This weekend has had its ups and downs.
Saturday Adam, Kristin and I met at Kirk's. We watched a fair bit of college football. Noles, Dawgs win. Tech, Vandy lose. Kirk was up and alert for a good portion of the day. Dan and Leslee got in a little late (6ish) and he was still up and about joking and laughing with everyone.
So much up and about in fact that he swelled up his left foot pretty good. It was hurting him in the night so of course everyone was up worrying about it until they could take him to the hospital today.
They were gone when Dan, Leslee and I arrived today. We waited until about 6 or so when they returned instead of being in the way at the hospital. The main concern was that Kirk might have a blood clot in his leg which would be very bad. Primarily because the medicine used to combat blood clots can cause bleeding in the brain. Very bad.
However, they performed an ultrasound on his leg. No clots (or babies). The best guess was that the steroids he's on, for brain inflammation prevention, are causing water retention in his feet as well as possibly weakening the muscle tissue in his legs. It's also likely the cause of Kirk's insatiable appetite. However Tylenol should be able to knock out any pain he's feeling.
By the time everyone got home and a little settled we were all pretty beat. Kirk sat on the couch and watched the end of the Giants/Steelers game with us. Then he got up and had the dinner Deborah amazingly managed the strength to cook. You think I'm good, this woman is a MACHINE. After the game and dinner the three of us left.
So, mixed news today. Kirk's in enough pain that he let someone take him to the hospital, but without much degradation of his physical condition. Or any life-threatening clots. Let's hope any future doctor visits go this well. Maybe we'll get an MRI done soon and check the status of the tumor? I don't know what the plan is for obtaining new scans. I'll keep everyone updated on that when I can find out. Maybe we'll get a better idea of "how long?". To that question the doctors that saw him today said "4 years?!? Really?!?" So, not 100% encouraging, but hey, they're only doctors. They're wrong every day.
For anyone new to The List, I bid you welcome. Be sure to check out previous postings on kirklawrence.blogspot.com. Feel free to send either me or Joe any pictures you have of Kirk that you'd like added to the Flickr page. = )
-John
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When we got there on Saturday, we had brought him a package he got in the mail.... which turned out to be part 2 of my birthday gift. When he opened it, he opened the inner box and handed me the mug and said Happy Birthday, Leslee! Then he proceeded to warn me that he likes to eat everything while putting a packing peanut in his mouth. It was funny (and sad, but still funny)!
He's definitely still in there. It's almost like he's really tired or even a little kid... in that he doesn't seem like an active participant in a general conversation until he laughs at something you say.
We're going to try to come before Thanksgiving again!
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