Christmas Eve 2008

Seems like Jerry and my Christmas Holiday has ended up like the beginning of 2008 and so much of the rest of the year. After enduring such of tough time getting through chemo therapy and finishing up the 15 treatments on December 10th. We thought our Christmas Holidays would be pain free and feeling good. However, Jerry came down with a sore throat and sinus infection. Because immune system and health is compromised the sinus infection has settled into g in on Jerry's right side of his face. His face is very tender, swollen (looks like a chipmunk) and Jerry is in excruciating pain. He has been taking hydrocodone for the pain. We tried contacting our dentist, oncologist, gastroenterologists, UCLA Medical Center (Maxillofacial Prosthetics Graduate Prosthodontics Hospital Dentistry Group, but being Christmas Eve everyone is on call and/or not available. Our dentist, Dr. Rasch, who was only on-call for emergencies contacted us and agreed to meet us, at his office, in Newport Beach. Dr. Rasch checked Jerry's mouth and saw where the swelling was, tapped on his teeth and took x-rays. However, could not determine that the infection/pain was a tooth, gums, blocked duct, sinus or something else. Dr. Rasch contacted an oral surgeon who has seen Jerry in the past and they decided it must be a sinus infection and recommended prescribing Penicillin. Because of Jerry's ongoing C-diff colitis diagnosis and because the colitis was finally under control, Jerry's gastroentrologist told Jerry not to take ANY antibiotics unless he spoke to Dr. Spirt first. Unfortunately, Dr. Spirt was not available, the doctor on call for him told us to go ahead with the penicillin along with continuing the vancomycin. Jerry does have resorption of a tooth. Tooth resorption is when the body cells attack and destroy part of a tooth. Since Jerry has been diagnosed with ONJ (Osteonecrosis of the Jaw) and because there are very few dentist knowledgeable of the severity of this condition we have been unable to treat this tooth, but if the infection/pain is being caused by this tooth than something will need to be done. As soon as possible we will need to follow up with the UCLA specialist who Jerry has seen in the past, before proceeding with any other invasive procedures. Unfortunately, the UCLA staff is out on Holiday until January 5, 2009.

Jerry and I were suppose to have dinner and spend Christmas Eve with our friends Debbi and Stig and their family. Obviously, Jerry was in no condition to enjoy himself, but insisted I go ahead and try to have a good time. He was going to go to bed.

Even though Jerry wasn't with me on Christmas Eve I tried to enjoy myself with our friends. As usual Debbi has prepared a wonderful dinner of Swedish meatballs and ham and all the trimmings. Debbi's home was decorated beautifully and we had a nice evening.