19 out of 28!

Woody's 7th dose yesterday afternoon (2pm) was his last of this regimen. Which makes a total of 19 (12+7) out of 28 possible over the two regimens. The goal that Dr. Sosman had set was to reach 20--so the goal was almost met.

As I said last night, Woody decided not to take the dose at 10pm (Mon.). Woody told the resident when he came in a little before 10 that he wasn't going to take the infusion since he was running a fever. The resident had to call the Fellow to report in to him. Then the resident came back in to tell us what the Fellow told him...that since Woody would have missed three doses that that would end this treatment. We had talked before the resident came in and Woody was pretty sure that he was ready to stop due to the fact that his creatinine levels continued to rise. He didn't want to get into the critical situation with his kidneys that he was in the last time. So...hearing that from the resident didn't bother him since he was ready to stop.

We were told later by the nurse that if Woody really wanted another infusion today (Tues.) that he could have it--that protocol had changed and that obviously the team didn't know about the change! (He said, she said...once again!) I do know that Dr. Sosman had told us that Woody could skip doses--he even mentioned take one, skip one, etc. He never mentioned that once he skipped more than two that the treatment would end. We did talk to the team about what Dr. Sosman had told us...they said that they would talk with Dr. Sosman. Dr. Sosman is the one who writes the protocol. Anyway...it makes no difference since Woody was ready to stop.

Our care partner told us this morning that they had been told at the nurse's station that Woody would possibly be discharged today. But when the medical team came in, the attending physician said that she wanted him to stay here another day or two to make sure that his creatinine levels start to come down.

Woody feels so much better today. They have unhooked him from all the heart monitor, etc. leads and also from the IV pole. He "almost" feels like a free man...but won't really feel free till he is dismissed and heading home!