Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Janet Elkins 10/18/1972 - 12/24/2008
This obituary was written by Janet's mother & her brother & seemed appropriate to post here on Janet's blog...
Upbeat and caring with a 'quirky, individual style,' Janet loved her family and friends.
She was brilliant and talented. From her Father she received the gift of languages mastering Latin, French, and German. She was an artist and an accomplished flutist. She acted in the Little Theater, loved Shakespeare, "Star Wars," and "Gone with the Wind."
Janet was very proud of her job as a librarian and particularly her own "Banned Books" website as well as the Holocaust website. She worked through the beginning of December.
Devoted to friends and family she was particularly close to her brother, her Grandma Yanosko, and her Mom and Dad. Her friends were spread from Boston to Hawaii, Chattanooga to California.
She loved to travel and so she went to Australia and New Zealand, England, Greece, Egypt, France, Italy, Canada, and Mexico and many of the 50 states. She never did things by halves. She collected penguins (over 100 and counting, learned to knit and gifted her family and friends not only with the usual scarves and sweaters, but also puppets, and whimsical dolls.
The past 4 years were the best of times as she met and married Brian, a most caring and supportive man, who brought motorcycles into her life; a new sense of adventure; a wedding; and wonderful in-laws to get to know and visit.
It was the worst of times as the disease eventually took its toll.
Saturday, November 08, 2008
New Record
My last tap (on election day) managed to suck out 3.6 liters of fluid from my belly, a personal record. I have been scheduled for weekly taps so I have the option of canceling if I feel like I don't need one.
I had the head of the unit performing the procedure again. I can't say it was pleasant, but at least the only part that hurt was the administration of the numbing agent.
I have decided for now not to go with a permanent drain. The prospect of never being able to have a bath or go into a pool or hot tub (or the ocean) again isn't something I want to take on right now, particularly since Brian and I are planning to take a trip to Traverse City during the holidays, and our hotel room will have a jacuzzi.
In other news, I am waiting for an MRI that is to take place Tuesday evening at 10:40. I am not particularly troubled by small spaces and actually tend to fall asleep inside the torpedo tube. The purpose of the MRI is to determine why I have pain in my left hip--whether the femur or pelvis is fractured or what. The ex-ray was inconclusive. So I am walking with a cane for right now to keep weight off of my leg and am taking some slightly more hefty pain medications than just ibuprofen.
It wasn't just the pain meds that made me imagine Barack Obama won the election, right? It really did happen? Woohoo!
I have said for a while now that I would love to see a woman or a black candidate become president of the United States. I am pleased that not only do we have a historic situation as a black man is now president-elect, but he is well-reasoned, inspires hope, and has fired the imagination of Americans like no one in politics has in a long time. My hope is that he will be able to use the good will and capital he seems to have among other nations to help make the world a more peaceful place.
I am less sanguine about this country's economic situation and think it will take more years than he will have as president to recover from whatever this is--recession? self-adustment? depression? aberration? consequences of irresponsible de-regulation? But I can hope.
Yes, I've got an abundance of hope. And enough stubbornness to think that I may get to see the recovery for myself.
I had the head of the unit performing the procedure again. I can't say it was pleasant, but at least the only part that hurt was the administration of the numbing agent.
I have decided for now not to go with a permanent drain. The prospect of never being able to have a bath or go into a pool or hot tub (or the ocean) again isn't something I want to take on right now, particularly since Brian and I are planning to take a trip to Traverse City during the holidays, and our hotel room will have a jacuzzi.
In other news, I am waiting for an MRI that is to take place Tuesday evening at 10:40. I am not particularly troubled by small spaces and actually tend to fall asleep inside the torpedo tube. The purpose of the MRI is to determine why I have pain in my left hip--whether the femur or pelvis is fractured or what. The ex-ray was inconclusive. So I am walking with a cane for right now to keep weight off of my leg and am taking some slightly more hefty pain medications than just ibuprofen.
It wasn't just the pain meds that made me imagine Barack Obama won the election, right? It really did happen? Woohoo!
I have said for a while now that I would love to see a woman or a black candidate become president of the United States. I am pleased that not only do we have a historic situation as a black man is now president-elect, but he is well-reasoned, inspires hope, and has fired the imagination of Americans like no one in politics has in a long time. My hope is that he will be able to use the good will and capital he seems to have among other nations to help make the world a more peaceful place.
I am less sanguine about this country's economic situation and think it will take more years than he will have as president to recover from whatever this is--recession? self-adustment? depression? aberration? consequences of irresponsible de-regulation? But I can hope.
Yes, I've got an abundance of hope. And enough stubbornness to think that I may get to see the recovery for myself.
Labels: Barack Obama, hip, MRI, paracentesis, ultram
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Cover: Blown. Belly: Tapped.
Not that I am actually very anonymous, or anything...
Dr. Hayes and Lita told me yesterday that another patient had brought in some printouts from my blog mentioning their names. My mind raced...had I said anything unflattering or unsuitable? I didn't think so. I've actually gotten some emails from people seeking contact information for them. Once somebody even Meebo'd me looking for Lita's email address. I'm happy to tell anyone that my oncology team is fantastic. (And I'm not just saying that because I'm worried they're now reading what I have to say!)
I also broke my record yesterday and had 3.02 liters of frothy, green fluid sucked out of my belly. Since I didn't have time to take any Xanax, I was relatively alert and had a nice discussion with the PA and the other technician about the water that's in the vacuum bottles. The question was whether or not the bottles always have water in them. The PA read the bottle, and it indicated that they are always treated with hot steam for sterilization purposes.
I pointed out when the steam cools, not only would it result in water, but it would help create the suction, as well. "I suppose the air would get heated and then also cool off, creating more suction."
They were impressed by my scientific acumen and wanted to know how I knew. I pointed out that you can do an experiment where you put a lit candle in a dish of water, then cover the candle with a glass. The candle will go out when the oxygen is exhausted, the air cools off, and it will suck water up into the glass due to the creation of a vacuum.
"Are you a chemist, or something?" They asked.
"No, I think I saw it on 'Bill Nye the Science Guy'. I'm a librarian."
Everybody laughed. Well, he's scientific. "Yeah," the technician commented. "It totally says so in his name!"
I suppose they might have some other means for creating vacuum in those bottles, since I have no way to calculate or prove how much the cooling action of the steam might create it, but I still maintain it's possible. Surely they wouldn't want the vacuum to be too strong, otherwise the catheter would start to suck out my innards.
Dr. Hayes and Lita told me yesterday that another patient had brought in some printouts from my blog mentioning their names. My mind raced...had I said anything unflattering or unsuitable? I didn't think so. I've actually gotten some emails from people seeking contact information for them. Once somebody even Meebo'd me looking for Lita's email address. I'm happy to tell anyone that my oncology team is fantastic. (And I'm not just saying that because I'm worried they're now reading what I have to say!)
I also broke my record yesterday and had 3.02 liters of frothy, green fluid sucked out of my belly. Since I didn't have time to take any Xanax, I was relatively alert and had a nice discussion with the PA and the other technician about the water that's in the vacuum bottles. The question was whether or not the bottles always have water in them. The PA read the bottle, and it indicated that they are always treated with hot steam for sterilization purposes.
I pointed out when the steam cools, not only would it result in water, but it would help create the suction, as well. "I suppose the air would get heated and then also cool off, creating more suction."
They were impressed by my scientific acumen and wanted to know how I knew. I pointed out that you can do an experiment where you put a lit candle in a dish of water, then cover the candle with a glass. The candle will go out when the oxygen is exhausted, the air cools off, and it will suck water up into the glass due to the creation of a vacuum.
"Are you a chemist, or something?" They asked.
"No, I think I saw it on 'Bill Nye the Science Guy'. I'm a librarian."
Everybody laughed. Well, he's scientific. "Yeah," the technician commented. "It totally says so in his name!"
I suppose they might have some other means for creating vacuum in those bottles, since I have no way to calculate or prove how much the cooling action of the steam might create it, but I still maintain it's possible. Surely they wouldn't want the vacuum to be too strong, otherwise the catheter would start to suck out my innards.
Labels: Dr. Hayes, Lita, paracentesis
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Birthday!
Any year I continue to suck air has to be cause for celebration. Or at least I certainly hope so.
I'm home, albeit with digestive difficulties (probably from the IV antibiotic). I also have swelly feet, legs and belly. But I'm extremely relieved I don't have to spend my birthday at the hospital.
I am 36 today and have been fêted for almost a week (if you don't count the early gift of the Amazon Kindle). My mom brought stuffed peppers and a Sweet Dreams Bakery cake (much like the one pictured) to the hospital last Sunday. Thursday she took Brian and me to Musashi for dinner, yesterday Brian finished hanging curtains for me and gave me the DVDs The Red Violin and Walk the Line. Today he took down the butt-ugly pool hall style light over the dining room table and is putting up my Ikea octopus light, "Hörby". Tonight he is taking me to a Red Wings (hockey) game. I'm not a hockey fan, but I'm excited and kind of hope there will be much violence.
Not that I have rage issues, or anything.
I'm home, albeit with digestive difficulties (probably from the IV antibiotic). I also have swelly feet, legs and belly. But I'm extremely relieved I don't have to spend my birthday at the hospital.
I am 36 today and have been fêted for almost a week (if you don't count the early gift of the Amazon Kindle). My mom brought stuffed peppers and a Sweet Dreams Bakery cake (much like the one pictured) to the hospital last Sunday. Thursday she took Brian and me to Musashi for dinner, yesterday Brian finished hanging curtains for me and gave me the DVDs The Red Violin and Walk the Line. Today he took down the butt-ugly pool hall style light over the dining room table and is putting up my Ikea octopus light, "Hörby". Tonight he is taking me to a Red Wings (hockey) game. I'm not a hockey fan, but I'm excited and kind of hope there will be much violence. Not that I have rage issues, or anything.
Labels: ascites, birthday, Brian, edema, hospital, mom
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Hospital....Again
Thursday I began to get the extreme chills which indicated (as back in April) that I probably had a high fever and should go to the emergency room.
I didn't want to go to the emergency room.
So I took ibuprofen, and by the next morning my fever was back down. I had a conference to go to Friday at which I was to participate in two presentations. In my car, waiting for Barbara to show up to carpool people to Lansing, I started having violent chills. I took my temperature and it was 102.4. I heaved myself into Barbara's car and eventually (between bouts of violent tooth-chattering) told people I was feeling cold and had a fever. "If I can't move my hands without jerking them," I told Joel, "you might have to move the mouse." Beth let me wear her knitted wool scarf.
During the opening remarks, Barbara got someone to find me a blanket. By noon my temperature was about 104. I eventually stumbled into the presentation room with Joel, and we gave a presentation on "Google Analytics in the Web Opac" I hope people found interesting. I might have babbled.
The next presentation didn't require me to talk much, so I sat in the front with the blanket.
On the way home, Barbara suggested I sit in the heated passenger seat. Why aren't all car seats heated? Sigh. I was able to drive myself home from the carpool meeting site and called the cancer center. The triage nurse spoke to one of the nurse practitioners (and very wisely did not put that particular person on the phone with me) who said, "Go to the ER."
So I ended up at the ER with an initial diagnosis (after chest ex-ray) of a small touch of pneumonia.
Thursday my mom brought birthday cake, stuffed peppers for dinner, and presents! Presents! Ah loves me some presents. I got a glass murano-style giraffe from the zoo, a handmade cashmere hat and sweater, a penguin trivot, and some other things.
But testing resumed, and a blood culture showed rampaging E coli. Lucky me, either way! I stayed in the hospital long enough to get another paracentesis (they wanted to check to be sure whether the infection is in my belly fluid or not). My belly got so incredibly bloated it was causing my ribcage to expand painfully.
Once the tap was done and they decided what antibiotic I needed, the discharge people planned to let me go with a styrofoam cooler full of antibiotics I can administer to myself. They will be sending a visiting nurse to make sure I have all the steps right. (This is good as I am not at all sure I have the steps right).
Freedom! Sort of...
I didn't want to go to the emergency room.
So I took ibuprofen, and by the next morning my fever was back down. I had a conference to go to Friday at which I was to participate in two presentations. In my car, waiting for Barbara to show up to carpool people to Lansing, I started having violent chills. I took my temperature and it was 102.4. I heaved myself into Barbara's car and eventually (between bouts of violent tooth-chattering) told people I was feeling cold and had a fever. "If I can't move my hands without jerking them," I told Joel, "you might have to move the mouse." Beth let me wear her knitted wool scarf.
During the opening remarks, Barbara got someone to find me a blanket. By noon my temperature was about 104. I eventually stumbled into the presentation room with Joel, and we gave a presentation on "Google Analytics in the Web Opac" I hope people found interesting. I might have babbled.
The next presentation didn't require me to talk much, so I sat in the front with the blanket.
On the way home, Barbara suggested I sit in the heated passenger seat. Why aren't all car seats heated? Sigh. I was able to drive myself home from the carpool meeting site and called the cancer center. The triage nurse spoke to one of the nurse practitioners (and very wisely did not put that particular person on the phone with me) who said, "Go to the ER."
So I ended up at the ER with an initial diagnosis (after chest ex-ray) of a small touch of pneumonia.
Thursday my mom brought birthday cake, stuffed peppers for dinner, and presents! Presents! Ah loves me some presents. I got a glass murano-style giraffe from the zoo, a handmade cashmere hat and sweater, a penguin trivot, and some other things.
But testing resumed, and a blood culture showed rampaging E coli. Lucky me, either way! I stayed in the hospital long enough to get another paracentesis (they wanted to check to be sure whether the infection is in my belly fluid or not). My belly got so incredibly bloated it was causing my ribcage to expand painfully.
Once the tap was done and they decided what antibiotic I needed, the discharge people planned to let me go with a styrofoam cooler full of antibiotics I can administer to myself. They will be sending a visiting nurse to make sure I have all the steps right. (This is good as I am not at all sure I have the steps right).
Freedom! Sort of...
Labels: Brian, E. coli, ER, hospital, paracentesis, pneumonia, work
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Giraffe Encounter!
Saturday Brian, my mom and I went to the Detroit Zoo to feed the giraffes. Brian and I got there very early and lined up--we were worried when the large group of kids wearing matching shirts went in because there is a daily limit to the amount of tickets available for the Giraffe Encounter. Obviously, we were successful.It was a lot of walking even though we took the train to the back of the zoo. I was ok later, but Brian had very sore feet!
Detroit Zoo Photos
Labels: Brian, detroit, mom, zoo
