Subject: Brian will not go home in Jan.

Thursday afternoon 1/29
Dear Friends and Family,

Brian is still on oxygen, vomits anytime something is put in his NG tube (his
stomach is still very sensitive, although CDEF infection is gone), and still
has fevers and needs antibiotics.  His red blood count was very low yesterday,
so he got a blood transfusion last night.  He is weak, but not in pain---still
on morphine.

His new room is great!!  We moved in yesterday afternoon to room #759!  The
one Sara picked out!  She moved most of their stuff down the night before the
actual move.  It is small, but private.  Has a nice S.F. view and is very
quiet.

Sara and Stan went out to dinner last night while Denny and Susan stayed with
Brian.  He got mad when the nurse put Tylenol in his NG tube (it feels very
cold to his throat).  He threw his bed pan and Clifford dog.  He told us all
to "Get out!".  He is so tired of feeling uncomfortable.  Changes are hard for
him ;moving to a new room was not easy. He fell asleep after getting mad and
had a good night's sleep.  It was a long day for him.  He had a CATSCAN
(uncomfortable for him)  early in the day to check on a spot that showed up in
an x-ray the day before.  This test showed the spot to be nothing of
consequence--thank goodness.  

The 7th floor of the hospital was crazy all day yesterday.  Nurses could not
find things--whatever they needed was in an unknown box in an unknown place.!!
Everyone was pleased to be moved, but it was a messy day.  Nurses and Doctors
were extra tired from the confusion created by the move.  At times they had
patients on both floors---making it impossible to care for them in a timely
fashion.  IV poles did a lot of beeping!

Don and Thelma Swearingen--Sara and Susan's parents---flew in from N.C.
yesterday to visit for a few days.  They are staying at a hotel near the
hospital.  They are happy to be here to see Brian.  He is not feeling very
well, but his condition may improve a bit before they leave on Monday. 

Brian's treatment schedule changed again.  He is having all the evaluation
tests tomorrow.  He will not be going home before they start chemo again next
week.  If his blood counts come back up and he feels good, Sara is going to
arrange for Garreth to come play with him in the hospital.  Brian often says
he misses Garreth.

Diane and Jim are going to "do dinner" with Brian so that the Burkes, Warnes
and Swearingens can go to dinner at the S.F. wharf.  Don wants to have crabs!
After dinner, I will stay and spend the night so the Warnes can stay at Happy
House together.

A psychologist has been meeting with Brian everyday this week.  He is trying
to help him deal with his sadness.  He told Sara that the sessions are
confidential, but he did tell her that Brian does not like all the changes and
noise.  We have known both of those things for a long time.  It is good for
Brian to have someone to discuss his feelings with. He really likes Brett.

Pray that the tests tomorrow show that the chemo has been successfully killing
the cancer cells.  Pray that his blood counts go up and he starts feeling
better this weekend.

Love,
Susan