Well it's New Year's Eve and I can't think of anyplace I'd rather be. (LOL) Dana was here bright and early this morning, it's always nice to spend time with her. We don't see our kids nearly often enough and miss them like crazy when we're apart. Dr. Lee was here again today, my white count continues to drop as expected and I'm now being treated for a yeast infection in my mouth. That means another pill each day and two "swish & spits". You swish a liquid around in your mouth for about one minute, then spit it out. It heals and numbs. I woke up early and started watching a cooking show all about oatmeal. Did you know this is National Oatmeal Month? Well anyway, this show made me think about how good it would be to have oatmeal cookies, sooo I called my honey and she made me homemade oatmeal cookies before she came down today. It's late afternoon and right on cue I'm starting to get a fever, but other than that I really do feel pretty good today. I got to take a shower again, boy does that feel nice. My granddaughter Hailey woke up last night with croup, so Dana and Debby both had to wear masks, but at least they were still able to come. My sisters Mary and Carol were both here and they too were donning masks due to colds in their households. Tis the season. I got to see Hailey and Aiden on the web cam again today. Hailey and Nana made sugar cookies and Hailey decorated them and sent a special one just for me. I couldn't eat it cause Deb said it had extra ingrediants on it from Hailey's hands!!! LOL! They decided to give me platelets because my level was on the lowest parameter of what's good and what's not. They just hang another bag on Baxter and let it drip in. Oh yeah, Baxter! Do you remember the movie, "Castaway" where Tom Hanks found a Wilson ball on that island? Well, the name on my machine that meters out the medicine that drips into me is Baxter, and I named it so. Baxter sings to me every once in a while by beeping, which is alright during the day but annoying at night. So long for now!
IN HIS HANDS,
Ernie
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Dec 30
Those of you who couldn't get Dec 27 scroll down to bottom of the blog, it's there now. My chemo ended today about noon. YEAH!!! Dr. Lee said she still doesn't know the strain, but my white count is dropping and that's a good thing. It means the chemo's working, although we don't know to what degree yet. To combat the fevers and possible infection I am now receiving 3 different antibiotics daily. My sister Mary and Debby spent the day with me and Dana got here after Dave got back from riding my motorcycle (lucky!). They are going to start drawing blood twice a day now. My bilirubin (spelling?) counts were elevated, possibly indicating liver problems, but fortunately they came down to normal and they say it was just a side effect from the chemo. I usually eat most of my breakfast and lunch but just don't feel hungry by the time dinner comes. Debby keeps "encouraging" me to eat and even when I don't, she still brings me ice cream from the hospital cafeteria. I'ts funny because I know I'll be in the hospital for a while and then be recuperating but I have been thinking about things I need to do when I get home. No, not Debby's list, my list!!!
I'm thinking about tuning up my mountain bike, the last couple of times I used it on steep hills the chain kept binding. I'm thinking about golfing, I haven't been in over a year. Also going to the gym, I haven't gone much this year because of a back problem and when I cut my hand. Oh yeah, I didn't tell you about my hand! We were at Brian's in early Nov and as we always do, Brian, Chris and myself were out front playing catch with the football. I went to catch a ball that Brian had thrown and felt the ring finger on my right hand kindof jam. I shook it a couple of times, picked up the ball, and when I went to throw it back there was blood all over my hand. I had to go to the hospital and get 7 stitches to close it. The point of the ball had gone between my ring and middle finger and ripped my hand apart at the base of my ring finger. What a freak thing, no? I guess from now on the old guy will take throws from Chris! Well, at least until he gets a little more velocity! I would also like to be able to spend time with Deb. She is still my sweetheart, the love of my life and we are used to being together a lot, but its different in here, we're together but its just not the same. I've heard people say you don't know what you have until its gone, how true! This isn't meant to be depressing, I will be out there doing those things again! Someone wrote me the other day and told me that God was blessing me thru this. No, the leukemia isn't the blessing! The blessing has come in many forms. One is that I've begun playing my guitar again and leading praise and worship again, something I truly love to do!!! Ok, I'm only leading myself at this point, but its more than enough! (LOL!) Another is the prayer time I've had with God. Its been so good I can't stand it! I've gotten to see family I've haven't seen in quite a while. Its strengthened the bond that Deb and I have, although I didn't think that was possible. The fear in my children's hearts, although painful to see was suprisingly comforting, THEY DO LOVE ME!!! (LOL!) My heart weeps thinking that there are millions of people who have to go thru things like this without God. He has kept my spirit lifted so high I almost feel like I'm wrapped tightly in His arms. Oh, what a feeling!!! Thank you all so much for your prayers, please, please keep it up!!!
I'm thinking about tuning up my mountain bike, the last couple of times I used it on steep hills the chain kept binding. I'm thinking about golfing, I haven't been in over a year. Also going to the gym, I haven't gone much this year because of a back problem and when I cut my hand. Oh yeah, I didn't tell you about my hand! We were at Brian's in early Nov and as we always do, Brian, Chris and myself were out front playing catch with the football. I went to catch a ball that Brian had thrown and felt the ring finger on my right hand kindof jam. I shook it a couple of times, picked up the ball, and when I went to throw it back there was blood all over my hand. I had to go to the hospital and get 7 stitches to close it. The point of the ball had gone between my ring and middle finger and ripped my hand apart at the base of my ring finger. What a freak thing, no? I guess from now on the old guy will take throws from Chris! Well, at least until he gets a little more velocity! I would also like to be able to spend time with Deb. She is still my sweetheart, the love of my life and we are used to being together a lot, but its different in here, we're together but its just not the same. I've heard people say you don't know what you have until its gone, how true! This isn't meant to be depressing, I will be out there doing those things again! Someone wrote me the other day and told me that God was blessing me thru this. No, the leukemia isn't the blessing! The blessing has come in many forms. One is that I've begun playing my guitar again and leading praise and worship again, something I truly love to do!!! Ok, I'm only leading myself at this point, but its more than enough! (LOL!) Another is the prayer time I've had with God. Its been so good I can't stand it! I've gotten to see family I've haven't seen in quite a while. Its strengthened the bond that Deb and I have, although I didn't think that was possible. The fear in my children's hearts, although painful to see was suprisingly comforting, THEY DO LOVE ME!!! (LOL!) My heart weeps thinking that there are millions of people who have to go thru things like this without God. He has kept my spirit lifted so high I almost feel like I'm wrapped tightly in His arms. Oh, what a feeling!!! Thank you all so much for your prayers, please, please keep it up!!!
Friday, December 29, 2006
DEC 29
Day 7 of 7 on chemo!!! Mary got here at 7:30am and we are having a great visit. I feel pretty much normal today, much better than yesterday! They are giving me antibiotics every 8 hours for the fever and that's working well. Carol brought goodies for the nurses today. She stopped at Black Angus and got potato skins and wings for both shifts. I heard the nurse transfers into this ward have tripled since it happened! If my family keeps bribing the nurses they're liable to never let me go!!!
Since I've been here others have shared experiences that they have had with major illness, and it really helps to know that it's more common than we think. I hardly ever visit the hospital to check it out so I don't hear that way, and some people just don't like talking about it. Thank you for sharing with me, it helps tremendously!!!
Now I need to talk about the hospital!!! Uh, oh, Kaiser, right? I have had excellent care from everyone I've come into contact with, the doctors are not just informative but caring, the nurses and helpers are always friendly and very competent, even the food is good!!! Go figure!!!
Sometime in the afternoon I started getting a fever and chills again and that's uncomfortable but still not too bad. I had to get my dress (gown LOL!) and bed changed about midnight cause everything was soaking wet from sweating (yes, from SWEATING! LOL!). Dana couldn't hug me today because she had cold sores and that was really hard but necessary. She looked pretty cute in the mask tho!!!
I really feel sorry for Deb. She has a lot to do and still comes down every day. She has been supported tremendously by family and I want to thank every one of you for all you are doing! We can't make it without you!
The doctor told us that after today they will try to build my blood up with transfusions and that I'm probably going to give myself more injections of neupogen (spelling?) after 3 or 4 days. The transfusions build the red counts and the neupogen build the white. I don't know what builds the platelets, so if anyone knows please share. I think I'm getting to learn this stuff and then my mind goes blank! (I don't think that's the chemo, it's just being 54!) You diabetics that give yourselves injections I salute you!!! My grandpa had to have injections and it's just one of the many things you don't appreciate about people when you're a kid.
Some of you have had trouble leaving comments or going to my yahoo email so if that's the case you can easily email me at:
buf481@aol.com
I've remembered some things that I left out of certain days so let me digress a bit.
1) The reason we had blood tests taken in the first place was that I went to my dermatology appt. a week earlier and my doctor said my liver felt a bit enlarged so she wanted the tests done.
2) The first day I got to the hospital and had my Hickman catheter installed, Deb had left at about 10:00pm and I asked her to call me when she got home. I still hadn't heard from her at 11:30 when they took me and was worried and she had taken my cel phone and you can only make local calls from the room. When I got to the OR, Jeff the anesthesiologist started talking to me and being very nice. When he saw that I was upset he asked me why and I told him that I was worried about my wife. He told me that the hospital cut off all incoming calls to the rooms at 9pm so she wouldn't have gotten thru anyway. He asked me what her number was, took out his cel phone and called her for me. What a great comfort that was for me, thank you sooooo much, Jeff!!!!
I think I'll end for now but one of the things I've been worried about is the future. Not for me, I know for sure even if I die that I'll spend eternity in heaven with God, but its for others who haven't given their lives to God I am afraid! Someone gave me an example of eternity recently and it goes like this. Picture an ant and a ball of string 93 million miles long. Watch the ant in your mind travel to the beach and pick up one grain of sand. Now picture the ball of string stretched tight between the earth and the sun. The ant takes the grain up the string to the sun, comes back empty handed and repeats it with another grain of sand. (OK, you also have to picture that the sun won't burn the ant, etc. LOL!) When the ant gets finished taking every grain of sand on earth to the sun, eternity will have just begun. That's a long time to spend in a terrible place, but not so long in a good one, no?
Since I've been here others have shared experiences that they have had with major illness, and it really helps to know that it's more common than we think. I hardly ever visit the hospital to check it out so I don't hear that way, and some people just don't like talking about it. Thank you for sharing with me, it helps tremendously!!!
Now I need to talk about the hospital!!! Uh, oh, Kaiser, right? I have had excellent care from everyone I've come into contact with, the doctors are not just informative but caring, the nurses and helpers are always friendly and very competent, even the food is good!!! Go figure!!!
Sometime in the afternoon I started getting a fever and chills again and that's uncomfortable but still not too bad. I had to get my dress (gown LOL!) and bed changed about midnight cause everything was soaking wet from sweating (yes, from SWEATING! LOL!). Dana couldn't hug me today because she had cold sores and that was really hard but necessary. She looked pretty cute in the mask tho!!!
I really feel sorry for Deb. She has a lot to do and still comes down every day. She has been supported tremendously by family and I want to thank every one of you for all you are doing! We can't make it without you!
The doctor told us that after today they will try to build my blood up with transfusions and that I'm probably going to give myself more injections of neupogen (spelling?) after 3 or 4 days. The transfusions build the red counts and the neupogen build the white. I don't know what builds the platelets, so if anyone knows please share. I think I'm getting to learn this stuff and then my mind goes blank! (I don't think that's the chemo, it's just being 54!) You diabetics that give yourselves injections I salute you!!! My grandpa had to have injections and it's just one of the many things you don't appreciate about people when you're a kid.
Some of you have had trouble leaving comments or going to my yahoo email so if that's the case you can easily email me at:
buf481@aol.com
I've remembered some things that I left out of certain days so let me digress a bit.
1) The reason we had blood tests taken in the first place was that I went to my dermatology appt. a week earlier and my doctor said my liver felt a bit enlarged so she wanted the tests done.
2) The first day I got to the hospital and had my Hickman catheter installed, Deb had left at about 10:00pm and I asked her to call me when she got home. I still hadn't heard from her at 11:30 when they took me and was worried and she had taken my cel phone and you can only make local calls from the room. When I got to the OR, Jeff the anesthesiologist started talking to me and being very nice. When he saw that I was upset he asked me why and I told him that I was worried about my wife. He told me that the hospital cut off all incoming calls to the rooms at 9pm so she wouldn't have gotten thru anyway. He asked me what her number was, took out his cel phone and called her for me. What a great comfort that was for me, thank you sooooo much, Jeff!!!!
I think I'll end for now but one of the things I've been worried about is the future. Not for me, I know for sure even if I die that I'll spend eternity in heaven with God, but its for others who haven't given their lives to God I am afraid! Someone gave me an example of eternity recently and it goes like this. Picture an ant and a ball of string 93 million miles long. Watch the ant in your mind travel to the beach and pick up one grain of sand. Now picture the ball of string stretched tight between the earth and the sun. The ant takes the grain up the string to the sun, comes back empty handed and repeats it with another grain of sand. (OK, you also have to picture that the sun won't burn the ant, etc. LOL!) When the ant gets finished taking every grain of sand on earth to the sun, eternity will have just begun. That's a long time to spend in a terrible place, but not so long in a good one, no?
Thursday, December 28, 2006
DEC 28
Day 6 of 7 on chemo. I slept really well last night, even with all the interuptions. I had a shower and then the usual routine of chemo. Debby, Dana and Sue got here around 11 a.m. My fever spiked for the first time today, it got to 101.4. It started with the chills around 3 p.m. but by 7 I was feeling a little better. My nurse called the doctor and they decided to start me on an antibiotic and of course draw more blood. It's so frustrating with all the IV fluids and the amount of water they want me to drink as soon as I get comfortable I have to go to the bathroom. Carol came by on her way to the airport to meet my sister Mary who gets here today from Boston. Brian called today (just like every day) and we talked for a while. My son-in-law Dave set up web cams so I got to see and talk to Hailey on the computer. He also set up the blog. I got an email from a friend who shared with me Joshua 1:9 where God told Joshua to be "strong and courageous". It was a great encouragement for me knowing that even Joshua needed to be encouraged. Sometimes in our lives we must do things that we really don't want to do, but it's comforting knowing that God uses everything for the good of those who love Him. Most of the times that I've felt the closest to God was right after I did something for Him that I didn't want to do. There is a saying that Satan puts his biggest road blocks in front of God's greatest triumphs and it's been true in my life. The neat thing about it is this; I didn't even have to work at getting thru the road block, God did all that, I just had to keep putting one foot in front of the other for God. Pretty cool, huh?
GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME!
ALL THE TIME, GOD IS GOOD!
GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME!
ALL THE TIME, GOD IS GOOD!
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Dec 27
Ernie’s Journey
THIS IS A JOURNAL OF ERNIE BRADY WHILE GOING THRU TREATMENT OF AML (Acute Mylegenous Leukemia)
I AM UNABLE TO HAVE VISITORS AT THIS TIME DUE TO THE LOW BLOOD COUNTS SO ANY CORRESPONDENCE CAN BE THRU THIS BLOG OR THE INCLUDED EMAIL SITE. I WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BUT MIGHT NOT GET BACK TO YOU RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE I WILL BE FEELING DIFFERENTLY ON DIFFERENT DAYS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE!!!
Dec 15- A Panorama City Kaiser doctor called about 9:30 PM and said that I needed to get to an urgent care as soon as possible in the morning for another blood sample. He said that all my blood counts were low. I didn’t get too worried, not much was known.
Dec. 16- Got to Kaiser Lancaster at 7am and went to the lab but the doctor hadn’t put the order in the computer so we had to go to urgent care. We waited at urgent care a couple of hours and then the nurse sped things up for us and ordered the blood test and got us an appointment with Dr Lee. We then went to the lab and continued on to our appointment with Dr. Lee. He read the test but called the hemotolgist Dr Medina to confer and said they would be in touch with us but we had to go to the pharmacy to pick up some neupogen for building my white counts up. This is a shot you have to give yourself so I did for 3 days. It was 2pm by the time we got home. It was a long tedious day and although we didn’t get any definite diagnosis, we were both a little worried. It is a great assurance to know that when I pass from this life I will definitely be in heaven (1 John 5:13), but the thought of missing out on parts of my childrens lives and of not getting to see my grandkids grow up saddens me. God's promises are pretty cool though, and I will be together some day with all of my family and friends who have given their lives to God. He just might have some work left for me here on earth!"I LIFT UP MY EYES TO THE HILLS, WHERE DOES MY HELP COME FROM? MY HELP COMES FROM THE LORD, THE MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH"
Dec19- I saw my primary care doctor, Dr Jain and she had me go to the lab again for more testing, and made an appointment for the following day for the bone marrow test and biopsy. This didn’t sound good!
Dec 20- Went to K aiser Lancaster for the bone marrow test with Dr. Girey. I had heard that this test hurts very much but my doctor did a great job and the only pain I felt was from the initial needle stick from the local anesthetic. I’m going to ask that he do all my marrow tests!!! Still not sure what’s going on.
Dec 21- Went to Kaiser Pan City for a spleen/liver test. This test wasn’t bad, they injected me with 2 different liquids about 15 minutes apart and then about 15 minutes later they took several different angles of my liver and spleen. Got home at 10:30am and called Dr. Medina (per instructions from Dr. Girey) and Dr. Medina told me I had Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) and that they were trying to get me a bed at Kaiser PC. Although we were worried and knew that this had been possible, I was still shocked when they told me this. Debby and I both cried. They called back about an hour later and said they had a bed for me and I was to go to Kaiser PC immediately. Got to Kaiser and was put in a bed pretty much immediately. They started an IV and gave me some meds. We were told that I had to go to surgery to have a catheter installed but they couldn’t do it within 8 hours of eating and I had just eaten at noon, so that meant they couldn’t do it until 8pm at the earliest. We sat/laid around until Deb had to go home. They took me to surgery at 11:30pm to install a Hickman catheter and got back to bed about 12:40. I told the nurse that I was thirsty and hungry so she said if I could wait til 1am they were having a potluck and she would get me some real food! It was real and it was really good!!! Went to sleep as soon as I was done eating. They also drew blood for testing It was a full day but anytime I tried to speak with someone about my condition, it was very tough so I just had Deb do it."YOUR WORD IS A LAMP TO MY FEET, AND A LIGHT FOR MY PATH"
Dec 22- They moved me to the 6th floor where they do the Chemo therapy, gave me a transfusion and put me on anti-nausea (compazine) meds. Drew blood for testing and put me on a low-microbial diet, which means I can’t have any fresh fruit or vegetables that might have bacteria on it.
Dec 23- They came in about 9am and began giving me pre-meds that are necessary to begin the Chemo. (Adavan for anxiety/ Something for nausea/ A steroid/ All intravenously) This took about 20 minutes and then they began Chemo. First they pushed about 2 inches of Daunorubicin thru a syringe about the roundness of a dime. This took about 10 minutes and didn’t hurt. The other Chemo (Cytosine Arabinoside) was hung by the IV and was to continuously drip 24 hours a day for 7 days. This didn’t hurt either. My son Brian and his family got here about 4pm and it was really good to see them!
Dec 24- We repeated the Chemo session exactly like the day before. Debby and Brian came down early and Deb left for the airport to pick up my daughter Dana and her family. It was really good to see them too! Brian and Dave went to IN and OUT for burgers. The nurse had to nuke mine for 30 seconds to make sure the grilled onions were completely cooked but it still tasted pretty good! I had really been anxious about what Chemo would be like but so far it hasn’t been bad at all.
Dec 25- I called the house about 5am and Deb and Dana were up getting things ready for everyone to open presents. They called back when they were ready and put the speaker phone on so I could hear everyone opening gifts and talk to them all. This was pretty hard cause I missed them all very much! The doctor came in and said that my lowest point would be 7 days after the final day of Chemo, which will be Jan 5th. They have given me a lot of literature and booklets on Leukemia, Chemo, catheters, etc and have been telling me what to expect. Some symptoms might be nausea/ high fevers/ sores in mouth and throat/ infection/ swelling, etc. These are all maybes because everyone reacts differently to Chemo. They said my hair will definitely fall out so all my do-rags will really come in handy! (LOL) Deb is spending the night and I’m happy about that!!!
Dec 26- Deb did spend the night and helped me get a great night’s sleep! (Hope she did!) We just hung around until they were getting ready to give me my pre-meds before Chemo. Faye (nurse) disconnected me from my tubes and taped plastic over the spots where they went into my body to prepare for a shower. Debby then cut my hair (not shaved yet!!!) and I took a shower, which felt really good! Deb is finding out how to get any stress time off to care for me. I’ll be having two more transfusions today and am moving to another room. Aunt Sue is coming today.
Dec 27- Got Chemo again. Mike called when I was having a really bad time and prayed for me quite a while. Thanks, Mike, it really helped!!! Dave and Dana came down in the morning and Deb & Sue came later. I never know when I'll have a tough moment so if I'm on the phone with anyone and don't speak for a while I'm not ignoring you, I just can't speak right then. My appetite is not what it used to be but I still try to eat everything so I can keep up my strength. My family has been incredible in keeping me encouraged and strong. Thank you guys!!!Feelings of regret for times in my life when I hurt others or let others down are getting stronger and deeper. Its so true that you can't take those times back, so you young ones, "DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME!!!" I rest on the fact that God has forgiven me but Satan can remind you of those times and make it tough on you."I CAN DO ALL THINGS IN CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME"
THIS IS A JOURNAL OF ERNIE BRADY WHILE GOING THRU TREATMENT OF AML (Acute Mylegenous Leukemia)
I AM UNABLE TO HAVE VISITORS AT THIS TIME DUE TO THE LOW BLOOD COUNTS SO ANY CORRESPONDENCE CAN BE THRU THIS BLOG OR THE INCLUDED EMAIL SITE. I WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BUT MIGHT NOT GET BACK TO YOU RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE I WILL BE FEELING DIFFERENTLY ON DIFFERENT DAYS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE!!!
Dec 15- A Panorama City Kaiser doctor called about 9:30 PM and said that I needed to get to an urgent care as soon as possible in the morning for another blood sample. He said that all my blood counts were low. I didn’t get too worried, not much was known.
Dec. 16- Got to Kaiser Lancaster at 7am and went to the lab but the doctor hadn’t put the order in the computer so we had to go to urgent care. We waited at urgent care a couple of hours and then the nurse sped things up for us and ordered the blood test and got us an appointment with Dr Lee. We then went to the lab and continued on to our appointment with Dr. Lee. He read the test but called the hemotolgist Dr Medina to confer and said they would be in touch with us but we had to go to the pharmacy to pick up some neupogen for building my white counts up. This is a shot you have to give yourself so I did for 3 days. It was 2pm by the time we got home. It was a long tedious day and although we didn’t get any definite diagnosis, we were both a little worried. It is a great assurance to know that when I pass from this life I will definitely be in heaven (1 John 5:13), but the thought of missing out on parts of my childrens lives and of not getting to see my grandkids grow up saddens me. God's promises are pretty cool though, and I will be together some day with all of my family and friends who have given their lives to God. He just might have some work left for me here on earth!"I LIFT UP MY EYES TO THE HILLS, WHERE DOES MY HELP COME FROM? MY HELP COMES FROM THE LORD, THE MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH"
Dec19- I saw my primary care doctor, Dr Jain and she had me go to the lab again for more testing, and made an appointment for the following day for the bone marrow test and biopsy. This didn’t sound good!
Dec 20- Went to K aiser Lancaster for the bone marrow test with Dr. Girey. I had heard that this test hurts very much but my doctor did a great job and the only pain I felt was from the initial needle stick from the local anesthetic. I’m going to ask that he do all my marrow tests!!! Still not sure what’s going on.
Dec 21- Went to Kaiser Pan City for a spleen/liver test. This test wasn’t bad, they injected me with 2 different liquids about 15 minutes apart and then about 15 minutes later they took several different angles of my liver and spleen. Got home at 10:30am and called Dr. Medina (per instructions from Dr. Girey) and Dr. Medina told me I had Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) and that they were trying to get me a bed at Kaiser PC. Although we were worried and knew that this had been possible, I was still shocked when they told me this. Debby and I both cried. They called back about an hour later and said they had a bed for me and I was to go to Kaiser PC immediately. Got to Kaiser and was put in a bed pretty much immediately. They started an IV and gave me some meds. We were told that I had to go to surgery to have a catheter installed but they couldn’t do it within 8 hours of eating and I had just eaten at noon, so that meant they couldn’t do it until 8pm at the earliest. We sat/laid around until Deb had to go home. They took me to surgery at 11:30pm to install a Hickman catheter and got back to bed about 12:40. I told the nurse that I was thirsty and hungry so she said if I could wait til 1am they were having a potluck and she would get me some real food! It was real and it was really good!!! Went to sleep as soon as I was done eating. They also drew blood for testing It was a full day but anytime I tried to speak with someone about my condition, it was very tough so I just had Deb do it."YOUR WORD IS A LAMP TO MY FEET, AND A LIGHT FOR MY PATH"
Dec 22- They moved me to the 6th floor where they do the Chemo therapy, gave me a transfusion and put me on anti-nausea (compazine) meds. Drew blood for testing and put me on a low-microbial diet, which means I can’t have any fresh fruit or vegetables that might have bacteria on it.
Dec 23- They came in about 9am and began giving me pre-meds that are necessary to begin the Chemo. (Adavan for anxiety/ Something for nausea/ A steroid/ All intravenously) This took about 20 minutes and then they began Chemo. First they pushed about 2 inches of Daunorubicin thru a syringe about the roundness of a dime. This took about 10 minutes and didn’t hurt. The other Chemo (Cytosine Arabinoside) was hung by the IV and was to continuously drip 24 hours a day for 7 days. This didn’t hurt either. My son Brian and his family got here about 4pm and it was really good to see them!
Dec 24- We repeated the Chemo session exactly like the day before. Debby and Brian came down early and Deb left for the airport to pick up my daughter Dana and her family. It was really good to see them too! Brian and Dave went to IN and OUT for burgers. The nurse had to nuke mine for 30 seconds to make sure the grilled onions were completely cooked but it still tasted pretty good! I had really been anxious about what Chemo would be like but so far it hasn’t been bad at all.
Dec 25- I called the house about 5am and Deb and Dana were up getting things ready for everyone to open presents. They called back when they were ready and put the speaker phone on so I could hear everyone opening gifts and talk to them all. This was pretty hard cause I missed them all very much! The doctor came in and said that my lowest point would be 7 days after the final day of Chemo, which will be Jan 5th. They have given me a lot of literature and booklets on Leukemia, Chemo, catheters, etc and have been telling me what to expect. Some symptoms might be nausea/ high fevers/ sores in mouth and throat/ infection/ swelling, etc. These are all maybes because everyone reacts differently to Chemo. They said my hair will definitely fall out so all my do-rags will really come in handy! (LOL) Deb is spending the night and I’m happy about that!!!
Dec 26- Deb did spend the night and helped me get a great night’s sleep! (Hope she did!) We just hung around until they were getting ready to give me my pre-meds before Chemo. Faye (nurse) disconnected me from my tubes and taped plastic over the spots where they went into my body to prepare for a shower. Debby then cut my hair (not shaved yet!!!) and I took a shower, which felt really good! Deb is finding out how to get any stress time off to care for me. I’ll be having two more transfusions today and am moving to another room. Aunt Sue is coming today.
Dec 27- Got Chemo again. Mike called when I was having a really bad time and prayed for me quite a while. Thanks, Mike, it really helped!!! Dave and Dana came down in the morning and Deb & Sue came later. I never know when I'll have a tough moment so if I'm on the phone with anyone and don't speak for a while I'm not ignoring you, I just can't speak right then. My appetite is not what it used to be but I still try to eat everything so I can keep up my strength. My family has been incredible in keeping me encouraged and strong. Thank you guys!!!Feelings of regret for times in my life when I hurt others or let others down are getting stronger and deeper. Its so true that you can't take those times back, so you young ones, "DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME!!!" I rest on the fact that God has forgiven me but Satan can remind you of those times and make it tough on you."I CAN DO ALL THINGS IN CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME"
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