I don’t even know where to begin for March. The journey with Dave is ongoing and CHALLENGING. March brought a whole new level to the game, and we call this level COVID-19. FIRST OFF – WE DID NOT GET IT!!!! We have been fortunate to have gone into seclusion just before the rapid onset of community transmission, and the spike in cases in Alberta. We have been sequestered in our home, together since March 13 when I made the decision to pull the kids from school and was told to work from home due to Dave’s immune compromised situation.
Yes, I was told to work from home. Did I ask at one point for this type of flexiblity – yes I did. Was I told that it wouldn’t happen? Yes, yes I was. All I can do is laugh at the moment as it relates to the decision of my office manager to have those of us, (at that time) who have people directly connected with immune issues, work from home – not a recommendation, but a direct instruction. ( There are two of us in the office in this type of scenario, the other not related to cancer).
March did start off to be a pretty good month. Dave was starting to feel a bit better once his platelet count came up and his liver enzyme count started to come down. This allowed for him to start round 3 of chemo which had been put off as his platelets were too low and his liver enzymes too high for the doctors to allow him to start chemo. Once everything leveled off he did start the next round without much trouble, though at the dosage from the first go, as they higher dosage took much longer for him to recover from, which messes with the cycle the doctors what to have going.
Then COVID-19 became a much more prominent thing in every ones lives and just as this happened Dave again landed in the hospital for cluster seizures. We had also picked up a cold from somewhere, Seth and Dave primarily. Dave was isolated in the Emergency due to his cough and he was swabbed (the test for COVID). He was also admitted to the Neurology ward to be monitored as they adjusted medications yet again.
This visit to the hospital held a very strange coincidence, the last hospital visit had been on day 4/5 chemo run as it was again this time. I believe that also a part of that other visit was a cold, but don’t fully recall as it was in late January. The Neurologist that we had that time also found that to be an extreme coincidence, and was exceptionally thorough in his observation of Dave while he was admitted.
The down side was all of the restrictions and precautions that had been put into place during his stay that made the stay both exceptionally anxiety ridden and frustrating, as well as restrictive. I have never yet had to call the unit to ensure that Dave received the care required, but I did this time, twice. He came home on March 17 partly as it was not good for him to be there and the doctor was satisfied with the changes to release him.
We found out later that day that he did test positive for a strain of COVID, but it was an older strain that is commonly linked to colds. The next day we received news that his COVID-19 test was negative. He was greatly relieved.
During this medical challenge, the kids were also away from school and school officially stopped in person classes, transitioning to online learning. The University of Calgary, where I work, also transitioned to online classes and strongly encouraged staff, students and faculty to work from home if at all possible. Day cares closed, places where kids would frequent when not in school closed, and playgrounds were closed. It’s a good thing the weather was crappy, as I don’t know what we would do with the kids if it was nice enough to be outside for longer periods of time, especially in the city.
I envy those of you who live outside of town or have large spaces to let your children loose. I can’t send my kids outside to explore without fear that other kids will join them and not respect the physical distancing that we must practice at present. While we do have a backyard, it is very small and there isn’t much to do when the weather is colder. I’d love to say that my house is the cleanest it’s ever been, but I would be lying. With the kids school work, my own work and all of the other things that are happening, cleaning the house just isn’t a priority. The kids have been wiping down the door nobs and such, but more than that is not happening at present.
We continue to push forward with appointments, progress and set backs. It’s been six months since diagnosis, which has been really hard as the hope of better progress has been struck down many times. Depression, anxiety and everything that goes with it has been a part of our process and struggle.
Yet, we continue to tackle one day at a time and deal with what that day brings only. We did find out when Dave was in the hospital that the MRI looked better than the last one, which was done in January. That was very good news, though we didn’t really know what that meant at the time.
I continue to work from home, the kids continue to do online school work and we are trying to find our balance within this new, new normal. So much change in the last six months, so much adaptation, so many new things and experiences. I am apprehensive and maybe a little excited to see what is next, likely a lot apprehensive.
With this new world crisis, our lives will be forever changed. I feel for those who have had to experience the horrors of COVID-19, feel for those who have lost people to the disease (and I know at least one family in this situation, unfortunately), and those that are still to go through the experience as it’s not yet over.
If you wish to connect with us please let me know, we have multiple tools to stay connected and do so regularly with those who are extremely important to us. My wish for everyone during this time is to stay safe, physically distance yourself, by we can still socialize, it is possible. We are doing just fine amidst this pandemic so please take heart in that!
The Adams-Schlag Family 