Familiar Faces

After being home for 10 weeks, Nonnie and Papa returned yesterday to UCLA to begin the consolidation treatment. It was very comforting for her to see all of the staff that had been so supportive and reassuring during this entire journey! She had a PICC line re-inserted in her arm to begin the chemotherapy treatment last night. The chemotherapy drug is called Cytarabine and is used in a lower dose than the last time. This will be infused continuously over a five day period, and so far, she feels completely normal. The length of their stay will depend on her body's ability to get her counts back up to acceptable levels.

The Oncologist I have made reference to over the summer is Dr. Paquette. He was Nonnie's doctor while she was home and when she went to the clinic. He is still assigned to the clinic, but he came by to visit Nonnie this morning to check on her. He told her that he wants to "adopt" her as a patient. This means that he will be her primary doctor, even though the attending Oncologist will still help out while she is in the hospital. It is to no surprise that these doctors have made a personal bond with Nonnie!

Papa is also back to his normal routine.... he went home this morning to tend to the house and get Brennen off to the golf course. As long as Nonnie feels good, he will go home on Tuesdays and Fridays to rest his back from the couch that he sleeps on while at the hospital. Her direct room phone number is (310) 267-6152.

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

757 Westwood Plaza

C/O Linda Asam, Room 6145

Los Angeles, CA 90095