A Roller Coaster called WBC

WBC as in White Blood Cell count. Two Mondays ago, January 10, 2011, we had Owen's pre-admission bloodwork done. Surgery was scheduled for 1/20/11. On Tuesday, January 11, I received a call that O's wbc count was 29. Anything between 10-15 is normal. The drs. wanted him in for bloodwork the following day. January 12, we take O for bloodwork late in the day. At 10pm, the dr. calls and tells us the wbc count is now 32. Now we have to bring him to the pediatrician and have repeat bloodwork the following day. January 13, we have bloodwork done and we see the pediatrician. WBC count is 37.5. January 13 is the night before my grandmother's wakes. I was planning on going to dinner with my cousins. Instead, I head to the hospital for x-rays of O's chest. His breathing had been a bit labored, so everyone is expecting a lung infection. We go to the hospital, have the x-ray and are sent home with no concrete diagnosis. We are given antibiotic on our way out the door. Maybe there is a spot on his lung, maybe not. January 14 we go to the wakes all day, but we are expected to go for bloodwork following the funeral on the 15. And we do. Now the wbc count is 25.9. Okay, antibiotics must be working and we are on our way down. Bloodwork on the 17th comes back at 25.8. Wait, that's only .1. No one is happy, least of all O, who has been stuck for a week straight. Surgery is cancelled. Pulmonologist wants to see him and the x-ray from the hospital. Pediatrician wants an ultrasound of his feeding tube and recent surgical sites. I take him to both. Pulmonologist sees a partially collapsed lung and some infection. I feel relieved. We all decide to leave O alone until January 24, this past Monday. I take him for bloodwork on Monday. His wbc count is 19. His g-tube site is infected. Could that be the reason? Maybe. No one is thrilled that we found the real reason for the high count to begin with. The lung infection should have been cleared up with the antibiotic and if it were viral, the numbers should have behaved differently. Everyone is stumped. But, they have decided to put him on more meds and allow him to have surgery. I am just exhausted from this all. The emotional energy that goes into two pre-surgery weeks is amazing. Anxiety, fear, waiting, anticipating. Then it's cancelled. Do it all again and then it might be cancelled. I am not sure if I am thankful it's not or what I feel. I am sure in the back of my mind the entire time he is in, I will be having nightmares about wbc counts.

Please, as usual, keep O in your thoughts and prayers on Thursday. Keep all your fingers and toes crossed that he comes out of this perfectly fine and that he heals quickly. Thank you.

Diane Gagliardi Collins 9/10/20-1/7/11

Oh Nan, it was too early. I know you were 90, you don't have to remind me. It still feels too soon. I am so sorry I did not make it to Virginia. I know you aren't mad. I know you understand. I just wish I had. I wish I could have kissed your cheek one more time. Smelled the shalimar. Held your hand. Told you face to face, I love you. I am mad at myself. I thought I had more time. I miss you. What an example you set for us. I read your obituary today and I am so impressed. You managed to do it all and well. I aspire to be like you. I always have though. You would be so proud of your boys and your grandkids right now. We have never spent so much time talking to each other. We are sharing stories and pictures. I know you know. I know you can see us. I feel so lucky that I got to spend so much time with you over the years. Remember when you taught me how to drive on the highway? Nan, you literally had me pull onto the Bronx River with no advance warning. There were probably two inches of room for error on either side of the car and I had never been on the highway before. I thought you were nuts. I was petrified, but we made it! Remember when we baked endless cookies at Christmas time? How about the lunches at the club? Baking cookies for my wedding favors? Taking me shopping? Sleepovers? Remember the time we played golf? I hit a long, straight one down the fairway. You wanted to kill me. You got in the cart and left me standing there. It was hysterical. I think I get my competitive nature from you. Remember Rhode Island? Remember when I used to "do your eyes" for you? Remember taking walks down Ninham Road? Oh Nan. I love you. Lately, I have had to be the strongest I have ever had to be. I know that I get my strength from you. I always admired how strong you were. Strong enough to raise 5 boys, strong enough to lose Pop and keep it together, strong enough to lead our family. 22 grandkids, 27 great grand-kids. Strong enough to lead when women didn't lead. You were the best of all worlds. You raised your family, giving them your all. You worked and held offices and were a leader, while raising a family and being a wife. And it's not like you were an absent mother. You came home on your lunch to make my dad lunch. You are famous for your cooking and baking. Your meatballs...legendary. I like to think I got some of that from you, my love of cooking and serving and socializing over a big Italian meal. I just can't believe you are gone. Your nails and lips, always red. You always looked beautiful Nan. You were an amazing grandmother. I can honestly say that despite having 22 of us, you kept tabs on us. You knew what was going on in our lives. I never felt like you didn't know what we were up to. I know you are with Pop right now. I am so happy for you. He was the love of your life. You knew you had met your soul mate in Pop. And I know the two of you will watch over all of us. Keep your eye on Owen, he needs a little extra watching. I am going to put your obituary at the bottom of this. My uncles decided that in lieu of flowers at your funeral that people should make donations to Down Syndrome or amcsupport.org for Madison and Owen. I am so touched. I can't even express how amazing that is. My heart feels full. It just means so much. I know you would want it that way.

I hear your voice in my head Nan. Don't stop talking to me okay? I love you. Love, Sara (Bernhardt)


OBIT:
GAGLIARDI COLLINS, DIANE

January 11, 2011


Diane Gagliardi Collins, 90, of Kent, NY passed away peacefully with family at her bedside in Leesburg, VA on January 7, 2011. She was born in New Rochelle, NY on September 10, 1920. Diane was loved by her 5 sons, William T. Jr. (Nona) of New Port Richey, FL., J. Peter (Marty) of Kent, NY, Jeffrey M. (Tammy) of Purcellville, VA, Frank J. (Karen) of Eastchester, NY, and Brian D. (Sally) of Wappingers Falls, NY, and adored by her 22 grandchildren and 27 great- grandchildren. She was one of 7 children born to Frank M. and Mary F. (Decicco) Gagliardi of Larchmont, NY. Her father was a respected attorney who practiced law for over 50 years in White Plains. Her sister, Phinina Forbes of Fairfield, CT., and her brothers, Joseph F. Gagliardi of Larchmont, a former Mayor of Larchmont, Westchester County District Attorney and Judge, New York State Supreme Court Justice and Administrative Judge of the 9th Judicial District; Lee P. Gagliardi, of Larchmont, a United States District Judge for the Southern District of NewYork; and Anthony L. Gagliardi, also of Larchmont, a White Plains insurance executive, predeceased her. She is survived by her sisters Gloria M. Gagliardi and Mary Ann (Mitzi) Dugan, both of Fairfield, CT. Diane was a graduate of The Ursuline School in New Rochelle and attended at Good Counsel College in White Plains. In 1940, Diane married the love of her life, William T. Collins of Larchmont. Diane and Bill raised their family in New Rochelle where she was very active in local community affairs including the American Heart Assoc., American Red Cross, United Cerebral Palsy Assoc., Multiple Sclerosis Assoc., Community Chest, East End Civic and Hazelhurst Park Assocs., Civic Counsel on School Safety, and the Mayor's Columbus Day Committee. Diane, like her husband Bill, loved politics and was a strong believer in public service. She was a Republican District Leader in New Rochelle's 4th District for 10 years, served as Secretary for the 1st Ward Republican Committee, member of the Executive Committee of the New Rochelle Republican Committee, member of the New Rochelle Women's Republican Club and member of the Board of Directors of the Westchester County Women's Republican Club. In 1967, Diane was elected to the Westchester County Board of Supervisors representing constituents from New Rochelle and Pelham. She was instrumental in the drafting and passage of legislation creating the present Westchester County Board of Legislators. Diane was then elected to the newly created Board and was the first woman to hold the position of Vice-Chairperson of the Board. She also served as the Deputy Westchester County Clerk in charge of the County Department of Motor Vehicles and in 1978 was appointed as Deputy Westchester County Clerk in Charge of Naturalization. Diane remained in this position until she retired in the early 1990s. In retirement, she remained active as a volunteer at Putnam Hospital Center, Carmel, NY. Diane, like her husband, father, brothers and sons, was an avid golfer and played the game regularly. She is a former member of Rye Golf Club, Rye, NY, Banksville Golf Club, Banksville, NY, where she was the women's club champion in the 1970s, and Mahopac Golf Club, Mahopac, NY. To her sons, she was the perfect mother and a remarkable person; always loving, supportive of their efforts and always willing to be helpful in times of need. Diane is now with her God, and her adoring husband, Bill, who predeceased her in 1987. The family will receive friends at Cargain Funeral Home, 10 Fowler Avenue, Carmel, NY on Friday, January 14, 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. A Funeral Mass is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 15, at St. James the Apostle Church, 14 Gleneida Avenue, Carmel, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Down Syndrome Assoc. Hudson Valley, 14 Zerner Blvd., Hopewell Junction, NY 12533 or to www.AMCSupport.org. CARGAIN FUNERAL HOMES, INC. 10 Fowler Avenue Carmel, NY 10512 (845)225-3672