Treatments will start tomorrow – so tonight I would be moved to the “Protective Environment” floor – in other words Solitary Confinement! Once the treatment begins my platelets and white blood cells will drop so low I have to be in isolation! Yikes!
To enter the “Protective Environment” the nurse told me to do the following: Shower and wash my hair, put on two sterile gowns, two shoe covers, hairnet, mask and gloves. Then sit in a designated chair covered with white sheets. Mike and the Ogles were standing around thinking – “What the hell is happening here?”
When transportation arrived – my vehicle was a white plastic sleigh – yes sleigh – that they then proceeded to covered with more white sheets. Are you taking me for a ride through Central Park? I asked pleadingly. Unfortunately the answer was NO. Little did I know though – I was about to enter the Twilight Zone. With Mike, Sue and John behind off we went through hall after hall – white sheets fluttering and doors slamming behind us.
When we arrived at our designated destination I got off the sleigh, took off one pair of booties and stepped into the “clean” room again being asked to take everything off and put on a new gown. Little did I know that this 10 x 10 foot space would be my sole home for the next 28 days! And, oh by the way – in protective environment – there are no toilets and no showers! Huh? I’m in the most state of the art cancer center in all the world – and I’ll be camping? Germs spread in shower pipes and in standing water and flushing a toilet spreads germs throughout – so in protective environment THERE WILL BE NONE of that!
Yikes! I have truly entered the Twilight Zone!
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