A Sweet Suite

Suite 4419 of the Pennington Cancer Center is unchanged from my last extended stay here two years ago.

While I was actually in the room next door during my recovery here in 2012, I remember the big corner suite because it had a balcony, leather recliners, full entertainment center, a large sitting area and brass fixtures.  I had to walk past it on my physical rounds each day.  “Must be reserved for big donors,” I remember thinking.

So where else would they stick the Baton Rouge General’s poster boy for cancer survival this second time around to battle his leukemia?  Room 4419.  Big-time score.  Yes, Room 4419 is definitely an upgrade, a kind of “on-the-house” comp as they say in casino-speak.  I immediately put in a request for a BBQ grill for the balcony for a Memorial Day cookout.  I want to kick off the summer right and some traditions just can’t be overlooked.

The magical 30 percent pre-leukemic cell count was reached yesterday, so it was off to the upgraded suite with me.  After a brief consultation with Dr. Miletello this morning, I got checked into the room at 11:11 a.m. (Is it just me, or do any of you see this time of day on the clock more than any other?)

The plan is to be hospitalized for at least the next 30 days.  The chemo began flowing at 3:30 p.m. today and will do so around the clock for the next four days.  First up, something called the Red Devil, although not the Red Devil chemo of 20 years ago, I’m told.  That stuff, according to 21-year breast cancer survivor Michelle Miley, just scares the cancer out of you.  There was a time when that level of chemotherapy represented the most aggressive of treatments.  Today it’s just another tool in the toolbox.

The four-day regimen will be followed by a two-week recovery, followed by another bone marrow test to check for remission.  If there is remission, I’ll follow up with four more chemo treatments, then home for R&R.

Dr. Miletello said I could have visitors on a limited basis.  However, if you even think you might have the sniffles, I’ll see you in July.  We’ll shake hands, hug and kiss then.  Also, I can’t have flowers, plants or other foliage delivered to the room.  Apparently they can carry diseases.  Chocolates however…

Thanks today to my sister Tammy who was with me when Dr. Miletello gave me the news.  She spent the afternoon at my side and her presence means so much to me.  A big shout out to John Boudreaux of Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge for personally delivering me an Angel Food Smoothie with a shot of yogurt.  Made all the difference my friend.

And thanks to everyone for your words of encouragement, texts, emails and calls.  Having all of you in my life is really making this easier and I sincerely appreciate it.

On a much more personal note, there will be two milestones celebrated during my 30-day stay here at Pennington.  The first will be on Memorial Day, Monday May 26.  On that day, 54 years ago, at 1:10 p.m., Amelia Soulier Danna gave birth to her first child, Michael.  He was welcomed by his father Nick, who nearly burned up a ’57 Chevy Belair getting them from Rougon to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital as his mother screamed “You have to drive faster!”  Mom, dad, son and the Chevy were doing fine.

Unlike the first, the second milestone to take place here in the hospital won’t require a fast car.  It will, however, require a minister, a ring and an “I do.”

Until next time…