Team name selected …

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Originally uploaded by sdpalmer

We will be walking as “Seth’s Solemates” — many thanks to my cousins Shari and Benet for the suggestion … and for everyone’s suggestions. Loved them all!

We are in the process of registering for the walks in NYC and in Philadelphia and will send further information next week.

Thanks to everyone for your participation and we look forward to walking with you in September (in Philadelphia) and in October (in NYC).

Strength and love,
Seth

Contest: Name the team! [Contest closed]

UPDATE: The contest is now closed and we are deciding on a name. Look for a new post shortly announcing the winning team name.

We are forming a team for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s annual walk to raise awareness and money. Soon, we’ll be solicitng your attendence and support, but right now, we’re trying to name our team. So please respond to this posting with a comment below with your recommendation on a team name for us. The team captain – my mom – has suggested the format of “Seth’s ______” — just fill in the blank. Contest closes Wednesday – so please get your suggestions in by then.

Headlines on the walk: Thursday, October 4th, 2007 – Brooklyn Bridge. More details will follow as we assemble the team. We really appreciate your support!

Since I’ll still be in the hospital recovering from the transplant, our team’s co-captains will be (caught here practicing for the walk):

Strength and Love,
Seth

PS: Please forward this to as many people as possible so we can get wide and varied input! Thanks!

Physical therapy is done!

Yesterday was my last day with the physical therapist. I achieved a very high score on all of the tests for balance and endurance. It was a substantial improvement over last week and I think it’s due to my stubborn independence and just wanting to try to resume a somewhat normal life. Basically, the results of yesterday’s tests result in me not needing any assistance in walking, i.e., a cane or walker. However, when walking outstide on the uneven sidewalks and other outdoor pavements, I prefer to have the cane with me to help my balance, but there are stretches where I can walk unassisted. Very exciting … and now on to new challenges!

Strength and love,
Seth

Transplant dates set

After months of set backs and other various delays, we’ve finally set the dates for the bone marrow transplant. I return to the hospital on 14 September and begin two days of chemotherapy after that, then three days of radiation. On 20 September, I receive the transplant cells, and the count-down begins: 20 September will be Day 0. We expect the first 30 days I’ll be in hospital, and then another 70 at home. Then day 100 – that’s the magic day when I can start to resume a some-what normal life without isolation precautions. Day 100 happens to work out to be December 30th — so I’m looking forward to celebrating quite a bit come New Year’s.

Post-Brithday Birthday Celebration

Neil, Deb, David and Me

Originally uploaded by sdpalmer.

Because I spent my birthday in surgery an in recovery, we rescheduled a post-birthday birthday celebration yesterday. Champagne, and some of my favorite delicacies from Russ and Daughters: caviar cream cheese, whitefish salad, smoked salmon. Mom made tuna and egg salad, and we had crudité and a new find from Trader Joe’s: Italian Blood Orange soda. And while we were stocked with proseco, we downed he champagne Deb and Neil brought. Thank you, everyone! Full picture set at Flickr.

102%

I know it’s been a while since I wrote on the blog last – and there have been plenty of pleas, phone calls, and emails imploring me to write. It’s been a week and a couple of days since I came home and there have been lots of adjustment issues, home appointments with nurses and therapists – but more on that later. Here’s the latest update:

Today I had a pulmonary test in advance of the bone marrow transplant – it’s a standard set of tests to see if I’m still breathing … seriously, it’s a suite of tests designed to measure my lung capacity, my intake and output flow volumes, etc.. Easy tests mostly – only one of them required me to practically hyperventilate which made me dizzy, but otherwise, it was easy and painless. I learned an interesting fact today: my lung capacity is 5.08 liters which is 102% of anticipated capacity of a person my age, height and weight. This is interesting since I smoked for about 20 years and only just recently stopped when I was first admitted to the hospital six months ago, back in February.

And on the topic of excess … yesterday morning, the fire alarm went off at 7am. Mom and I piled out of the apartment in a quasi state of waking. A neighbor was leaving his apartment with his kids ahead of us. The kids looked so dazed. Well … walking with a cane now, I can tell you that living on the eighth floor of a building where each floor has 18-foot high ceilings, walking downstairs is quite the hike. Just after the fifth floor, the neighbor who was ahead of us, came running back up from the ground floor to let us know that it was a false alarm.

As a NY’er, I am always surprised by the kindness of strangers to other strangers when outside of NYC. I don’t know entirely how to express my thanks to him but I’ll put a note under his door to say thanks at least. I don’t even know his name

Well, with all of that excitement, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the nurse I’ve seen twice this week, the occupational therapist that came to visit, the physical therapist that came to torture me, the wound care nurse who helped to change my bandages and change my ostomy bag. Then tomorrow, I have the social worker, next week, another round with OT and PT, and a mugga scan for my heart (another set of tests in advance of the transplant).

On top of all that, I’ve been walking outside. It’s difficult walking on the concrete versus the soft floors I’ve become accustomed to indoors. But the other day, I got a whole 2.5 blocks! It’s quite a hike since my longest distance prior to that was just 500 feet. Two and half blocks – I’m thinking it’s closer to 1,000 feet or more, but my mom, who accompanied me on the journey, thinks it wasn’t quite that far. Well – isn’t it just natural that we would have different opinions?

I promise to write more regularly. In the mean time, I’m going to sign off for now.

Strength and love to all!
Seth

Coming to you you live … from HOME!

After 62 days in hospital, I was discharged yesterday. YEAH!

When I got home, it felt weird – like … it’s not another antiseptic hospital room; it’s my home. And it was pretty much exactly as I remembered it. A new addition are the banister rails on the steps for my loft (installed at different angles which is pretty funny, and yet, sad at the same time).

Good, home-cooking (or at least preparation) last night: bagels with smoked salmon … YUMMMMMMM! Forspeisse was crackers with various dips. And dessert is still pending, but my brother and sister-in-law gave me an ice cream maker for my birthday and we prepped that last night so we can make ice cream today.

I need a few days to regain some strength and adjust to being home, but I will be welcoming visitors soon, as well as spend some more time on the phone catching up with everyone.

Many thanks, again, for everyone’s support.

With strength and love,
Seth

Continuing a family tradition …

Alan and Sheera

Originally uploaded by sdpalmer.

So today in physical therapy I was fitted for a cane, continuing the family tradition from my grandfather to my sister-in-law Sheera. I walk very steadily with it and it’s a great help going up and down stairs. Eerily, my cane looks very much like my grandfather’s did: dark wood, very smooth, simple shape. Anyway, I’m actually enjoying it and have another green pass to allow me to walk freely with it. (Yeah! )

More later …

100 feet, 500 feet, Green card … DISCHARGE!

Reached quite a milestone today in physical therapy (PT): I walked 500 feet with the walker and earned my green card which allows me to walk on the ward with a walker short distances. It’s huge and a coveted prize here.

100 Feet? Today, I walked 100 feet in the PT gym without the walker. Mom was teary-eyed. And it felt great. I had to take some rests along the way, but was still able to do it. I also walked up and down the stairs in the gym a few times. Again, a very difficult task, but one that was accomplished.

The doctor and the therapists discussed my discharge over the weekend and thought that this coming Saturday would be the day. YIPEE! Now, there’s talk of discharging me earlier – possibly Wednesday. That seems a little early to me, but I’d be happy to go home any day between Wednesday and Saturday

That’s all for now. Thanks for all of the comments and well wishes and emails. I’ll write more again soon.

Strength and love,
Seth

Blogged with Flock

Voodoo visits Daddy in hospital

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Originally uploaded by sdpalmer.

Today was a great day! Lenna brought Voodoo to hospital for a visit! Yes, that’s right … Voodoo came to the hospital. On the rehab ward where I am now, they allow patients’ dogs to visit on the floor. We had a great time.

The whole photoset is on Flickr.

First day: so what was it like?

9:45 this morning – occupational therapy. OT works with patients to handle the tasks of living – dressing, washing, cooking, cleaning, etc.. First thing today was the OT therapist did intake which took a while. Then we practiced some dressing. Some I can do – I can put on my own pants and sox. I demonstrated. Then she had me put on a gown à la putting on a shirt and then she gave me a small panel with fabric and buttons and I had to button up the material like a shirt. No problem.

11am and 90 minutes of PT began. First, walking with the walker. I walked further today than ever before. And it was smoother and easier. Guess walking in the hall paid off. Then some strength testing on a bed. After that, wheelchair training. I’m not big on the idea of using a wheelchair, but it will allow me to be mobile on the ward and I can get to the recreation room where the piano is!

I lasted about 60 minutes. My blood pressure was kinda high and I was feeling winded, but thought I did well for my first day.

Middle of the afternoon, back to OT and I finally got to shave! I had this ugly growth and some of the hairs were hanging over and touching my lip and I was constantly uncomfortable. Shaving was hard! I hadn’t used my hands in that way in a long time and coordination was difficult. Not to mention that the sink was very high and the mirror was a reach to see in, but I got through it and now have a clean, smooth face.

Anyway, it was a good day and I’m looking forward to tomorrow. Will write more updates as possible.

Strength and Love,
Seth

PS: Voodoo can come and visit. I’m waiting on hearing back from the social worker on process and documentation needed. I’m so excited — must call Voodoo’s “mother” tonight to coordinate.

6:38

“Your bed at Ravdin (physical therapy ward) will be ready at 6:38,” that’s what my nurse on Rhoads said yesterday afternoon. How weird, we thought, that they could be so precise – but it gave us a glimmer of hope that we wouldn’t have to do a transfer late at night.

Turns out, my room number is 638. The room was already ready and all I needed was patient transport to bring me downstairs.

So … good morning from the physical therapy ward, Ravdin 6! I’m doing well and am up early, as nearly everyone else here, and am starting to get back to a real person’s schedule of washing up, getting dressed, having breakfast and being ready by 9 to start therapy.

There’s also the possibility for a very special visitor to come to me here: Voodoo! Can you believe it? The social worker told me that yesterday, but I have to check on the ward today and find out for sure.

I have three hours of therapy every day. I’m sure it’ll be exhausting and I’ll try to provide details on what it’s like later today. In the mean time,

Strength and love,
Seth