I have to brag on my mom! Yesterday marked one week since she had been discharged from the hospital. It also marked a follow up visit with the oncologist.
One week ago, mom was essentially helpless. Daddy had to help lift her to a standing position and then support her as she walked.
Not so anymore. Mom easily stood and walked to the car. Daddy held her hand, but it was more for moral support than physical support. She had little problem getting in the car, just needing a couple of pillows to make everything just so.
One week ago, mom couldn't get comfortable at night. She couldn't sleep in her bed, Mamo's bed or the chair.
Not so anymore. Mom has spent the last few nights, sleeping through the night in her bed.
One week ago, mom's breathing was still pretty shallow and it would hurt to take deep breaths. She would actually hyperventilate when she stood up just trying to take in air.
Not so anymore. When the doctor took out his stethescope and asked her to take a deep breath, she did!
And most importantly, one week ago mom's protein level (the bad stuff) was 5.7 and she was anemic.
Not so anymore. Her protein levels are now 4.4 and she didn't even need her anemia injection since her blood volume had risen.
I can't wait to see what things are like next week!
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Home Sweet Home
Mom is home again.
Dad called yesterday afternoon and let me know they were on their way home. I packed up the boys and headed out to meet them at the house. When we pulled into the neighborhood, Dad's car was just up ahead driving very slowly. I figured that each bump and turn must have been hurting mom. It's a good thing Dad doesn't drive a pickup or a jeep.
Anyway, we got her in the house and in her chair. As soon as we figured out the right combination of pillows, she was fairly comfortable. In fact, as she sat rocking in her chair, smiling, and even laughing a little, it was very easy to see how much improvement has taken place since she last left the house... and a little harder to see that she had been so sick.
She probably didn't walk more than 10 steps the whole time she was in the hospital, but Dad is reporting that she has probably walked half a mile at home so far. (and most of that was during the night). Apparently, she had a hard time getting comfortable, and switched from her bed, to her chair, and even tried out Mamo's bed. (Mamo is my grandmother who is staying with Mom's sister, Brenda, during this time.)
Speaking of Mom's sisters, I realize I haven't written much about some the people who are so much a part of this story.
Of course we have our heroine, our damsel in distress, if you will. That would be Mom. Then of course, the leading man, the Knight in Shining Armour, as played by my Dad. More on him later...
But I would be absolutely remiss if I didn't mention the wonderful Supporting Cast we've had. And when I say support, I do mean support.
As soon as my mom was diagnosed, her sister, Joyce, wasted no time in traveling from her home in Texas to take care of any need Mom and Dad might have. Joyce is a veteran in the fight against cancer... having fought for her husband just a couple of years ago. I believe they won that battle, since Charles is now in Heaven, completely whole and cancer free... and even sending Joyce little signs of how he is still watching out for her and taking care of her.
My dad has said many times over the past few days that he didn't know what they would have done without Joyce there.
When my mom went into the hospital, her other sister, Brenda and my grandmother, came all the way from California. Brenda dove right in, spending several nights up at the hospital, helping Dad help Mom. In fact, at one point, while I was helping Mom, she told me she would rather have Brenda help her. So I immediately got Brenda who was in the hallway. Of course, I understand why Mom said that. I think to her, I am still a little girl. She is still the Mom. It's her job to take care of me.. and I'm not thinking she's ready to surrender that role.
Of course, Mamo was a trooper as well. I'm sure being at the hospital all day each day was hard on her, but she is, after all, still the mom too, and that was her baby hurting in that bed.
Joyce, Brenda and Mamo all had to head back home a few days ago. They had jobs and family that missed them... and we all hated to see them go. I'm thrilled for my mom that she has improved to the point that they were comfortable enough to head back home.. but we will miss them and all their help. I know they are only a phone call away from heading back here should we need anything.
As for now, Mom and Dad have the MMMM Brigade (and their families), ready to wait on them hand and foot. (MMMM brigade = Mark, Mike, Melanie (me) and Megan. Throw in some of their Sunday School and High School class mates and you find the the Lord has many hands down here helping Him help Mom.
Dad called yesterday afternoon and let me know they were on their way home. I packed up the boys and headed out to meet them at the house. When we pulled into the neighborhood, Dad's car was just up ahead driving very slowly. I figured that each bump and turn must have been hurting mom. It's a good thing Dad doesn't drive a pickup or a jeep.
Anyway, we got her in the house and in her chair. As soon as we figured out the right combination of pillows, she was fairly comfortable. In fact, as she sat rocking in her chair, smiling, and even laughing a little, it was very easy to see how much improvement has taken place since she last left the house... and a little harder to see that she had been so sick.
She probably didn't walk more than 10 steps the whole time she was in the hospital, but Dad is reporting that she has probably walked half a mile at home so far. (and most of that was during the night). Apparently, she had a hard time getting comfortable, and switched from her bed, to her chair, and even tried out Mamo's bed. (Mamo is my grandmother who is staying with Mom's sister, Brenda, during this time.)
Speaking of Mom's sisters, I realize I haven't written much about some the people who are so much a part of this story.
Of course we have our heroine, our damsel in distress, if you will. That would be Mom. Then of course, the leading man, the Knight in Shining Armour, as played by my Dad. More on him later...
But I would be absolutely remiss if I didn't mention the wonderful Supporting Cast we've had. And when I say support, I do mean support.
As soon as my mom was diagnosed, her sister, Joyce, wasted no time in traveling from her home in Texas to take care of any need Mom and Dad might have. Joyce is a veteran in the fight against cancer... having fought for her husband just a couple of years ago. I believe they won that battle, since Charles is now in Heaven, completely whole and cancer free... and even sending Joyce little signs of how he is still watching out for her and taking care of her.
My dad has said many times over the past few days that he didn't know what they would have done without Joyce there.
When my mom went into the hospital, her other sister, Brenda and my grandmother, came all the way from California. Brenda dove right in, spending several nights up at the hospital, helping Dad help Mom. In fact, at one point, while I was helping Mom, she told me she would rather have Brenda help her. So I immediately got Brenda who was in the hallway. Of course, I understand why Mom said that. I think to her, I am still a little girl. She is still the Mom. It's her job to take care of me.. and I'm not thinking she's ready to surrender that role.
Of course, Mamo was a trooper as well. I'm sure being at the hospital all day each day was hard on her, but she is, after all, still the mom too, and that was her baby hurting in that bed.
Joyce, Brenda and Mamo all had to head back home a few days ago. They had jobs and family that missed them... and we all hated to see them go. I'm thrilled for my mom that she has improved to the point that they were comfortable enough to head back home.. but we will miss them and all their help. I know they are only a phone call away from heading back here should we need anything.
As for now, Mom and Dad have the MMMM Brigade (and their families), ready to wait on them hand and foot. (MMMM brigade = Mark, Mike, Melanie (me) and Megan. Throw in some of their Sunday School and High School class mates and you find the the Lord has many hands down here helping Him help Mom.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
It's about time for an update
I'm so sorry I haven't updated in a few days. Let me see if I can't catch everyone up...
For a while Mom was really stuck in a catch-22. She really needed to do physical therapy to feel better, yet she didn't feel well enough to do the physical therapy. Bless her heart, I think in her mind physical therapy involved jumping jacks and sit ups.... maybe a push up or two. The mere thought of it was just too much and she ended up turning the therapists away every time they came in.
Then came the cheerleading. Everyone who visited her gave her a pep talk on the importance of physical therapy.. I'm sure it annoyed her to no end, but she listened and finally had her first session with the physical therapist yesterday. The therapist was very understanding of her fears because his father is in a similar situation. He had Mom walk across the room.. (about 5 or 6 steps, as her IV tubing would allow) and back to her bed. She did great. She even sat down on the bed by herself.
You can't imagine how proud everyone is of her... because she did this even though she is still in a great deal of pain. I might add that she did her therapy even though she had endured one of those tortuous x-ray sessions that same morning.
And as if that wasn't wonderful enough news, it appears Mom might be able to come home tomorrow. That is the plan. I'm hoping when she gets home and gets back into familiar surroundings, she will start to amble around her kitchen and even head to the back porch to watch the hummingbirds feed. Soon she will be back on top and in fighting mode!
For a while Mom was really stuck in a catch-22. She really needed to do physical therapy to feel better, yet she didn't feel well enough to do the physical therapy. Bless her heart, I think in her mind physical therapy involved jumping jacks and sit ups.... maybe a push up or two. The mere thought of it was just too much and she ended up turning the therapists away every time they came in.
Then came the cheerleading. Everyone who visited her gave her a pep talk on the importance of physical therapy.. I'm sure it annoyed her to no end, but she listened and finally had her first session with the physical therapist yesterday. The therapist was very understanding of her fears because his father is in a similar situation. He had Mom walk across the room.. (about 5 or 6 steps, as her IV tubing would allow) and back to her bed. She did great. She even sat down on the bed by herself.
You can't imagine how proud everyone is of her... because she did this even though she is still in a great deal of pain. I might add that she did her therapy even though she had endured one of those tortuous x-ray sessions that same morning.
And as if that wasn't wonderful enough news, it appears Mom might be able to come home tomorrow. That is the plan. I'm hoping when she gets home and gets back into familiar surroundings, she will start to amble around her kitchen and even head to the back porch to watch the hummingbirds feed. Soon she will be back on top and in fighting mode!
Friday, August 3, 2007
Yesterday
Yesterday was not such a great day for Mom. She got sick in the night and continued to battle side effects of her medication throughout the day yesterday. I don't think it's the chemotherapy making her sick, but rather all her medications together and their impact on her digestive system.
I spoke with Dad this morning and he says she is much better this morning. Although there is not much difference in her pain level, her tummy is much better.
She gets another dose of chemo today with a side order of steroids. We are looking forward to these 'roids decreasing her pain and increasing her appetite.
I spoke with Dad this morning and he says she is much better this morning. Although there is not much difference in her pain level, her tummy is much better.
She gets another dose of chemo today with a side order of steroids. We are looking forward to these 'roids decreasing her pain and increasing her appetite.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
The Results are In...
We got the results of Mom's tortuous CAT Scan and X-rays today. The good news is there are no broken bones, and there doesn't seem to be any more damage from the myeloma. There is, however, some arthritis like activity happening in in her neck and shoulders. They are planning on giving her some steroids when she gets her third dose of chemo on Friday. We are praying that it gives her some relief.
Also, we learned that the proteins in her blood that are caused by the myeloma are decreasing. This is great news. It tells us that with just two doses of chemo, the myeloma cells are being killed off. They just don't stand a chance against our weapons of warfare... Prayer and Medicine.
Tomorrow she will have a little physical therapy. I'm not sure how much she is looking forward to that but she is a trooper and I'm very proud of her.
Also, we learned that the proteins in her blood that are caused by the myeloma are decreasing. This is great news. It tells us that with just two doses of chemo, the myeloma cells are being killed off. They just don't stand a chance against our weapons of warfare... Prayer and Medicine.
Tomorrow she will have a little physical therapy. I'm not sure how much she is looking forward to that but she is a trooper and I'm very proud of her.
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