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