We arrived in Detroit on Monday morning. Overall, I am impressed with the Karmanos Cancer Center. The doctor that is the lead investigator for the study seems to be a very nice person with an excellent reputation (and has a rather attractive Brazilian resident). The drug’s name is XL880 and will be administered in pill form. Side effects aren’t expected to be severe (unlike some I’ve had previously). From what I understand, I’ll be the first person with this type of cancer to go on this drug. Being on protocol allows us (or me when I return by myself) to stay at The Inn on Ferry Street. It’s a bed and breakfast place in a convenient location, and has great complementary shuttle service to anywhere within a 5 mile radius. It took us some time for us to get acquainted with the workings of the place and for us to go through all of the paperwork, but we managed to squeeze in a Tigers game that evening.
Dad and I thought we’d shell out some dough for good seats since Verlander was throwing. However, he must not be in the best of shape, because his 100mph fastball was not there. I think he hit 97 one time, and was consistently “only” at 90-94. The temperature said 79 degrees but I think it felt like 95, a humid evening to be sure. The game was rather boring at first, but picked up in the later innings.
The next morning I had to fast for some testing and had to wait on pharmacy to send something up to my nurse. There is nothing more frustrating when you are hungry and have to fast for even longer when things are not happening on time. I just wanted to get out of there and eat dang it! I finally (after about a 2 hour delay) got to eat around noon, and checked in for my CT scan. They do theirs a little differently. I did not have to fast or drink barium, they provided some other type of oral contrast that tasted a lot better (like orange kool aid). Things ran late there as well, and I think we finally got out of there around 4:30 or so.
Yesterday evening we went to the Greek Town area of Detroit. Lots of Mediterranean flavor around there, which isn’t my cup of tea for food. We decided on eating at Fishbones where I had Orleans-style pasta. We strolled about the Greek Town area and I snuck into a casino and won 3 out of 4 hands of a hold em poker table game…good enough to pay for dinner so I quit.
I had today off of any hospital visits so this morning we went to The Solanus Casey Center to pray at the father’s tomb in the St. Bonaventure Monastery. Father Solanus may become the first American-born Saint (perhaps I can be part of one of his needed miracles). We got in on a small tour and I received a blessing from one of the priests. We also prayed for others who are sick and suffering. It was a very inspiring, spiritual place.
This afternoon we went to the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn. I got to see the limo in which Kennedy was shot, the chair that Lincoln sat in when he was shot at the Ford theatre, and some silver crafted by Paul Revere. There is a great deal of history in that place, and I hope to return sometime to see more. While strolling around, a stranger approached dad and I about our ND gear and was poking fun at us. He told us that we better not let his friend see the ND apparel or he might take it or something like that. My reply to him was, “in that case, he’s the one who had better watch out if he tries.” They laughed and walked away.
I start treatment bright and early tomorrow morning and will be in the hospital all day and perhaps overnight. Hopefully this is the start to better days ahead for me. Please continue to pray, and thanks for your intentions already. God Bless