The Saga of Sam

The Saga of Sam

Wednesday, May 18, 1994

A day of sleep followed by an afternoon fever (103°).  Mom gave you Ibuprofen and called Dr. Schwarz.  Dr. Schwarz feels that your spleen is "splitting off".  I think it is medical jargon indicating that the portal hypertension which has caused the spleen to enlarge has now caused small pieces of your spleen to infarct or die.  She is not worried, in fact, probably relieved that the recurring fevers now have a plausible explanation.  She says not to worry unless the fevers persist for a 24 hour period.  Without missing a beat, we leave for the Oriole game.  It was a cool, damp night and you were disinterested, so we left after just four innings.

Speaking of the Orioles.  The small acts of kindness that occur throughout this story are too numerable to mention.  But one person that stands out is Susan Finklestein.  Susan works with Mom and was unknown to me before this ordeal.  Susan has visited you frequently and brought great tacos for dinner one evening.  She has truly befriended you and brought candy and magazines.  She good heartedly kidded with you always.  She has a way of wrinkling her nose as she goes for one more good natured jab.  She has brightened up many of your hospital evenings.  Well, Susan is a friend of Mark and Laurie Williamson (Oriole pitcher) and asked the Orioles to send a card.  A get well card signed by all the Orioles comes and provides a timely much needed boost.  One of the bright spots of the whole situation has been the support of old friends and new.  Susan, we love you dearly.

These were not the only celebrities to support you.  You were getting encouragement from out of this world.  Tom Jones, the astronaut, sent pictures of his space walk with the encouragement to "shoot for the stars".  Tom is an old school buddy of Gayle Matysek.

Well, life doesn't stay calm around here for long.  Thursday begins with a sleepless night.  A bowel movement at 2:00 A.M. (the lactulose is ugly) shows no blood (you can see where our minds are).  You collect yourself for home schooling.  Not far into the session, you vomit and Ms. Higgins wants to stop for the day.  You insist that she continue.  I actually talk her into it.  Your persistence is incredible.  You are a trooper.