Listening to Warning Signs
February 7, 2026
We had a typical clinic visit yesterday. We’ll be going in twice a week in between chemo visits. White blood cell counts low (good sign chemo is working), vitals strong, appetite reappearing. Strother even said he was craving Mexican food. You got it buddy. Seriously, anything he craves, we are on it!
Back home around noon he’s sitting in front of a steaming plate of enchiladas and he CAN NOT stay awake. So I asked him if he wanted me to save it for later. He said, “Actually I feel off. Can you hand me the thermometer?” 100.2 Not good. He is VERY immunocompromised right now, hitting the “nadir” or the dip in white blood cells that makes him so vulnerable to infection. And the instructions from our oncology team is to head to the ER if it hits 100.4, without fail. So we waited 30 minutes and took his temperature again. 100.6
Off to the hospital! There is a general emergency room entrance and an ambulance entrance. You know Strother is a VIP, so we go to the ambulance entrance. (All cancer patients are VIPs around there!) It’s a great way to bypass others who might REALLY have an infection. It’s all about limiting exposure. We are immediately in a room for assessment. Still running 100.6, he is quickly put on IV fluids and antibiotics. And a slew of tests to see if we can identify the source of the fever. But now his blood pressure is a bit low. Like scary low. So he’s put on consistent heart monitoring and the blood pressure cuff is doing it’s thing every five minutes. And he looks pale and frankly wiped all the way out. His immune system was going into overdrive and his heart wasn’t compensating enough to bring oxygen all the way through his body: sepsis. With at least 15 different low BP results things start moving very quickly and the room filled up with his doctor and five other nurses and they start pumping him with as much fluid as they can get into him, both through the IV and directly into the port on his chest. A LOT of fluid. You can see in real time that it’s working. He’s actually perked up! By now he’s alert and taking off his oxygen mask to finally get to his plate of enchiladas! But we already had a one way ticket to ICU. Fortunately, all of his numbers are exactly where they needed to be so it was a short 16 hour stay in ICU. He’s back on the oncology floor now. In a room with a view of south Fort Worth and even the TCU stadium. As per protocol, he’ll need to be fever free for 48 hours before he can go home again. So we are anticipating a Sunday or Monday release. That’s fine. We can watch the superbowl on the TV in his room.
We were chatting this morning and he didn’t quite understand what all the fuss was about. He said he was JUST TIRED. Yes, darling. And so is your whole body. And thank goodness you knew to ask for the thermometer.
