Update 2023-0906

Gloria the Hickman Line

Today we began the steps of the Stem Cell Transplant.

Today I had my Hickman line placed. Its a long, tube that is tunnelled under the skin on my chest and into a nearby large vein just above my heart. The end of the tube that comes out of my chest just below my collarbone has two ports called lumens.

This is my new “no sticks” way of tapping into my bloodstream. The big events will be harvesting my stem cells and later putting them back. The lines can also be used for blood testing, chemotherapy (hello Melphalan), IV fluids, antibiotics, blood transfusions, and even liquid food, if I’m unable to eat for a while.

At a recent Multiple Myeloma support group meeting, a woman there told me she’d named her Hickman. I liked the idea of that and the visualization and psychological benefit to be had. A few days later I was thinking about names and “Gloria” started rolling around in my head. Coincidently, someone reminded me of the end of Somebody Somewhere Season 2 when Sam sang Laura Branigan’s “Gloria.” That clicked, but I held final judgement until today when I met her. After the procedure, alone in a room for a bit, I placed my hand over my chest and said out loud, “Welcome my helping friend. Who are you?”

And in my slightly fentanyl affected state I heard —

Gloria (Gloria), I think they got your number (Gloria)
I think they got the alias (Gloria) that you've been living under (Gloria)
But you really don't remember, was it something that they said?
Are the voices in your head calling, Gloria?¹

1. “Gloria” written by Giancarlo Bigazzi and Umberto Tozzi.