Introducing Oceana

Hello All,


As all of you aready know, Oceana Marks Azar has been diagnosed with AML Leukemia. The purpose of this blog, is to allow Oceana a direct medium to communicate and express how she feels with all of you directly. We are going to make an attempt at therapeutic expression through blogging!

Oceana now has the floor:

"UGGGHHHH", Oceana says. "Get me out of here!" Oceana exclaims sitting on her bed, hooked up to fluids after finishing her last dose of Ara C chemo for this phase. Earlier today, she had an LP (lumbar puncture). Oceana states that this was "suckish, crappy" when discussing how it felt. Prior to the LP procedure, Oceana had anti-anxiety meds that apparently did not make the experience any better. Annie from childlife was there with an intern to try and soothe Oceana. Oceana, with fear in her eyes, adamantly stood outside the entrance to the oncology day hospital (where the procedure was performed) in tears stating "no"! Both Annie and Dad tried to explain the importance of her being there, hoping to reason the fear away from Oceana. After all, the lumbar puncture is not only to keep us informed that the leukemia cells stay eradicated and therefore prove that the treatments are working but to also administer a coctail of three different chemos directly into the spine which are to help cure Oceana, keeping the leukemia in a state of remission. Oceana was not hearing this. All she could think of was that she did not want to go under the anesthesia as well as that she didn't want to be awake for the puncture. Oceana was asking for the impossible! Fear in her eyes, Dad carried her into the procedure room where the anesthesiologist awaited with the doctor who performed the puncture. Surprisingly, Annie and the intern were allowed to stay in the procedure room after Oceana fell asleep but Dad was told to leave. Dad waited anxiously outside the procedure room until the door opened and Oceana was taken to a recovery room to "awaken." The procedural nurse determined that Oceana would be asleep for thirty minutes. Dad knew better as Oceana always awakens from this procedure in about ten minutes, exhibiting emergence delirium. Fortunately, the delirium was not as bad today as it has been at other times. Annie and Dad held Oceana's hands as she slowly came back to her senses. Wow, anesthesia is powerful.

"Hungry Dad, but don't leave me!" Kids cuisine to the rescue, since Oceana can't stand room service hospital food. Now, dad just needs to escape the Oceana death grasp to get to the microwave. Dad, don't go!

Oceana is now asking to be broken out of the hospital with a sledgehammer, a chainsaw and a motorcycle. Personally, she should just walk out the front door, but hey that wouldn't be any fun! The phone is ringing, it's uncle Louis on the phone! Make sure he knows that he will be cherry pied, next time he visits. Oceana will hold him to this! "Please uncle Louis, teleport me to the beach" Oceana exclaims. Afterall, why can't you send people if you can send pictures? "Don't hang up, no, don't go, what do you mean you have things to do? I don't!"



"I'm bored" Oceana cries, "Good night." Not really though, Oceana's no where near her desired bed time. Mom will be here soon.