat for him. He wears a bigger size and of course they didn't have any that fit. Then it was off to the Short Stop for a treat and we headed home.

Justin needs to be back at the hospital next Wednesday the 14th of January. They will go through a dry run to make sure everything works and then the radiaton will start on Thursday. It will be daily, Monday through Friday for 6 1/2 weeks. We asked for a late morning time so that we don't have to be up at the crack of dawn every day. They can usually accommodate preferences.

I sensed that Justin is feeling greatly relieved to finally begin treatments. He was happy and his usual teasing self today, and it was really wonderful to have the old Justin back.

Here We Go!

Early in the morning we will leave for the hospital to have the testing done so Justin will be able to start radiation treatments. He will be fasting all night, except a few crackers with his morning pills. He will have another MRI, a CT scan and all sorts of other stuff. By the time we get home tomorrow night, we should have much more info than we have tonight.

Justin is SO ready to begin. It isn't that he enjoys any of it. He just wants to get out of living in limbo. It will be nice to have something to DO.

Thanks to everyone for helping us with this "adventure". It has been a blessing to see how God provides