Sunday, June 13, 2004

Weekend UPdate

Ok - I sound like the SNL skit. Anyhow - was able to visit with mom for a little bit today. She's still just exhausted from the treatments on Friday. They did her new daily chemo in the morning and didn't do the big "Friday" treatment till after 5 pm. So the double dose and continued daily treatments have just worn her out! So please know if the phone is busy she probably has it off the hook. IF its busy for more then 30-60 minutes just make that assumption. She needs her sleep right now. And today - they are giving her platelets and all the antibiotics - so she's just going to be resting a lot this afternoon and evening.

Over all - she's doing pretty darn good, the counts did go down a little as expected after Friday's treatment - but not as low as they have in the past. So that is really good. WE know they go down on the weekends and usually rebound by MOnday - so she'll feel better tomorrow.

The doctors finally started her on food through the IV - she just isn't able to eat that much. It sounds silly - but I don't think we can understand until we are in her shoes. Some of the biggest side effects of chemo is sores in the mouth, lack of appetite and nothing tasting good. She's got them all right now. And the medicine for her mouth makes it worse. She is trying very hard to eat as much as she can. And that will help - they think the medicine for her mouth has coated her stomach and real food will be able to help wash that out of there and help her feel better. Even if she can't -the nutrition in the IV will just give her some of her strenght back. WE are all hopeful that once the 12 day treatments are done (should be this next weekend) her counts will have built up high enough to come home. Its a little scarey -but we know that the doctors won't let her come home until she's able. And like I've said before- we will continue with family only visits for a while until mom is ready. Getting an infection now will just push the last 5-6 weeks of treatments down the tube! I know no one wants to see that happen. And I need her healthy to see the baby's ultrasound in a few weeks and to be there at the hospital when the baby is born (my doctors are fine with it - but she will need her doctors permission - she won't hurt the baby or I - but we need clearance that her counts are ok to be at my hospital).

So over all - good weekend lots of positive news! Very thankful - just seeing her weak is very difficult - mom's never really been too sick. So for all of us - its hard to watch and see her like this. FAith in God will get us through and it seems to be working.

Continue with the phone calls - it does mean a lot to her talking to family especially! She loves you all so much and she loves the posts that Craig prints off of this website for her too!
Love Gail and gang

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hi, kiddo! It felt so good to talk to you this past week. Your voice was a little hoarse (as opposed to weak), but your sense of humor came shining through! I know you are going through the worst time of your life (or at the very least ONE of them!), but I admire your strength and willingness (?) to go through it. Maybe the right word is acceptance (as in THY will be done!). Anyhow, you are one terrific lady, and the bunco ladies can't wait to have you back! Your house in July, right? HA! Not much news on the home front, except that my surgery is Thursday. I'm not sure if I'll be able to type with my right arm in a sling, but maybe I can do a "hunt and peck" with my left hand! At the very least, know that I'll be thinking of you all the time, and praying that you'll be on the mend faster than anyone expects! Love and hugs, m2 (Mary)