Category: Uncategorized
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The Hospital & its Surrounding Community
John Hopkins Hospital sits in the middle of a mostly African American community which has not always seen the hospital as a positive force. In fact, residents often refer to Hopkins as “the plantation,” “the octopus” or “the elephant.” * The city’s embarked on a revitalization effort of East Baltimore- the massive East Baltimore Development…
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Around John Hopkins
The Baltimore east Campus of John Hopkins Hospital is large and beautiful. However, people talk about how dangerous its surroundings are and advise people not to venture too far out of the campus area. The hospital is patrolled by over 1000 security guards who sit in booths around the entire campus to provide safety to…
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Effects from Treatment #1
Kim’s body tolerated the chemotherapy very well and were very pleased. Where he did not so so well was cognitively. As the treatment progressed in the hospital he got increasing agitated, wanting to come home every day I visited him. After getting home he seemed more tired than usual but was pretty alert. However, he…
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Charging Forward after 9 Years Battling the Aftermaths of his TBIs
2020 Kim & Maria – on one of our long distance trips Kim’s cognitive disabilities resulting from the 2 TBIs he suffered in 2011 and 2013 were in ‘steady state.’ After so many interventions and treatments at top institutions and brain injury hospitals such as TIRR in Houston & John Hopkins, he reached a plateau…
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The Decision to Undergo Treatment
It is estimated that 3-5 in 100,000 people in the general population have Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), with more than 1/2 of those being over the age of 65. Among the latter group, about 1/2 refuse treatment for various reasons, mainly the fact that the treatments do not cure the disease, only prolong life, while…
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After the Initial Treatment
Kim came home on March 14 after a difficult 3- week stay in the hospital. The effects of the chemotherapy could be clearly seen – pale complexion, extreme weakness, unsteadiness. The first oncologist who saw Kim in January, when a routine 6-month check up showed that many of his CBC ( complete blood count) measures…
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The Building Next Door
To take a break from my long visits to the hospital, I walk around the John Hopkins campus. Right next to the Weingber building where Kim’s room is, are the old John Hopkins’ buildings, with one towering over the others. Kim was born in one of these buildings on February 1, 1947. At the time,…
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Three Weeks at the Hospital
The John Hopkins Kimmel Center hospital stay could not have be better in terms of patient care ( Kim was a assigned a sitter all the time). The nurses and techs were outstanding and the oncologists on the floor were attentive, informative, and very competent. Kim’s corner and spacious room had an amazing view of…
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Research: Life Expectancy
Azacitidine and Venetoclax in Previously Untreated Acute Myeloid Leukemia; The New England Journal of Medicine; August 13, 2020 When I found the juried paper above about overall survival (OS) in months for Kim given that he on Azacitidine and Vetoclax treatment, I realized even more what we were up against: a life expectancy of 15 months…
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February 21: Day One of First Treatment at John Hopkins
On a sunny day, we walked into the 5th floor of the Weinberg building at the main John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD where Kim was to stay for 1 week I to start his first chemotherapy treatment. Kim was comfortable and ready start. The oncology doctors attending the floor came by to greet us.…
Cunningham-Ramos AML & Stroke after TBI Journey 