Happy New Year Mom!

----Remain strong as you begin your treatment---

2009 will be a great year and we will all be together one year from tonight to ring in 2010.

Love,
Tim

Wednesday, Wednesday

Drum roll, please.

Today, Leenie rallied so well that at 2 pm Dr. Cross gave her her first dose of chemotherapy! It is the second drug of the combo which will be given twice a week for 3 weeks. Since she didn't have any bad side effects (except fatigue - expected), he's decided to give her the big gun, Platinum (what with her hair, she wouldn' have it any other way) which will be given once every 3 wks. She told brother Philip that if she responds well (ie, doesn't have bad effects that would interfere with her nutritional build-up process), she may go home Thursday. (He was present when she told him, so telephonic mis-communication can be ruled out.)

So. Leenie had to go back to the hospital because she was dehydrated & the disease had robbed her of her appetitie and interest in liquid intake (certainly a first for those who know her). But (& hopefully there won't be any more of those). When I approached her on the bathroom floor, retching, pale, her eyes glazed with fear & cofusion, she asked, "Am I dying?" I responded that yes, she was, but not imminently. Rather the disease had apparently advanced significantly and rapidly, with malice and stealth, unwelcome and delighting in its clever, powerful repulsiveness while she slept. Tossing its head back with victorious laughter at the sight of her - helpless, terrified, reduced to a cold, unsavory bathroom floor for her mattress, it did not consider that discovering that she had time, choices and acres of down-blanketed support, Leenie, as she told me later upon receiving the news - "No primary site." - "I plan on getting better."

We then gave each other the Eucharist and packed quickly, quietly - about to go out into the cold night (cold was simply an annoying companion) to seek, find and then use each quill carefully, thoughtfully acquired and put at the ready to face, suffer through, battle with and, God willing, vanquish the enemy.

Let's make sure we're all with her, armed with the innocent confidence of the little ones, so that we are not just with her but actively feeling, tasting, smelling, hating that which our collective will might destroy with the Cross our mighty sword. . .

Lorane

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Tuesday evening wth Leenie

Hi,

Brian & Paul found Leenie a bit restless but very surprised & excited to see them. Unfortunately, she was having pain (which was apparent) but it was 6 pm & she'd not asked for pain meds since the morning. Shortly after getting medicated, she was relaxed and joking about beating the patch system by sneaking out & smoking without it.

Obviously, the pain meds must be given regularly & not on demand. Otherwise, chatter remained "newsy/breezy"; she loves her docs; saw Gordon Ryan for a long admit visit late Monday (they were talking about putting a tube in her intestine for food feeding when she comes home); Dr. Cross stressed wt. gain & builiding strength for chemo. All in all she seemed to be focusing on getting well enough to be treated as an out-patient.

When it was obvious she was getting tired they left BUT, throughout the visit she slurped down 1/2 of a giant chocolate DQ shake!

"Of human bandage" arrived home clueless in Virginia Beach but ver enthusiastic about Leenie's admission. He says it's a huge positive step forward & will see her after work today. There's a cute Obama throw blanket in the gift shop that he has his eye on for her. . .

Off to my appt,

Lorane

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