NEXT STEPS

    I am Nina's twin sister and with the holiday break I have some days I can spend with her. Sam invited me to be a guest author today to catch up on where Nina is (at home!!!), how she is doing (really pretty well all things considered) and what's coming next. I am grateful to all her local friends for all the day to day support they give to Nina and Sam; I have already enjoyed the delicious food. Small amounts of different flavors seems to be what Nina enjoys a lot at this time. We're going to make another round of orange ice similar to what our sisters Susan and Margaret made at Thanksgiving that Nina found so toothsome.
     While Nina clearly doesn't have the energy and stamina that are her norm, she is regaining some strength at home. On our walk yesterday it was late enough and cold enough that we turned back to the house after a block and a half but in the sun and warmth she's going for several blocks.
     Tomorrow she will return to Alta Bates Summit for what is being advertised as a 48 hour admission to get methotrexate followed by leucovorin all accompanied with lots of intravenous fluids. The "lots of intravenous fluids" is the main reason to do this in the hospital rather than as an outpatient. Judging by increasing strength and stamina the Takotsubo cardiomyopathy that helped make her last admission a roller coaster ride has surely improved but throwing a lot of fluids into her will be a test of the progress of that resolution.
     So again, I am immensely grateful for the love, support, prayers and goodwishes of Nina and Sam's many friends. Anything that helps them and puts a smile on their faces becomes a velvet tsunami of warmth and happiness for me. Thank you for all you do.
Ann Walker