Day Seven

Well, it snowed here yesterday afternoon... 













And today it was sunny so everything is a big slushy mess out there.

Mom began the morning at the clinic with about a 10 minute drip of her own super-charged stem cells.  Afterwards, a 45 minute drip of protein.  Mr. Won says the protein helps the body... kind of like how you feel when you first wake up in the morning.  I got my second WBC stimulator shot today.

Dr. Moon only stuck his head in the room, while mom was getting the drip, for just a second. I had to ask him to please come back.  We asked about the scans and he said "wait... be right back".  About 45 minutes later, I knocked on his door (this time mom is in the waiting area) and asked if we should still wait.  He came out to mom and said that he is still waiting for more information and literally said "calm down".  We think it's just the only English phrase he knows for "chill out".  He said that he believes the cancer may have invaded that painful area in the rib cage and intercostal nerves but that he still needs to find out more (which may be tomorrow or the next day).  He is suggesting a "new" kind of treatment (not like regular chemo) to go along with a focused radiation of the area.  He says he is trying to "cure" her.  So... we will calm down... and see what each day brings. 

...   Popcorn still there today...        

Day Six

Happy Sunday!  It was back to Home Plus again.  I think they're going to give me a job pretty soon.  You will notice the cheese slices, Campbells soup and Skippy peanut butter.  American food is expensive!  The soup was about 2,500 won per can and the pb almost 7,000 won.  I only buy items that have either a recognizable label or has some kind of writing in English.  Otherwise, it's a free-for-all of what could be ANYTHING.  By the way, there is no labeling for anything "diet".  If you buy diet coke, it says "light coke" on the label.

This morning I got my WBC stimulator shot from the wife of one of the other patients.  This is her second time here so very familiar with everything including the ole' needle.  Her name is Erica and is such an incredibly nice woman.  I will probably constantly write about the patients and their families.  I suppose that when you, or the one you are with, are going through such an illness... you naturally bond with those in a similar situation.  Everyone sort of looks out for each other.  But then, that's really the way it should be - isn't it?

No clinic visit today, just another amazingly cold day.  So, we're laying low until we go back to Goodgene in the morning.  Mom is in a lot of pain in the rib area.  The coughing only makes it worse.  She's had to cut back on the medication for nerve pain until the shipment for the next round gets here.  Hopefully, it will come tomorrow so she can start taking more again which should help.

I'm eyeing a piece of popcorn from two days ago, against the wall, under the little eating table in our room.  I'm on a mission to see when the maid will vacuum it up.  These are the little things in life that make a quiet day inside worth while.  Until tomorrow...  Anneyong Kayseo!

Day Five

It is COLD!  Temp right now is 18 degrees (with a "feels like" 6 degrees).  It is biting!  Today is Saturday so we went to the clinic where mom got protein via drip, a vaccine shot and a pain shot.  The pain shot was in the rump and hurt more than the pain she was feeling.  It was probably just a distraction shot.  I will get a shot tomorrow in the stomach, like mom did the first day, to stimulate my WBC so my blood can be harvested on Tuesday.  We're back in the hotel room now.  Mom needs to relax and not move too much.  Gonna have to be another movie day as it is much too cold out there.   BRRRRRRR....

It's raining in Seoul

It's Christmas Day and beyond this window pane

High above in this room through misty lights and rain

I watch the grey sky cower over buses, umbrellas and rooftops

onto traffic, pedestrians and barbershops.

It's raining in Seoul and it couldn't be more graceful

with the traffic below, sounds of it drifting through

the glass up here on the fourteenth floor, I watch a surge

of taxi cabs filled with passengers and travelers.

This city knows not what it means to sleep or even wait

to come up high and watch above the fray and see the rain.

With family on my mind and hope in my soul

I watch the rain from high above ... here, in Seoul.

Day Four

It's Christmas here in South Korea.  MERRY CHRISTMAS!  After breakfast, we took a little walk around but mom got much too tired so we made it a quick one and came back to the hotel.  I did manage to pick up some salt, hot chocalate, canned peaches and cookies at the Home Plus.  We are going to have a movie day today... thank goodness mom brought popcorn.  Can't wait for the Skype call from hubby and the kids late tonight so we can watch their Christmas morning!  Here are a few pics and we'll see ya tomorrow!