A Scary Emergency Room Visit

Thursday night, I was discharged from the emergency room, and honestly, I’m still trying to make sense of it all.

The day started like any other. I finished work around 3 p.m., feeling steady enough to head outside and tidy up the garage, as well as clean out the trash bins. But out of nowhere, my body gave out. A wave of dizziness hit. My stomach twisted. I was nauseous and completely off balance. I clung to the stair railing and somehow made it to my room, where I collapsed into bed and began vomiting nonstop for the next two hours. It felt like my body rejected every drop of water I had in me. My skin looked yellow. I was sweating, shaking, and completely disoriented.

I’ve been through a lot in this fight, but nothing has scared me quite like this.

I suspected it was a reaction to my Keytruda infusion. Common side effects include fatigue, nausea, appetite loss, and symptoms related to liver and gland issues, all of which lined up with how I felt.

The Emergency Room

I called the HealthPartners nurse line. After describing my symptoms, they told me to get to the ER immediately. My wife and I debated calling 911. Instead, she grabbed the keys and brought me to the HealthPartners ER in Hudson, Wisconsin. We avoided the longer waits and more chaotic trauma cases often seen at Regions Hospital in Saint Paul.

At the ER, they ran labs, checked my vitals, and thankfully ruled out liver failure. My oxygen levels, blood pressure, and test results came back okay. They gave me anti-nausea meds and a full liter of IV fluids. Within minutes, I felt human again. My appetite returned. My balance steadied. I could breathe.

The doctor sent me home with a prescription for Ondansetron to manage the nausea moving forward. I may have left with a clearer head, but inside, I was still shaken to my core.

Fighting for Each Day

Cancer is relentless. It doesn’t care how strong you are. I won’t sugarcoat this, it breaks you down, over and over. Before I got to the ER, I genuinely didn’t know if I was going to survive the night. That feeling of helplessness, of staring down what felt like the end, will stay with me for a long time.

What saved me was my family. Their steady presence and quick action were my lifeline when everything felt like it was falling apart.

The Rollercoaster of This Battle

Some days, I wake up and everything feels almost normal. I sit with my coffee, basking in the quiet of the morning sun, and feel something close to peace. Other days, I break. I cry for what I’ve lost. I feel the weight of five long years of treatment and exhaustion, and wonder how much more I can take.

That’s when I remember the support team surrounding me. That’s when I feel the strength of this community holding me up.

Because of You, I Keep Fighting

To everyone reading this, thank you. Thank you for your shares, prayers, messages, and donations. You are the reason I keep getting back up.

If my journey has moved you or reminds you of someone in your life fighting a similar battle, please share my story. If you’re able, consider donating to help cover the cost of my next infusion. Every gift, every word, every kind gesture, it all adds up. It reminds me that I’m not in this alone.

With love and strength,
Wayne 🧡

Every donation, big or small, keeps my family afloat and my fight alive.