A day in the life

Pictures are worth more than words to capture a typical day in the life of the outpatient transplant patient.

We start our day in the Adult Bone Marrow Transplant clinic, a great building on the edge of Duke Hospital's North Campus.

Great staff, too (oh, er, that's Jordan pitching in...). The staff is very professional.
















We spend time in waiting rooms reading the old magazines. While the assortment is good and so far we have found only one magazine older than six years, we are fortunate that we seldom wait long for most procedures.
Drew has a direct line to his largest vein so many things can go in at once. And often he has many things - today, he got blood, steroids, potassium, magnesium, anti-nausea medicine, and fluids by lunchtime. His chest also has tape and three-color markings and a few holes and labels. Still refuses to wear the gown, though.



The Center has about 40 patients some mornings, plus new arrivals, and all the research activities. As always, we get a room with so many visitors always coming. This week we have had Melissa and Jordan and Ben and Brian and Jane and Boxley and expect Mary tomorrow if she isn't in labor. They like one of us at a time, worry when the numbers get to three or four, and even threw us out of the radiation area today when we kept being in the way. But the staff seem to like us when we change bandages and get ice and make everyone laugh.

The radiation area is cool for the visitors. Drew has to lie still for a lengthy set-up and about 10 seconds of radiation. He would sleep if he could - the lights are low and by mid afternoon he (and the visitors) are ready for a nap. A good way to end the day.