Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Busy Schedule

1/28/2009 11:00 AM
It is amazing at how busy they keep us.
Day 1
Collect Devree’s Information: Shots, Family Doctor, Blood Pressure, Weight, Family’s Medical History, etc.

Document History of Devree’s Cancer: What did we notice first? What doctors were seen? What work did Stanford do? It felt like a, “getting to know you”, visit.

Meet Dr. Armstrong (Pediatric Neurosurgeon/Oncologist): Talk about Devree’s neurosurgery and recovery. Testing to determine the status of her neurosurgery recovery (finger game, etc.). Discuss the testing that will be done this week. Question and answer time.

Meet Our Clinic Chaplain: Wonderful man!!!

Patient Services: Set up housing and meal plan

Register Devree at St. Jude School: Meet her teacher, and learn about school

Meet Our Anesthesiologist: Learn about diet before anesthesia for Lumbar Punch/Spinal Tap.

Devree’s Nap Time: She was totally exhausted after her long day.


Day 2
Meet Devree’s Speech Therapist: Vocabulary testing shows that she has not forgotten any words. She’s still a smart cookie. J

Blood Work: Sorry about the needles Devrs.

Meet Devree’s Physical Therapist: Devree still can’t pass the heel-to-toe “Drunk Driving Test”. She still can’t win the finger game. (She is getting close though!)

Audiologist: Another hearing test. They plan to watch Devree’s hearing quite closely. The radiation and chemo can both harm her hearing, and they want to do as much as they can without hearing loss.

Child Life Visit: Devree’s party people. (They provide activities and fun to keep our spirits up.) We promise not to tell them that they just can’t compete with Memphis Rice’s and our Germantown Ward.

School Time: Awww Mom do I have to go? They told us that if Devree isn’t feeling well, she is allowed to sleep in class and make it up later on. Yes, they really said that.

Nutritionist: We get to visit about how to feed Devree’s

Take MRI: St. Jude has to do their own research and check Devree’s status. Our support group told us that they always feel nervous about each test.

Devree asked me if this will be her life from now on. Her schedule is pretty fast paced and she can see how it could get old after awhile. The busy schedule is supposed to ease up once all of the initial testing is done.

Love,
Todd

6 comments:

Breck, Celest, Tayzia, Talon, Kallie, and Jackson Rice said...

Can't wait for you to come over tonight! The YW are excited that Devree is coming to the activity tonight. We are also glad that you are coming to party with us on the weekends. . . . don't forget the Super Bowl Party on Sunday!!!!! Love, Aunt Celest

The Voelkel Family said...

Hmmm . . . Celest's comment does make this sound like a Radiation Vacation. But school? . . . . blechk. Good luck, Devree. Just sleep in class all the time. :P (ummm . . don't tell my principal I just said that, ok?)

Shana Hamblin said...

Breck, Celest, Tayzia, Talon, Kallie, and Jackson have really been spoilling Devree. She got a big welcome from the Germantown Ward. The Young Women all came over to the Rice's and got to know Devree.

Devree will be attending a Young Women's activity tonight.

I hope it wasn't too boring to read about Devree's last couple of days. I just thought you all might want to know what a typical day is like for Devree.

Love,
Todd

Leah said...

I'm am impressed with your schedule! Devree, we sure missed and thought of you at the Youth Temple Trip. We hope to have you there soon! =)

PaulaShawn said...

I thought we got busy but then I finally got a chance to read your blog and found out that we've got nothin'. You won't have a chance to get homesick with that kind of schedule! I want someone to tell me I can sleep if I get tired. I've been waiting for that comment since I attended early morning seminary!

Fun for you to make new friends in wards out there! Lucky them - they get what we want!

Have fun at YWs tonight. You are unstoppable! you are the living reality of the phrase "Let your light so shine!"

angelicindy said...

Tell Devree that I can't do the heel toe drunk driving test either! Of course, that means I have to be an extra special careful driver :). And I LOVE to know the day to day of Devree's time at St. Jude's. It makes me feel like I'm there with her. Hmmm. I wonder if that's what if feels like to be a celebrity. Everyone knows every little thing about you and feel that connection, but you don't really know you're stalkers :). I'll have to think about how I can help even that out a little. Is there anything you would like from the Burley Browns?