Mom was discharged from the hospital early Friday afternoon. When Paul and I left to go to the airport she was in great spirits and very excited about getting out. She gained six pounds this week, which is a big step in getting healthy again. The goal now is to continue this at home. Since Mom enjoyed the soup so much, we discussed stocking up on cans for easy access when she's home. Keep eatin' Mom!
~BDH
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Hi,
It's a tad late but it's been a productive day. We recouped from the greeting of the new year & got Leenie's room taken apart & put back together with clean linen, etc. Dad Phil was working.
Jennie visited Leenie with the now ubiquitous DQ chocolate shake. She had a good portion of it & they had a relaxing visit.
Brian, Paul & I waited until around 4 to visit. Leenie was getting ready for dinner & reported that she had had the Platinum Chemo in the morning, tolerating it well! She was disappointed that she was not discharged today but is hopeful for tomorrow.
Doc Phil will be @ work; I'll be with the Peanut from 8 until 5:30; Paul & Brian will either take her home or lunch there, leaving in time for their 3 pm flight to Boston; if discharge is in the afternoon, her Godson Philip will get her there & settled and if discharge is late afternoon , Phil Sr. & I will get her around 6.
She looks far more energetic and is pleased to report that the chemo was tolerated well thus far & the meds that increase her appetite & decrease nausea are working. She's gained about 6 lbs since Monday.
Sooo, Dr. Ryan will make the discharge decision, relying on Dr. Cross' recommendations. All of her meds are oral and her mediport will be sealed until needed to administer Chemo as an outpatient next week. (That is our sincere hope & prayer)
I'll keep you in the loop, even if she spends the weekend in the hospital, the big news is that she actually started her course of treatment and did it without any negative side effects.
Keep her in your prayers & scan in photos with your comments. She really enjoyed going through the pictures of the bridal shower she gave on Devonshire for Charlene Costa in 1969.
Till the next "hurdle" day, 01/02/09. . . .
Lorane
It's a tad late but it's been a productive day. We recouped from the greeting of the new year & got Leenie's room taken apart & put back together with clean linen, etc. Dad Phil was working.
Jennie visited Leenie with the now ubiquitous DQ chocolate shake. She had a good portion of it & they had a relaxing visit.
Brian, Paul & I waited until around 4 to visit. Leenie was getting ready for dinner & reported that she had had the Platinum Chemo in the morning, tolerating it well! She was disappointed that she was not discharged today but is hopeful for tomorrow.
Doc Phil will be @ work; I'll be with the Peanut from 8 until 5:30; Paul & Brian will either take her home or lunch there, leaving in time for their 3 pm flight to Boston; if discharge is in the afternoon, her Godson Philip will get her there & settled and if discharge is late afternoon , Phil Sr. & I will get her around 6.
She looks far more energetic and is pleased to report that the chemo was tolerated well thus far & the meds that increase her appetite & decrease nausea are working. She's gained about 6 lbs since Monday.
Sooo, Dr. Ryan will make the discharge decision, relying on Dr. Cross' recommendations. All of her meds are oral and her mediport will be sealed until needed to administer Chemo as an outpatient next week. (That is our sincere hope & prayer)
I'll keep you in the loop, even if she spends the weekend in the hospital, the big news is that she actually started her course of treatment and did it without any negative side effects.
Keep her in your prayers & scan in photos with your comments. She really enjoyed going through the pictures of the bridal shower she gave on Devonshire for Charlene Costa in 1969.
Till the next "hurdle" day, 01/02/09. . . .
Lorane
Mom's Initial Chemo Regimen
Happy New Year Everyone.
In case anyone wanted a little more info on the the chemo that Mom's receiving, I've included the specific combinations below. If you click on the name of the drug, you'll be linked to a website describing the drug, it's side effects and some other information about it. Also, if you have any questions or comments (no matter how small) that you'd like one of us to ask Mom's doctors/nurses directly, please post them here.
I've also changed the blog format in hopes of making it easier on the eyes. If anyone has any other suggestions for improving it, please don't be shy about commenting!
Thanks,
~BDH
Wednesday: Gemcitabine (a.k.a: Gemzar)
Thursday: Carboplatin
In case anyone wanted a little more info on the the chemo that Mom's receiving, I've included the specific combinations below. If you click on the name of the drug, you'll be linked to a website describing the drug, it's side effects and some other information about it. Also, if you have any questions or comments (no matter how small) that you'd like one of us to ask Mom's doctors/nurses directly, please post them here.
I've also changed the blog format in hopes of making it easier on the eyes. If anyone has any other suggestions for improving it, please don't be shy about commenting!
Thanks,
~BDH
Wednesday: Gemcitabine (a.k.a: Gemzar)
Thursday: Carboplatin
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
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
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
-
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
,
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Additions for Tuesday?
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Tuesday evening
Hi,
Well it's 7:10 pm. Brian & Paul left to see Leenie (& bring her her favorite chocolate shake from the DQ near the hospital) @ around 5 pm. They said they would call if there were any significant medical info. They have not.
Leenie, as is her wont these days, will be overjoyed to see them, exhaust herself chatting and then want to read. And read. And read (you get the picture) The sun room at our house is now her library, supported on the large table by old cannon bookends (as in, "touch these books and feel some gun powder). She also loves to watch movies (an adjacent library) and lose herself in "the other".
Now her brother Philip is really a more interesting story (while we're on literature) , of the not-quite-superhero variety. He worked days yesterday & called around 5 from the Norfolk airport. (I only got his message as we were a tad busy w/ Leenie @ the time) Seems his cell phone wasn't working; he would be leaving for Miniapolis for a deposition shortly and getting in too late to call with his hotel info & phone contact for Tuesday am; he 's to return home this evening around "dinner time". As I said at the opening of this tripe, it is 7:10 pm. Sooo, our dear and glorious physician has no idea that Leenie went in to the hospital yesterday; apparently has difficulty locating/using public/hotel phones and will be missing "dinner time" @ Linbay (and I worked so hard to make it special). I thought we'd go together to see Leenie but it appears the hour will be past several bed times.
We can rest easy knowing Leenie is in good company w/ yummy DQ and nothing urgent to report. As for me, here we go with photo aggravation. . .
Lorane
,
Obviously, important updates will take precedence - anyone heard from PGJr? - I'll conclude that saga "of human bandage" as it unfolds. . .)
Posted by Lorane at 4:03 PM 0 comments
Tuesday
Hi,
Phillip got off @ 7 am - Bless Brian. We've been re-grouping, physically & mentally. Have not heard from Leenie but I'm sure they are keeping her busy & getting her on just the right mix of meds & oral food & liquids.
I know she needs some paperwork for the social worker who will be applying for her Medicare disability. This lady also has the Medicaid forms for Ohio. Paul has just arrived so we will see if Leenie wants to deal with this today and, if so, bring the data.
It will be good to have 2 cars so that everyone can set their own schedule and pace with Leenie's preferences.
Last night I tried to send some good photos & failed miserably. I'm trying (very) again. . .
Lorane
Posted by Lorane at 11:08 AM 0 comments
Tuesday evening
Hi,
Well it's 7:10 pm. Brian & Paul left to see Leenie (& bring her her favorite chocolate shake from the DQ near the hospital) @ around 5 pm. They said they would call if there were any significant medical info. They have not.
Leenie, as is her wont these days, will be overjoyed to see them, exhaust herself chatting and then want to read. And read. And read (you get the picture) The sun room at our house is now her library, supported on the large table by old cannon bookends (as in, "touch these books and feel some gun powder). She also loves to watch movies (an adjacent library) and lose herself in "the other".
Now her brother Philip is really a more interesting story (while we're on literature) , of the not-quite-superhero variety. He worked days yesterday & called around 5 from the Norfolk airport. (I only got his message as we were a tad busy w/ Leenie @ the time) Seems his cell phone wasn't working; he would be leaving for Miniapolis for a deposition shortly and getting in too late to call with his hotel info & phone contact for Tuesday am; he 's to return home this evening around "dinner time". As I said at the opening of this tripe, it is 7:10 pm. Sooo, our dear and glorious physician has no idea that Leenie went in to the hospital yesterday; apparently has difficulty locating/using public/hotel phones and will be missing "dinner time" @ Linbay (and I worked so hard to make it special). I thought we'd go together to see Leenie but it appears the hour will be past several bed times.
We can rest easy knowing Leenie is in good company w/ yummy DQ and nothing urgent to report. As for me, here we go with photo aggravation. . .
Lorane
,
Obviously, important updates will take precedence - anyone heard from PGJr? - I'll conclude that saga "of human bandage" as it unfolds. . .)
Posted by Lorane at 4:03 PM 0 comments
Tuesday
Hi,
Phillip got off @ 7 am - Bless Brian. We've been re-grouping, physically & mentally. Have not heard from Leenie but I'm sure they are keeping her busy & getting her on just the right mix of meds & oral food & liquids.
I know she needs some paperwork for the social worker who will be applying for her Medicare disability. This lady also has the Medicaid forms for Ohio. Paul has just arrived so we will see if Leenie wants to deal with this today and, if so, bring the data.
It will be good to have 2 cars so that everyone can set their own schedule and pace with Leenie's preferences.
Last night I tried to send some good photos & failed miserably. I'm trying (very) again. . .
Lorane
Posted by Lorane at 11:08 AM 0 comments
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