A Very Brief Update

Not much new to report today. The first few days after chemo Susan’s pretty wiped.


She did, however, receive a bouquet of flower from her coworkers. It was very touching that they did that for her. It brightened up her day, and made her feel connected to her workplace and those she worked with.


Velma noted that Susan’s “tick arm” was smaller. Her fingers were more apparent and thinner than before. But they were more so when I got out of the shower later than evening to sit down to jot down the blog; her fingers seemed more pronounced. She can even move her arm better. I’m looking forward to see what it’ll look like tomorrow.


Tomorrow Susan’s expecting a call from Dr. Shree tomorrow about her sodium and potassium levels. Hopefully her fluid restrictions will be a thing of the past and she can chug down a whole glass of water if she wanted to. Pray that her levels are good.


Thank you everyone for all of your prayers and good thoughts. Please keep them up. They’re working.


Until tomorrow….

Ray

Chemo #4 and Some Really Great News

Susan about to board Doug's car, pumped and ready for her chemo. Go and get some, Susan!




It’s been March since I attended one of Susan’s chemos. The last time I went I was pushing Susan in a wheelchair trying to maneuver her in the elevators, around people and corners. This morning she strolled from the car to the doctor’s office using a walker. But once she was signed in, she got up with ease from her chair to the receptionist desk and back, into the examination room, and finally to the party room without it. I was amazed to see such a change in her in this setting.

The nurses took her blood for testing. I had no doubts whatsoever that today would be chemo day. Susan always has her doubts each time she goes, or at least, carries with her the possibility that it could be delayed. I didn’t have any doubts today. I could tell by the color of her face and her eyes that her numbers were right.

Sure enough, the nurse’s assistant read the numbers to us:

Her hemoglobin was 9.2. The last reading was 8.7.
Her platelets were at 198. The last reading was 139.
Her white blood cells were at 7.4. The last time she was tested she was 1.3.

Dr. Nguyen came into the room saying “Wow, did you see these numbers?”

Did you read that right? We got ourselves a “wow” from this very reserved oncologist. Not only a “wow” but a laugh of astonishment and a big smile from him that surprised even me. I’ve heard that he can smile. I’ve seen him grin when Susan cracked a joke. But a smile from him was like a blue ribbon for the finest tasting pecan pie – it was a reward duly earned after so much went into making it happen. I was amazed to see it myself. To say he was pleased with her results wouldn’t do the moment justice.

He patted me on the shoulder said laughingly and said, “she’s doing great.”

He proceeded to examine Susan and announced that that she wouldn’t need a blood transfusion tomorrow; which it was routine for Susan to go for chemos on Wednesdays and blood transfusions on Thursdays. Not this time. She’ll still need her mother to give her shots to keep her red and white blood cells, but extra pints of blood won’t be necessary.

He’s also changing her chemo to two different types. She’ll endure less of the negative side-effects and the medicines will focus on the cancer cells themselves, and not healthy ones. This is so promising. This is the chemo he’s been waiting to use, but was waiting for her white blood cells to be at the level they are now in order to that. In a couple of months he’ll consider giving her a pet scan. Now it wasn’t necessary since it was evident that Susan’s responding well to the treatment.

Upon leaving, he said in passing to us “she’s getting better and better every day.” Which surprised me; his comments paralleled Susan’s anthem of “I’m getting stronger and stronger every day.” I have no doubts in Susan’s commitment to beat this thing.


We proceeded to the party room and Susan received her chemo. She was in good spirits. She drank pomegranate and Fritos.

I stand beside Susan as she receives her chemo. If someone had offered me a donut my smile would have been wider. But no, nobody did. So this is all you get.

The nurses give Susan a thumbs up. They are great people. I hope the doctors give them raises soon. They deserve them.

After we returned, I went to work and Susan and her parents went to Le Madelaine for lunch. This was her first sit down meal at a restaurant. And in spite of the awkward stares and the encouraging smiles, Susan didn’t feel self-conscious about her appearance – and no reason that she should have. She’s beautiful and quite powerful.

Susan and Kay eating Le Madelaine's foo-foo grub.

I do have to admit, the restaurant's pastries do look good from here. I doubt anybody will bring me anything.

Here's Susan and Doug completely replete from a good meal. And look, Susan's bringing me a big bag of nothing.

All of this good news and Susan's apparent recovery goes to show you that your prayers and wishful thinking has the power to subdue the monster who is obviously failing to bring down Susan, and they have the power to make a reserved oncologist smile, too. Please keep it up.

Thank you all.

Ray

Please Keep Praying!

For those of you reading the blog this am, Sue is going in for her blood level check and chemotherapy treatment #4 tis morning at 9am. Can you please pray for her blood levels to be AMAZING and great and that they would be so good she wouldn't need any more blood transfusions? ALso that she would continue to have minimal side effects and her body would tolerate the chemo great!! Thanks so much for your love, care and support! I am praying that the Lord will work HIS miracle through her and take away her cancer and this chemo treatment would have a dramatic effect on her lymphedema as well. We will let you know later today the results when she's home from the Dr!! We appreciate your prayers and for checking on Sue!

Blessings to You!

Kaylee

A Monday Rush

Monday was a surprisingly busy day for Susan. It started with the arrival of Tim the vampire. Well, not really a vampire, but Home Health Care’s phlebotomist to draw blood today. His usual visits are on Tuesday’s, but he wasn’t going to be here tomorrow. And he really wanted to take Susan’s blood, get it on its way to the lab for tests so Susan will know if she’ll be off the potassium soon. The stuff is really nasty, and it’s hard to swallow even when it’s stirred with juice.


Shortly after that, Velma arrived for Susan’s physical therapy. She took one good look at Susan and was delighted with her “tick arm.” It’s been over a week since she’s seen Susan and her arm, and she was amazed to see that the swelling had gone down. Not only that, but there was more motion to it. She was able to lift it higher than before.


While Velma was working with Susan, Doug went to pick up Kay. Kay usually arrives around that time to assist Susan with her general needs. After physical therapy, Susan took a shower and went on a road trip with her parents. First stop, they dropped off Kay at her apartment, then the two of them – Susan and Doug – went to Home Depot. They took a side trip to Sonic and picked up “slushees.” They visited the grocery store for more supplies.


It was bound to happen. Susan sat on the coma couch and took a nap. There’s no escaping the drowsy powers of the coma couch. It was a busy two days for Susan. She had no way of resisting the powers of the couch.


On a side note, Doug continues to make the front patio a perpetual Garden of Eden for Susan. He jury-rigged a regular pot and made it into a hanging one for a fern when doubting voices told him it couldn’t be done. Let it be known from all around not to question the Master Gardener.


Doug with his handiwork. If the roof avalanches to the front patio, we'll know why. But so far so good - no avalanche.





Susan requests that people pray for her sodium and potassium levels to be where they need to be so that Dr. Shree can lift her fluid restrictions and she can stop taking that awful concoction. Also, Wednesday is chemo day. Pray that her numbers continue to climb so she can make Dr. Nguyen smile again.


Until next time, we’ll keep you updated with more details as they come.


Ray

An Excellent Sunday

Greetings to you all.


We had a very busy ad fun Sunday. It started with Mom and Koo-Koo coming over in the morning for a quick visit. They brought me a new fluffy towel and lotion – thank you for your thoughtfulness!

Mom and I at the front patio. I'm feeling good and I'm wearing the blouse that Kaylee bought me. I love it.




Then Mr. and Mrs. Martinez, Gloria and Jessica stopped by for an afternoon visit bearing gifts of a beautiful bouquet of cut flowers and two plants for our garden, plus two very thoughtful cards from Gloria and Jessica. It was so wonderful to see them and to spend time visiting. They always have great stories to tell and laughs to share. Thanks for making the drive to the city, for lunch, and the wonderful time together.

Ray with his family.

Mr. and Mrs. Martinez, Jessica, Gloria, and me. We had a great lunch together and a wonderful visit.

The remainder of the afternoon was spent outside on the swing admiring my dad’s handiwork in the garden; taking a stroll with Ray; and making some overdue phone calls. Koo-Koo and my mom stopped by to drop off Koo-Koo’s awesome taco salad, and hang out with us.

Ray cooked us a fabulous dinner. That guy can cook like nobody’s business. After dinner dad drove mom and I to the ice cream shop, and she treated us for a little after dinner treat.

Yum! Delicious ice cream. Thank you Mom for the ice cream. Thank you, Dad, for driving.

Overall it was a fabulous Sunday. I hope you all had great weekend and that you have a fabulous week.

As always I am always grateful for your prayers and your love and concern. They lift me higher than I can explain.

Lots of love to you all

Susan

P.S. A special hello to Natalie from Missouri. It was wonderful to receive your letter. I will be writing to you soon. Thank you for taking the time to contact me and share your story.

A Time For Gratefulness

This is not so much an update as it is a moment for a husband to give thanks where thanks are due. But those of you who want a hint as to how Susan’s doing, okay…here’s a quick tidbit and a reason why I feel there’s a need for gratitude.

Susan continues to grow stronger each day. She’s able to remain standing up longer than she could before. I hear you saying, “How is standing an indication that she’s getting stronger?” Well, I’ll tell you, you naysayers in three words: She couldn’t before. Again, it’s one of those things that we take for granted that we don’t know how difficult it can be when it’s a skill that becomes beyond our grasp due to illness or injury. So when you’re standing in the long line at the grocery store or the DMV, instead of grumbling and cursing under your breath, think of Susan who couldn’t. Now stand in wonder, literally, and realize to do something as effortless as standing longer is becoming an ability she’s now regaining.

Here’s something she told me this morning. Remember in past logs I said the primary reason why I bought the coma couch was so she could get up by herself and gain some independence? And she has. She’s able to rely less on Doug and me to situate her to sit upright or to fall asleep at night. The coma couch was a blessing. But that’s beside the point. Let me get back to what Susan said. What she told me was that she was in the front patio where the chaise lounge now resides; she sat on the chaise lounge, and she got herself off of it on her own. Did you get that? Are you reading this carefully? She lifted herself off the chaise lounge without assistance from Doug or me. How amazing is that when 2 to 3 weeks ago she couldn’t do that before, and I had to buy a piece of furniture so she could.

Another piece of evidence that Susan’s on the road to recovery begins with a nap, but not just any type of nap. A nap in OUR bed! She slept for a good half hour without feeling discomfort from her “tick arm.” She hadn’t been able to do that confidently since late January. She still can’t sleep in it for a full night, but she’s well on her way.

Which all of this brings me to the purpose of this entry. I am grateful.

I am grateful that I can look at Susan and see the color in her face all rosy and healthy. I grateful for the brightness in her eyes, and the beautiful smile she shines at me.

I am grateful for Dr. Nguyen whose skills and know-how is literally saving her life. She’s had three chemo treatments and she’s becoming stronger and stronger every day. There’s still 5 more ahead of her; but if 3 can bring this much improvement, I can only imagine what a full eight is going to do. Plus, keep in mind that with Susan’s fierce will to live and positive attitude, there’s no stopping her. She’s a force to be reckoned with and she’s still my hero.

And, yeah, I don’t want to forget Dr. Shree for improving her sodium levels. Saving Susan’s life was a team effort, and I can never forget about him. Many thanks to him.

I am grateful to Velma, Susan’s therapist. She has patiently and joyfully worked with improving Susan’s strength in her legs and her tick arm.

I am, without a doubt and without hesitation, grateful to Kay and Doug. Without them Susan and I would be at a loss. Kay has cared for Susan’s physical well being in ways that only a daughter can entrust to a mother and a former nurse. Doug’s presence has given me the reassurance that while I am away at work, he is home with Susan watching out for her and helping her around the home. I am so grateful for the two of them that I don’t have the words, other than thank you. Your company and your talents are priceless.

As for Susan’s sister Kari, I am grateful for her understanding, her willingness to help and jump in when needed. She has demonstrated profound compassion for her sister, and good conversation s. I know that if we ever need her more than what she already gives, I believe she is willing to give without hesitation.

And I won’t forget the one sister who has been a whirlwind of energy and generosity: Kaylee. I am grateful for her willing to be here at a moment’s notice, knowing that even when she’s thousands of miles away, she’s a phone call or an email away. And when she’s in our home she gives comfort like no other person that I know. Thank you, Kaylee, for all that you do for us. You’re an amazing person – in fact, you’re amazing like your husband Mike and your children – Alex and Ashlee. You’re all great people. I don’t call you Ministering Angels for nothing.

Of course, I don’t want to forget about all our friends: Deb, Kari Wells, Carol and Jerod, and Susan Inman for all that you do for Susan. You give her smiles and laughter, love and acts of generosity that I can’t even begin to count them all. I am grateful to you all.

And I won’t forget about all of you who prayed for Susan and offered her your heartfelt and beautiful words of encouragement. Everything that you people do makes Susan feel so much better. But more importantly, it makes her stronger. All that you people do for her benefit, please understand that along with the treatment from her doctors, you’re just as much a contributor to her health and well-being than you know.

Thank you everybody. I am grateful for all of you. And if I forgot anyone, please forgive me. There’s so many people to thank, I have yet to begin.

Thank God for all of you.

Ray

Your Prayers Are At Work!!!

Thanks so much for your specific prayers this week! Sue heard from Dr Shree about her sodium and potassium levels...and they were GREAT!! Sue was thrilled to be taken off her antibiotic today! Thank You! She will be kept one more week on her potassium supplement just to make sure all is well and her fluids will be restricted as well to see how she does. Sue is celebrating FREEDOM from the antibiotic that made her feel sick!! More good news!! Please keep on praying for her blood, sodium and potassium levels!

XOXO Kaylee