Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Jan. 19 - First chemo treatment

The first treatment seemed to go well. It's a long day of course with the time on the road back and forth to Hopkins and the actual treatment, but Mom was pretty alert when I arrived Fri. night at their house around 9pm. She was sent home with 2 nausea medicines which seem to be working since she hasn't felt any nausea. That is such a huge blessing, especially since a big concern at the moment has been this nasty cough she's had. She had a cough after the surgery which may have been related to the breathing tube, but the current cough seems more cold-related and is starting to break up.

Mom's appetite has diminished some since the treatment so right now she's trying out foods to figure out what she feels like eating and trying to drink as much as she can (needs 32 oz./day which doesn't sound like much, but it is for her).

Last night, I was flipping channels around 7pm (getting a break from football while Dad was out walking Missy), and I came across America's Funniest Home Videos. That brought some smiles and laughs from Mom so they'll definitely have to be sure that is on every Sun. night.

Mom goes back in about 3 weeks for the next treatment (Feb. 9), and the next day she will have a port put in. Also, she will begin getting a shot the day after chemo. Supposedly, the caregiver or the actual patient can give the needle. Dad doesn't like to be in the room when needles are given to anyone, but he thinks he can do this. Thank you continuing to lift up my family in prayer! And praise God for health insurance! It is intimidating to receive those enormous bills from Hopkins, but God has been faithful and has already given Dad the gift of being wise with his finances...we know He will continue to provide and bless just as Dad has blessed others!

Jan. 15 Chemo

Tomorrow is the first day of chemo. treatment....praying for it to be smooth and for Mom to respond well and feel confident that she can do this! Also praying for Dad as he is on the front lines with Mom as her #1 supporter!

Message from such an encouraging friend...
CANCER CANNOT SHATTER THE HOPE OF THE GOD WE TRUST!!!WAIT FOR THE LORD ;BE STRONG (WHEN YOU ARE WEAK REMEMBER HE "PROMISES" TO BE "STRONG" AND TAKE HEART AND WAIT FOR THE LORD. PSALM 27:14MY FLESH AND MY HEART MAY FAIL,BUT GOD IS THE STRENGTH OF MY HEART, AND MY PORTION FOREVER. PSALM 73:26REMEMBER THE BATTLE IS NOT HERS, BUT GODS. HE BROUGHT YOU ALL TO IT, HE WILL (HE PROMISES) TO BRING YOU THROUGH IT.YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WILL FIND STRENGTH YOU NEVER KNEW YOU HAD. I CLOSE WITH THIS FROM DEUT 8:18 , YOU DO NOT REALIZE WHAT I AM DOING NOW, BUT LATER YOU WILL UNDERSTAND.

Jan. 11 Update

Mom has been home for a little over a week now...getting lots of rest and has been so blessed by friends, family, and neighbors providing meals for them. Tomorrow is her first follow-up appointment, and hopefully she'll have her 2 drains removed. Also, at her appt., she will most likely start to hear about treatments for the ovarian cancer. I ask for continued prayer that God would provide her strength and determination before she even starts the treatment. It's common knowledge that the chemo really takes a toll on the body, and we know it's not easy anticipating all that so I pray that Mom's thoughts would be focused on the positive and all that God has brought her through thus far...going along with a quote that was shared with me today: "If God brings us to it, He will bring us through it!"...thanks, Sheryl!I was reminding Mom today how God has made it so clear to us that His hand has been on everything so early on...even back to Oct. 31 when Mom had her heart attack that ended up being a mild one. There have been so many details that have worked out so perfectly...some might call it "luck", but we know...Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

We praise God for:
-positive reports from the surgical team
-successful surgery
-wonderful support for Dad and I during the surgery (soooo thankful to my mom's brother & his wife AND Mack & Kendra)
-AMAZING staff at Hopkins (so attentive to Mom....and so accomodating to us when we were camped out in Mom's room in the ICU and her hospital room everyday)
-for the nausea that caused us to come to the ER on Christmas Day (Mom's surgeon was "on call" the week of Christmas and "on vacation" the week after Christmas)
-Dad's chickens being taken out later than planned
-Lisa being able to fly up from Florida (for a great price)...she was so instrumental in asking the right questions and getting all kinds of info. from the docs & nurses
-Dad, Dave, and I already being off from school/work during this time
-Dad's last flock of chickens for a while
-Dad having a substitute for his school bus route if needed
-safe traveling back and forth to the hospital
-getting released from the hospital by the weekend as hoped
-incredible support from family, friends, and neighbors

Jan. 4 In a nutshell

Thanks for ALL the encouraging notes and comments! I know some of you are asking what has happened since it's kinda spread out over many posts, so here is a synopsis of the last couple weeks:

Dec. 22 Mom's pre-operation appt. (hysterectomy planned for Jan. 6 to remove mass and find out if it is cancerous) - she had started swelling alot at this point...lots of fluid

Dec. 25 Drive to the ER at Hopkins as directed by surgeon after Mom has nausea Christmas morning/admitted to hospital/start prep. for surgery.....even more swollen

Dec. 26 Mom is in surgery for 10 hours/stage 3c ovarian cancer

Dec. 27-30 Intensive Care Unit

Dec. 30-Jan. 3 Recovery room

Jan. 3 Home sweet home back in DE

Jan. 4 Back at home!

Mom and Dad are all settled back at home now and have started to get into some routines. Dad is doing a nice job with taking care of the 2 abdomen drains with the bandaging and recording of the fluid. Mom seems most comfortable in the living room in the recliner (or as comfortable as you can be with a 10 inch incision down your front), and she's sleeping in her bed at night. Dad is continuing to make sure she takes the time to walk/move around and use her breathing tool to help in her recovery. Mom has a great appetite and is really enjoying food since that's pretty easy compared to walking and moving around and other everyday things.

We are so amazed and blessed with the outpouring of love and support! We arrived at Mom and Dad's yesterday, and 15 min. later, the phone rang, and it was the next-door neighbor saying she and another neighbor would be over with dinner and dessert in a few minutes!!! Then she called back today and said the community has dinners covered for the whole MONTH! Friends and people from church are also providing meals so I feel so blessed by that, especially because I'm not right there the way I'd like to be helping them out with meals too.

We're continuing to see God's hand on every detail, and I thank you for your thoughts and prayers for my mom! It has been so humbling to see my mom receive so many cards, phone calls, and offers to make meals!

P.S. Dad prepared our traditional Christmas morning breakfast for us today...better late than never! :-)

Jan. 3 Last day at Hopkins

Mom was given the option of leaving today or tomorrow, and she chose today! While very excited, there is still some nervousness about going home. We pray that no infection occurs as the incision and drain sites heal.Dave and I will head back to DE with Mom and Dad and come back tomorrow to get ready to go back to the grind on Monday.It is has been amazing to see God's hand on all the details of this journey we've started, and we know He will continue to be there in the all the steps ahead!

Jan. 2 Update

Thursday
-1 out of 3 abdomen drains taken off
-did 2 consecutive laps around nurses' station
-Uncle Ronnie and Aunt Judy came to visit
-Lisa flew back to FL

Friday
-a full morning of visitors...~my parents' pastor who has a great voice and sang for/with us...funny guy~my parents' friends, Kathy and Steve...Steve is the wonderful one who took care of my dad's chickens
~my in-laws....my mother-in-law sent over a breakfast casserole and muffins last week and is providing us with dinner tomorrow night
-catheter came out...all that's left is one IV
-started soft foods (eggs & cream of wheat for breakfast, salisbury steak & mashed potatoes for lunch with vanilla ice cream for dessert...she finally got her ice cream!)
-tried the stairs with the physical therapist and did well
-requested permission to have one of the chocolates Steve and Kathy brought...and scored...Mom was lovin' it! :-) She said, "I can have the coconut one...that's soft, right?"

It is still possible Mom can leave on Sunday. It's important for her to continue her breathing practice to prevent pneumonia...she'll work on that more later this evening since there wasn't as much time this morning.

We've been telling Mom some funny things she said as she was coming out of anesthesia..."is my nose still attached?", "I have no lungs", and on paper before her breathing tube was out, she wrote, "did I see a mouse?" :-)