May 2011 At CTCA

This trip was full of anxiety because 6 weeks ago I started the chemo pill Xeloda again. I had to stop it while on radiation because my immune system was so low that I got thrush in my throat. After the radiation and after I got healed up, I started the chemo pill Xeloda again. The first week wasn't bad but the second week I found myself having all the side effects and became sick from it. The worst was hand and foot syndrome that made my fingertips raw! I was thinking it was time to invest in the band-aid company! My feet are healed and most of my hands or fingers are healed. I only have two open wounds! After being off of that pill for 3 weeks I went to see my doctor and she was ready to put me on a new chemo that goes through my port. The new drug is called Abraxane. I posted a link to the right that explains what this drug is. This afternoon I had my infusion of Zomada, benedril, another mix for nausea and the new chemo Abraxane. I am not having any side effects. The only thing at this time is exhaustion. This new chemo is exciting for me because it is infused. Much less harm to the liver and kidneys. I may have some fatigue and muscle ackes but that is easy to get through. One other thing that has changed is that this has to happen every 3 weeks! Yikes!! I need to prepare mentally for travel every three weeks and one way of doing that is to have hope and pray!! I fly in one day, have treatment the next day and fly home the same day. Time will tell. Please continue to pray. Thank you so much for the support! Love to all!!

Back Home - April 2nd

We got back home the 31st around 9pm and the bed was so comfy!!!! The next morning Robbin got up at 3:30 to get his mom to the hospital for her surgery. Needless to say he was exhausted!! Her surgery went well and was very short. The doctor let her come home that afternoon so Robbin brought her to our home so she could recover here. I'm telling you, I think Robbin is a saint!! I just don't know how he is doing all this. God is certainly on his side!!

I had a great report on Thursday from my radiologist and gastro doctors. They both told me I was healing fast and that I should be back to myself soon. The only reason to go back is to receive my Zometa. This is the bone healer med that goes through the port. My doctor told me to have that every 6 weeks now. Yeah!!! No more once a month trips!! I am still having problems with my port tho. If I can wait until then they will do a dye study to see if there is a leakage. They did an ultra sound and found no blockages so they are sure the pain is coming from the leakage. I've had this port for almost 4 years. They say this is a long time....most need replaced in 2-3 years. At this point I am still taking it easy and healing from all the radiation and zometa. My oncology doctor has started me on a chemo pill Xeloda that I will take 3 in the morning and 3 in the evening for one week, off a week and then the same for a week. I will do this for as long as my body will tolerate them. There are a few side effects but I'm praying they won't effect me. When we arrived at home I was having bad muscle cramps from the Zometa. These lasted the entire day and I slept most of that day. Today I'm feeling much better but still don't have much energy. So I'm resting again. The weather is making me want to get outside and water the flowers coming up. 75-80 today!! Maybe a chair and a good book!!??!!

We have met some great friends in Kenosha and always plan some kind of fun with them while we are there. I have a family away from home! God puts people in your lives for a reason and this one is sure evident!!!! Thanks to my Kenosha family!!

Please keep Robbin and Marian in your prayers as she is healing and Robbin keeps his patients!!!

Appointments after Radiation - March 30, 2011

Wow, what a long month!!!!! Maybe I will start off by telling you about the last few weeks. When I got home from my radiation treatments, I knew there was going to be a few weeks of recovery. The one thing that I really had a problem with was that I couldn't talk. What? No voice???!!! Yes, I know what you men are thinking! HAHAHA Robbin didn't have to listen to me. Oh how quite it was for him!! The first week was hard because I had to get use to carrying a bag around every night for 12 hours. Yes, I slept with it!!! I got to the point where I slept better because of the noise it made. Weird but it gave me a sense of comfort. The second week was the hardest because of the malfunction in the pump which meant I didn't get the nutrition I need for the night. That morning my body felt like it was melting down. Robbin knew he better start getting something done fast. After several phone calls he had me hooked back up to the nutrition drip and had saline solution on the way. By noon or so I was beginning to feel like a person again but it really pushed me back as far as my recovery. My home health nurse came by to check on things and found me in a very weak and dehydrated state. Robbin knew that was happening and had me on the saline solution before the end of the day. From that point on all I could do was rest and take care of the radiation sight. I was not able to swallow anything yet. Seems all I did was rest, put silvandine on my skin and swallow medications. That is how many days went. It was not until the last week in March that I decide it was time to start eating something beside broth. As most of you know Robbin is a great cook and was trying everything he could to see if I could eat. Great support!!! I would try and ouch!!!!! So a couple days later I would try again. It wasn't until March 22nd that I could really eat a meal. A bite of chicken and a spoonful of mashed potatoes. Of course I tried chocolate. No it didn't go down smoothly. So I really am trying to eat more of a bland diet because my stomach is so sensitive to any spices.

March 29th Robbin and I returned to CTCA to see all my doctors. Today was my appointment with the oncologist. One thing I discovered while on the nutrition drip was that my port was painful. So I had an ultra sound done today and there is no blockage. That was good news but I'm still confused as to why it hurts. So tomorrow I will have my other doctors look at it. I will see my radiologist and gastro doctors. They want to make sure I am healing right and my blood levels are where they should be. I feel like that will be a good report also. I really do feel good just run out of energy fast. My body is still healing and as long as I listen to it and get lots of rest I will be back to normal or my normal soon.

I want to thank everyone again for all the thoughts and prayers. You are my reason for high spirits and my need to keep going!!! God has been my great healer and is always giving me strength. I feel Him close all the time!! God Bless You!!

We have to return quickly because Marian, Robbin's mom, fell and will have surgery friday. Please pray that she has a fast recovery.

Our Last Night February 28th

Seems like this last week was the longest week I've had. There has been lots of events going on. My journey here is coming to an end and I am so thankful for that. The radiation has been very hard on me but I met with my doctor this morning and he tells me that the treatments did just what he wanted them to do. This has been so worth our time and effort and pain. My side effects haven't been to bad. My skin where the radiation went in is red and feels like a sunburn, the area where my port is has several sores around it because I'm allergic to tape! Since I have been on chemotherapy, I'm not healing as well so this will take awhile to heal. I return for follow ups March 30 and I will also have my infusion of zomada. I didn't get that this trip because of my reaction to radiation. My doctor felt I didn't need to go through anything else at this time. She has also taken me off of the chemotherapy pill until I can start eating again. This should happen in about 2 weeks. Since I am not eating yet, I have an IV drip every night that gives me the nutrition I need. As soon as my throat heals and I start eating I can wein off of the IV. At 3pm everyday I have the antibiotic IV drip. Patti has been so good to fix my bag of nutrients every night. There are 2 different additives to mix then it gets hooked up to me. Robbin will continue this when we get home. I couldn't do this without them!!! I received a certificate for completing 14 days of radiation and had to share it with you.

Robbin, Patti and I finished packing tonight so we are ready to go for my last radiation in the morning then head to the airport. We will arrive in our driveway around 4:00 tomorrow. YEA!! It's been a long haul and I know that God has taken care of me and with all the thoughts and prayers from my supporters, I got through it!!!

We are staying at the Candlewood Suites with Molly and the manager loves her. She brought a tee shirt today and asked if we could take a picture of her with the tee shirt on. They want to use it in the corporate advertising brochure. LOL The picture is on the right.

We have met some wonderful new friends out here that have taken us into their home, took Robbin out for an evening, stayed in contact with us, and always offered to help in any way. We want to thank them for their friendship!! It means the world to us!! We also want to thank all of the supporters back home who never give up on prayers and are there to help in any way also. God blesses us each day with you!! Thank You!!!

Saturday Night And Nothing To Do

Or maybe I should say, don't want to go out with my new backpack full of nutrients. Every night around 6:00 I have Patti or Robbin hook me up to the IV drip. It will stay hooked up for 12 hours. The doctor started me on this because I am not able to eat or drink. I can't even take my pills by mouth. What I have discovered is that I sure took a lot for granted. When I have to depend on a bag of nutrients and someone to help mix it and hook it up, it brings me to reality!! This really is happening to me! I do and always will feel that God is my healer and I know He is working overtime on me this time. I have been through so much this trip and it has taken a toll on my body. Today is the first day I feel like I am beginning to heal. My throat is healing, my skin is feeling a little better and I'm getting some strength back. My voice is still cracky and if I talk to much my throat hurts more. I so badly want to call my grandkids!! I miss them so much!!! Robbin, Patti and I are packing tomorrow. We had to ship some of our things. My last radiation is Tuesday at 8:40 then straight to the airport. We will be home around 3:00. I can't wait! Our friends that are watching the home and dogs have been such a blessing in our lives. We don't even think about or worry about things there. Our thoughts are all here while I go through all the doctor appointments, blood tests and radiation treatments. So thank you Joe and Andres!! I hope our dogs will still know us when we get there. We left February 7 and will get home March 1st. 29 days!!!! Ok, maybe I shouldn't have counted the days. Now I'm wondering why I didn't get more sewing done. I did get some things done that I really wanted to finish. Once again, I want to thank everyone for all the thoughts, prayers, gifts, blog comments, cards and phone calls. All this helped me keep my spirits high. Love to all.

February 24th and Back to the Hotel

It feels so good to sleep in my own bed. Well, my 2nd home bed. Yesterday I had number 10 radiation and then was discharged with the agreement that I would have a nutrient bag dripping for 12 hours every night. I had another today so that leaves 3. YEA!!! As fas as we know, it looks like we will come home Wednesday 2nd. I'm packing and shipping some things tomorrow and will finish over the weekend. Wow I brought lots!! My days are so full of medications and lots of rest. Mornings are radiation treatments then afternoons are an antibiotic drip that takes an hour then 6pm I start the nutrient drip for 12 hours. This will be my schedule for the next, at least, 2 weeks. In the nutrient drip we put multi vitamins & nexium. I am not able to take any pills by mouth so fortunately they can be added to the drip. Robbin and Patti got a lesson last night on how to "hook me up" to the drip bag. They will be my life line for the next few weeks. Thanks to them for all the work, mentally and physically, that they have gone through while here. Patti has decided to stay until we go home. I really appreciate that because Robbin needs a brake!!! She can help us get packed and carry luggage. Thanks to everyone who has sent books, gourmet breads, fabric, goodie bags, starbucks card, get well cards, and prayers and thoughts!! I'm getting through this because I have so many supporters and God is my healer.

February 23rd and Still in Hospital

As I woke up this morning, I felt like "It's time to get out of here"!!! All is going well as the doctors, nurses and entire team are taking great care of me. The good part is I'm not being stuck every time someone comes in. With the port they can excess whenever they need and believe me they are on top of things. I have a team of doctors and nurses which work together to insure I get the most out of my treatments and care. When I was brought into the hospital, I was not very happy, as you can imagine. I was in pain that I never want to feel again. The radiation has burned the inside of my throat in two different areas. Because I am who I am, I ate what I wanted..chocolate, popcorn etc. Robbin was very sure I was going eat a square meal too. Anyway, my burned throat got infected! With all the up to date medications that are available, I had relief in one day!!! But this has put me two day behind on my radiation and I will finish those before I come home. Today I will start them again, which puts me at a finish date of March 1st. As far as I can tell, I will be home around the 3rd of March.