Updates from the Big Apple

Thursday, November 20, 2008

We're on our way to the hospital (actually Sebastian and Nicolas are still in bed)...all our bags are packed and Nicolas should be admitted by about 11 am. Both men had a restless sleep.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

It was only days ago when we got the word that we could start the screening process at Presbyterian Hospital in NYC. With the tremendous support of our Ottawa friends and family near and far we were able to get ourselves on the road fairly quickly. Sophie, Sasha and Bella are with Lynn at home, all our pets (dog, rat, bird, hamster, fish) have been sent to foster homes. The eyes of the Glebe are watching out for the family while we're away and it is allowing us to prepare Nicolas for the days ahead.

A nine hour drive to New York, with a car packed full of as much of Ottawa as we could bring, ended at Lucille and Richard's house in Westchester, just outside NYC. Nicolas had to put up with mom and dad losing their minds over directions at the last stretch. Notable moments included losing the gas cap somewhere around Marathon, (but finding a similarly abandoned one at our next stop). Nicolas kept amused by listening to Kiss (newly discovered by him and now his favorite band). Sebastian did a fantastic job of driving through almost four hours of fog.

Lucille and Richard have given us a home for the week before the surgery and we are so thankful for how they've opened up their hearts and home to us.

goodnight for now, Kathrin

Friday, November 14, 2008

After a short night, we had to get ourselves on the road for our first visit to Presbyterian Hospital. We left at 7:30 am and caught the commuter traffic into the city. Nicolas was fairly relaxed on the way down. When we got to the hospital we dropped the car off with the valet. This is one of the coolest jobs, according to Nicolas. He loves cars and at one point he thought being a valet would be quite a great thing to do. Now he talks of becoming a race car driver and he's fixated on one day owning an AMX 3 (I believe that's what it's calle) and apparently there are only about 9 in the whole world.

Sebastian and I are being screened as potential donors for the living donor liver transplant. Sebastian has put himself as first choice but that will be up to the results. Today it was bloodwork, EKG and chest xrays for both of us, bloodwork for Nicolas, ECG for Sebastian and meetings with the liver surgeon, nurse practioners, other physicians, hepatoligist and nutrionist. Everyone has been amazing, keeping us on track, helping us to find our way and really caring about us and Nicolas. It looks like they want to focus primarily on Sebastian as the donor.

Nicolas kept himself amused today with his laptop, listening to Kiss and checking out a few other 70's heavy metal bands on you tube. He loves 70's music, cars and lifestyle. He just can't get over how people were so seriously into bands like Kiss. That people actually were so into the whole thing just amazes him. He loves to dress himself rather creatively so he must feel a kinship with those guys (his favorite one is Spaceman).

When our day finally ended by about 5:30 pm Nicolas had a craving for Burger King. We pulled up onto Broadway, pulled into a really seedy garage and asked for directions. A guy saw me looking around and helped me with the location of a BK. Nicolas described him as looking like "the kind of guy who might want to mug you". We've found all the New Yorkers we've met to be really friendly.

At about 7:30 we were back at Lucille and Richard's for another amazing dinner. It was a 12 hour day and with little time to really reflect on the day's events it's time to sleep.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

It was great to wake up today and not have to get to an appointment (or 7 appointments). We tried to sleep in, but we're still too wired from the driving and yesterday's busy schedule. These two days are going to be just for rest.
Sebastian and I have been introduced into the joys of Skyping, it's been an amazing for all of us to see Lynn, Sophie, Sasha and Bella and for Nicolas to see his friends. Sasha had big tears running down his face tonight when he spoke with us, it was so sweet to see Nicolas trying to console his little brother. They ended up talking for a long time, distance really does make the heart grow fonder.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Another good day to try to catch up on what the kids are doing in Ottawa, Sasha has been quite the social butterfly and Sophie too. Bella looks and is quite content. She and Lynn share Nicolas' bed each night, snuggling together and Bella's even been sleeping in. She never does that for me. Sophie and Sasha are camping out in our room, Sophie has been reading to him every night.
Nicolas has been finding it hard to be away of course, he's only got his parents and we're not as much fun as his bunch of friends. He just wants to be home. Thanks goodness for Family Guy, it can really bring him out of his sadness. I love to just sit with him, sifting through 70's and 80's detritus on the net. This bonding over a generation that I found so embarassing has given me new pride about my past (big hair, ugly fashions, leggings, etc.).

goodnight again, Kathrin

Monday, November 17, 2008

On the road again! More appointments...a stress test for Sebastian, where he met an Italian doctor who had moved here from Rome with his family. The whole procedure was conducted in Italian. He passed the tests with flying colours, he's amazing!! Superdad of the Year!! Nicolas' surgery is scheduled for November 21, the day before his 12th birthday, I don't think Sebastian could ever give him a better gift. One of my friends commented that I birthed Nicolas but Sebastian will be rebirthing him. (Nicolas would probably find this all quite icky).

While Sebastian was getting his stress quantified, Nicolas and I drove the Honda into the depths of the city. We went south on Broadway and kind of turned left at some point ending up at what we thought was Central Park. It was actually Morningside Park. We needed to stretch our legs so we parked on Morningside, organised what we wanted to take with us form the car and then stepped outside. While we had been doing so I had also noticed that a man in a car parked in front of us had been keeping a keen eye on us through his rear view mirror. As soon as we were on the sidewalk, he started to get out too. I told Nicolas to get back in the car, I had a creepy feeling about the guy. We took off, burning rubber and Nicolas thought it was so cool that we'd almost been mugged.

We met up with Sebastian again at the hospital, more meetings with doctors, surgeons and social worker. Nicolas and I finally caught a late lunch and ran into an"old" friend of ours. Mike Wickett is the manager of food services of the hospital. We met him in September when we were in NYC for consults. He gave us a stash of food vouchers at the time. So when Nicolas and I recognised him in the elevator I struck up a conversation with him, he remembered us too. He spent quite a bit of time talking with us and he even gave us his cell number if we ever needed his help. I can't believe how fantastic everyone at this place is. While waiting for our car to be brought up in the evening, Nicolas met a really old grand dame in the lobby. She must have been in her late 80's, she was interested in his Canadianess and knew quite a bit about our country. She had lots of stuff on Pierre Trudeau and his politics. She and Nicolas had quite the conversation. I love seeing how a young person can make a connection with an older person.

It was another emotional day with no energy left to discuss what really went on. This whole thing is like taking a big plunge into a big bowl of trust.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Both Nicolas and Sebastian had to be NPO (no food or drink since midnight). Nicolas had to have the dreaded CT scan, it's horrible because he had to drink a bucket of contrast dye. He managed to only have a small glass, the whole ordeal took 4 hours. When he came out of the room he had a big smile on his face, it's amazing what stickers can do. We met up with Sebastian who was recovering from his procedure; he'd been under anasthetic and so I had to accompany him to his next appointment. It was then I realised that I'd missed a consult with the ENT, so this really nice man, another Mike, helped me to get in to still see Dr. Caruana ( a Sicilian). Thanks Mike! I love how cooll New Yorkers are, he really schmoozed all the receptionists and even escorted Nicolas and I up to the doc's office.

During our appointment Sebastian had to go downtown to E55th for an MRI.
I had to convince the valet service to release my car to me without the receipt, I had to identify everything in my messy car to prove that it was mine. I was able to prove that I was the owner of a rusty, 1996 Honda Odyssey containing a large stuffed cow, a sleeping bag, plaid pillows and lots of food wrappers littering the floor.

My greatest achievement is that I was able to actually conduct myself through New York traffic all the way down Broadway, through Central park, across 5th to 2nd and E55th in pretty good time. It helped that Nicolas and I had driven all the way down to Chinatown the day before. I also learned that my car is actually quite flexible, when you drive down there, cars really do a kind of ballet with other cars, pedestrians and cyclists. The Honda just wove in and out like a sleek dreamy weavy thang.

We were back in Westchester, at Lucille and Richard's, for another relaxing evening in their good company. Tomorrow no appointments for us.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Unfortunately Sebastian had to run into town for one last bloodwork. It's an hour drive, but we're getting used to it, almost like real commuters. We're staying in a beautiful area called Westchester. It's a collection of small villages set in the mountains. It feels sort of like the Lake district in England. Stone walls, narrow curving roads, sweet little cottages (it used to be cottage country for New Yorkers) and beautiful trees. Nicolas and I stayed here and went shopping with Lucille for some treats to send home to Sasha and Sophie. (it's a surprise) Lucille is a very good cook and prepared a delicious chicken cacciatore. Our last home coooked meal for a while. Lucille and Richard gave us a place to rest between busy days, lots of emotional support and we love them.

The beauty and goodness of people astounds me every day. It's late and I'm feeling tired, but I'm sustained by all the good thoughts, wishes, prayers and love that comes our way.