wednesday

Sam gets a blood transfusion sometime this morning. His hemoglobin count is low (7.6). He woke up coughing up a lot of mucus. I got concerned, but then talked with Kafi on the phone and she said, "Oh, that's good, it will get it all out. Yesterday he was complaining that he couldn't get it out." Slept with him in the bed last night. There is a nice comfy chair that folds out to a sleeper, here in the room, but you cannot sit up in it, because the back support gives way and reclines. Somehow I'm sitting here now, typing this, in same chair. Sam is watching a very average disney movie called The Pebble and the Penguin. If you've never heard of it, there's a reason: it's unremarkable, to be charitable. I keep offering Sam food, drink, but he doesn't want any of it, just sitting there holding his cup in case he needs to spit into it. He woke up saying, "I had a good sleep," so that's good. He wants to walk around the hospital, but until his transfusion I don't think they'll let him off the third floor.

I had a good couple of hours yesterday afternoon. Dropped off the newsletter at the print, so that's in motion. Got back and Aunt Shirley and Kafi and Sam and Micah were having a good time. They brought snacks and movies and lots of educational-type materials. Sam is still coughing a lot, more than I've seen in months. I'm guessing it's just a cough. Evidently the beds on this floor are full of patients who came in just like Sam, with a seasonal cough and/or chemo-induced fever; lots of coughing can be heard, including the young man who is sharing our room. I'm wearing a mask, we've all got to wear masks. It's starting to chafe my ear a bit.

Let's see. Here's a list of things I left at the house: John Grisham's new book, The Broker (I'm halfway through, Kafi's already read it); Napolean Dynamite (left it in the bedroom; for me, not Sam); an actual raincoat, I just walked out of the house with my denim shirt (which, in most dramatic situations, will suffice, but it's wet out there).

Sam is playing with the in-room phone and asking when his blood will arrive. I think he feels better.