karenulijohn

All of the tests that are required in order for Harvey to apply for the study have been completed.  Beginning early Friday morning, having fasted since the previous evening, he went in for a CT scan of his “coconut,” as the technician quipped.  The nurse accessed Harvey’s new Power Port for the first time to inject a dye for contrast on the image.  The scan itself took approximately 20 minutes.  They left the access to the port in place and we drove to the imaging center on Douglas Blvd. for the PET scan.  We knew the drill because he had this scan done before the second surgery.  After the radioactive material was injected, he had to lie still for one hour before the actual scan could begin.  He was not permitted to read, and I was not allowed to remain in the room.  I think he was asleep before I even left the room, and I went to the mall.  I returned about one and half hours later, picked him up, and we went to our favorite Habit Burger.  We were both starving.  This morning, after fasting overnight, Harvey went to have his blood drawn at about 7:30AM.  At 9:30AM we checked in at the RAS center in Roseville for an MRI of his brain.  Again, they accessed the port so that a contrast dye could be injected.  As before,  he was treated very well by kind and sensitive nurses and technicians.  We have no complaints.

We did learn a little more about the Power Port.  A specially qualified nurse cleans the area carefully, feels for the identifying markers on the surface of the skin, and then, using what looks like a bottle cap with a one inch needle attached, sticks it directly into the skin over the port.  The first time, the nurse told Harvey that it would hurt, so I clutched his hand, thinking he would want to hold on to someone.  I ended up gripping his hand.  He didn’t even flinch.  I really believe he has an exceedingly high tolerance for pain.  The truly interesting part though is that when the nurse removes this “cap,” she injects a small amount of Heparin (a blood thinner) into the tube leading to the artery in order to keep any of the blood in the tube from clotting.

The MRI yielded some humorous comments from Harvey.  During the course of the scan, there are a series of varied rhythmic pulses with different tones.  The technician would tell him how long each of these rhythms would last.  So, he began to associate the rhythms and tones with hymns and songs that he knows.  The most distinct in tone and rhythm was the chorus of “Rule Britannia.”  At one point, he said the machine actually began to shake, and that, along with all of the noise, reminded him of “Annabelle,” his first car.

We are both pleased that he has no more health care appointments until next Tuesday.  He feels very well, and most of the remnants of the radiation have faded.  We are more than grateful.