MM stands for Moving Mountains

Mom is healed and with the Healer

2011-12-18T08:43:00.000-08:00

I write this with a heart broken into a million pieces, yet each of those pieces rejoice that my precious momma is no longer suffering. She has won the ultimate battle with cancer. It can't touch her anymore.

Mom passed so peacefully, in her home surrounded by her adoring family. Honestly, surrounded. You always hear that, but I never imagined it. Daddy was next to her, and the rest of us stood around her bed. She held on until her sister arrived from California and when Brenda arrived at 8:22 pm Friday evening, she opened her eyes for the first time that day, looked around at her family and took her last sweet breath.

She sat at the banks of the River Jordan dipping her feet in. And in this life, she was scared of the water, but at 8:22pm she know longer knew fear. She dove in, and crossed the River to the other side and she is free and experiencing love and radiance I can't imagine.

She is still with me. My son, Cody said that she will always be with us, because no one in that room that night would be who they were if not for her and her love.

But she is face to face with her Healer. And that brings me joy!

Please pray for my dad. He adores her and she was his life and he has to begin a new chapter. I have no doubt that God has amazing plans for him and is going to use him greatly. There is still work for him to do and I can't wait to see what that is.

There is more to write here, but my heart is still searching for words.

Anniversary

2011-11-14T06:48:00.000-08:00

Today Mom and Dad will celebrate their anniversary in the doctor's office, as Mom receives chemotherapy.

I realize I have not updated lately, and I have no excuse, other than wanting to write wonderful news and waiting until we had some.

Unfortunately, the world doesn't seem to want to give us wonderful news.

We have been told that this tumor is inoperable because it exists in both lobes of the liver.

We have been told that Mom is not a candidate for a liver transplant.

And we have been told that without these options cure is uncommon.

So now, we treat. We treat with a chemotherapy that mom started last week. It was promising at first. The afternoon after receiving her first dose, she felt fine. The next day, she even thought she felt better than fine. Then on the third day she felt awful. By the 5th day, the tummy troubles were gone, but the weakness remained. And today she starts all over again.

She had a little complication this week that is common when you have a sick liver. Her abdomen filled with fluid which had to be drained. The doctor mentioned that this would make her weak, and she was already dealing with weakness from chemo, so we are praying that her weakness will not be as severe this time. I am also hoping that now that the doctor's know how she is reacting to the chemo, they can adjust the medications they give her to counter the side effects.

I hate this. I have to fight the urge to yell at God about fairness. She's been hit once before with this.. So had Daddy. Why a third cancer!?

And you know, God is just fine with my grumblings about His fairness doctrine.. because He always has an answer for me. He reminds me in his oh so gentle way that what is fair to Him is something I won't be able to comprehend until I'm sitting face to face, basking in His glory. I will ask Him why, and only then will I be able to understand. (Between you and me, I will probably follow up with a question about the duck billed platypus and what WAS He thinking there... but that question doesn't seem as weighty right now.)

Joni Eareckson Tada, who was paralyzed in a diving accident said this.. "God sometimes permits what He hates, to accomplish what He loves."

In the Bible, God permitted Joseph to be sold into slavery by his very own brothers, to be thrown into prison by the false accusations of powerful woman, and ultimately to be promoted to second in command of Egypt, where he was able to save nations!

In the same way, I believe that what has been permitted in my Mom's life, will serve a greater purpose. And we are seeing hints of that...

Mom and Dad have touched many people as they travel this road. The Bible says that God is with the brokenhearted and God is certainly with Mom and Dad. So much that it is noticeable. It is palpable. Doctors comment on it. Nurses comment on it. People commit to working on making their marriage stronger after spending minutes with my Mom and Dad. Cold hearts melt, and tears fall and people see God after visiting with Mom and Dad. They are changing lives as they are being used by God.

No, the world doesn't have much wonderful news to offer right now, BUT God can turn things around. He can contradict what the world says. He is Wonderful News.

In the Gospels, Jairus had heard of Jesus and had come to Him seeking healing for his daughter who was at home dying. I can only imagine his desperation as he forced his way through the crowd to reach Jesus. I can imagine his excitement as Jesus heard him and agreed and return home with him. And I can also sense his disappointment as Jesus stopped because someone had touched the hem of His garment. Can you see Jairus trying to hurry Jesus along as He is ministering to the woman with the issue of blood? He had the Master in his grasp.. he was heading to his daughter and now they were stopped. This isn't fair.. Jairus had him first. How does one respectfully tell Jesus to hurry! And then suddenly, all hope was lost. Members of his household came to him and told him it was too late. Leave the Teacher alone. The world had just give Jairus the worst news of all.

BUT, Jesus overhead all this and His news contradicted all that the world was offering to Jairus.

Luke 8:50

...Don't be afraid, just believe. She will be healed.

And she was...

Home Sweet Home

2011-10-15T04:57:00.000-07:00

The wonderful news is mom is back home right now. She is sleeping in her own bed and eating actual food!

The other news is that tests confirmed our battle is indeed against Cholangiocarcinoma. This is a rare cancer, affecting only 2 in 100,000, that begins in the bile duct.

We are still in wait mode as far as coming up with a plan of attack. While the surgeon here in Tulsa does not think surgery is an option, there is another surgeon in OKC that specializes in these types of surgeries and mom's oncologist has referred her to him.

After that appointment we will know more.

Mom is feeling well, aside from the pain in her side. She still has two tubes draining her liver and gall bladder and apparently having tubes going through your side and into two different internal organs can cause some discomfort. Who knew?

The immediate prayer at this time (besides a complete healing causing the doctors to be baffled and bewildered because what was once there is now gone) is for the surgeon in OKC to be able to remove it surgically.

We appreciate your prayers, that are literally coming from all over the world, and we can feel them.

I'll let you know when the appointment is in OKC so you can be praying then as well!

In which we wait....

2011-10-10T19:03:00.000-07:00

We were really hoping to have some news on the biopsy today. But alas, the doctors are still studying it. They want to be thorough. They want to get it right, and we appreciate that.. but waiting is hard.

We are waiting to find out if the cancer started in the gall bladder or the liver.

We are waiting to find out if it is truly inoperable.

We are waiting to find out if it is cancer at all, or perhaps just inflammation.

The one thing we do know is all the liver function tests are back to normal.

We know that Mom needs to move and breath deeply, despite the fact that she has two tubes coming out of her side that cause some discomfort. And I use the term "discomfort" in the same way one would describe the French guillotine as causing a slight pain in the neck.

Mom also needs to eat, despite the fact that she's in the hospital, being served hospital food. And I use the term "food" in the same way.... well, you get the idea.

We may get biopsy results back tomorrow, but then again it may be Wednesday.

Until then we wait.

We wait for the report.

We wait for the treatment plan.

We wait for more tests.

We wait for tubes to come out.

We wait for Mom and Dad to get to go back to their home.

But mostly, we wait upon the Lord.

...those that wait upon Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint. ~ Isaiah 40:31

Dance

2011-10-06T15:43:00.000-07:00

I wrote this for a writing contest a few weeks ago. The theme asked the question, "When did you first understand what love was?" Unfortunately, due to a crazy schedule I didn't make the deadline for the contest, but this was so in my heart I had to write it anyway. Those that read it told me that there was another place for it. Here, on this day, is the place for it. Because the dance continues.. and will continue, despite the music...

They were teenagers in the 50’s, the decade of sock hops and dance marathons. They married and started their family in the 60’s, the decade of dancing to the beat of your own drum. They have probably danced hundreds of thousands of dances together, but it was one dance that caught my heart. It was one dance that showed me what love was.

I don’t remember mom and dad being terribly demonstrative when I was growing up. I take that back, Daddy was. I remember vividly the whoosh of his recliner as it returned to its upright position. I remember him displaying his most exaggerated pucker lips as he left his chair and crawled on his hands and knees to where my mom was napping on the couch. He would smooch the air, until she woke up, took one look at him, and playfully demanded that he leave her alone. He was comically flirty, she fittingly coy. And this was their dance.

` They knew each other so well, they could anticipate each other’s steps. Mom instinctively knew just how Daddy would lead, and she would follow. They danced through life, having children, watching them grow and giving them up to new dance partners. Grandchildren came and with them came even more dancing - Goofy grandparent dancing. Their music was the joys of life. Sometimes the beat was slow and steady… sometimes a bit frantic and overwhelming but they always danced with grace no matter what life’s soundtrack brought.

To tell the truth I never really caught on that their life, their love was a dance. It wasn’t until a new more sinister beat began to echo. My dad heard it first. The doctor told him it was prostate cancer that had spread to the bone. The pain was unimaginable, and it stilled him for a bit. Mom put all her energy into taking care of him and it worked. He was soon crawling across the floor to the couch where she lay resting; blowing exaggerated kisses until she woke up and the dancing began again.

But just like a bad song on the radio, the sinister music hadn’t played out. And this time my mom was caught up in the beat. Multiple Myeloma brought more unimaginable pain. And it was then that I began to understand the dance.

Mom was truly in so much pain that she could hardly breathe, let alone move, but she had to move. As she stood up, pain hit her body so hard she couldn’t go anymore. She stood there weeping, unable to take another step and unable to sit back down. Daddy wrapped his arms around her. I thought he was simply going to help her get moving again, but he just stood there holding her. And after a few minutes, I realized he wasn’t just holding her… he was swaying with her. She relaxed and followed his lead. For several minutes they danced to some sweet melody that only they could hear. He had danced this dance before.. He knew the pain. And he was taking the lead now, holding her tight and not allowing death to cut in. He knew there was more dancing to be done and he was not willing to give up his dance partner.

I cherish the memory of this moment, and I thank God that I got to witness it. It was true love and true romance and true fight, this love that dances no matter the music.

Here we go again....

2011-10-05T11:40:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been over a year since I wrote what I had hoped would be the final post on this blog. Unfortunately, we have discovered that while mom may have bested Multiple Myeloma, another contender has stepped into the ring, trying to have a go at her..

Here's the latest news in a nutshell...

Sunday afternoon, mom and I had planned to go shopping, but I received a call from dad saying that she wasn't feeling well and had decided to go get checked out at our local ER. Mom has been doing really well since the days of MM, so her not feeling well kind of threw me. Mom just doesn't get sick.. and when she does, it's a doozy.

Still ,we weren't too worried as all her symptoms seemed to point to gall bladder issues. You must understand that the war between our family and gall bladders is legendary. The gall bladders attack each of us one by one, taking us down in a storm of pain and belching... but we rise victorious. We just find a nice friendly doctor and ask that the gall bladder be removed far from our bodies to be stored in some glass jar at some remote medical facility never to hurt us again. In fact, Mom and Mike are the only ones who still have their gall bladders. The gall bladder battle is so insidious that it crosses blood lines and even attacks family by marriage. My sister in law is fighting her own gall bladder even as I write this.

So my point is, gall bladder, not such a big deal.. We've all been there, done that!

And yet, mom's gall bladder seemed to not be so simple. The battle lines there were just not quite as clear, so it was decided that further investigation would be necessary and our little local ER moved mom to the big city hospital across town.

Still, we weren't too fazed. We were certain we could deal with any gall bladder issue.. We had experience on our side.

The big city hospital put mom on the oncology floor.. you know, the one reserved for cancer patients. I was almost thrown at this point, but mom offered that this was simply a precaution due to her history with MM and she actually appreciated it. I bought this explanation and pushed away any creeping anxiety.

Monday came and tests were performed. Unfortunately, the big test, the deciding test, the test that would change our little world as we knew it was ordered wrong and we had to wait until Tuesday to take the test and hear the results.

My brother, Mark, was with mom and dad when they got the results and he began the task of informing us. I am grateful that he called my husband Jim first, instead of me. Jim came to where I was working and was with me when I learned the news.

Cancer had returned.

But it wasn't the same cancer. Multiple Myeloma is still being held at bay. This was a new enemy. Cholangio Carcinoma.

A tumor was growing around the bile duct and eventually completely blocked it, causing mom's liver to quit functioning properly. This was causing her symptoms and dealing with this blockage became the priority.

On Wednesday, mom, who by now had taken on the hue of BigBird, underwent a procedure that completely and successfully unblocked her bile duct. Her liver could now do it's job! Not only is the duct draining into the small bowel as is it's job, but mom is sporting a new accessory bag where her liver is draining from her side. This is just temporary, but it's needed to get everything back in order.

The doctor's chose not to do a biopsy of the tumor during this procedure because they didn't want to traumatize the liver more than necessary. Instead she will have the biopsy tomorrow and get a matching tube and bag for her gall bladder.

This morning, she was all pink again and feeling better. Her bilirubin levels were normal, which is glorious word when dealing with what we are dealing with. The immediate danger has passed, but we still have the rest of that nasty tumor to deal with.

The biopsy tomorrow will confirm the Cholangio Carcinoma diagnosis and I'm praying it doesn't. But no matter what... mom says God is in control and together they beat Multiple Myeloma..and that same power, that same grace is still with her. I have no doubt that this new contender will be knocked out in the first round!

The post that has been 2 years in the making....

2010-09-11T13:19:00.000-07:00

I thought that some of you might like to know what's been going on these past two years since my last post. The answer is nothing. Absolute blissful, sweet nothingness. Oh, mom has continued getting Zometa, the medication that is making her bones stronger, and she goes regularly for check ups but every report has been better than the last.

Blood Tests - Normal
Full Body X-rays - Normal
Back to Shopping, Cooking and Generally Spoiling her Grandkids - Normal

That's not to say that everything is back to normal. I don't think anyone in the family will ever go back to the normal that was before the diagnosis. There is a new appreciation for God's grace and mercy that you don't acquire unless you go through difficult circumstances.

Job said it best. " My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you." (Job 42:5)

It is easy to speak of God's love and compassion, but to speak of it after you have gone through the kind of fire where you have to rely solely on Him, is more difficult.. mainly due to the lump in your throat. Times like these draw us closer to God, and we know Him more intimately and learn His voice and His ways. After you have seen God this way, things can never be the same, nor would we ever want them to be.

The change is subtle on the outside, but noticeable none the less... especially, it seems, by children.

On two different occasions, after Mom's hair had grown back in, two different little girls asked Mom what had happened to her hair. These little girls had never seen Mom before and even if they had, her hair had grown into the same short cut she always wore before her chemo, yet they saw something had changed about her. Something had. God had leaned in really close and kissed her. And you can't hide God's kisses.

Long Awaited Update...

2008-09-11T17:03:00.001-07:00

First, let me apologize for taking so long to update. I will explain why after I tell you how Mom is doing today.

Great.. She is doing great. She is taking a little time to recover after the stem cell transplant but everyday is a little better. Her blood counts are taking their time rising, but they are rising. She went to the doctor this morning, half expecting to need a transfusion, but her hemoglobin, though low, was rising.. and that is great news. She started back on her Zometa IV today which will strengthen and repair some of the bone damage caused by the myeloma.

Her back is weak but that hasn't stopped her from resuming some of her old activities. She has been going to church, to the grocery store, to restaurants and more. Her hair is growing back beautifully. I think it is going to be thicker and darker than it was, and I'm thinking it is going to be straighter, too. Right now, it looks just like a very cute pixie cut.

Now, why did it take me so long to fill everyone in on all the good news....

Well, back when Mom went in for all her tests that would confirm how successful we knew the stem cell transplant was, we were expecting to hear the word "remission". We didn't.

Mom still has some myeloma cells.. that's the bad news. But the good news is those cells aren't causing any damage or reeking any havoc. I have to be honest and say that I focused on that bad news for a while and I didn't want to update the blog and have to say those cells were still there. That simply wasn't the plan. I guess I figured if I didn't write it, it wouldn't be real. It's not that I was in denial... it's just that I was being very selective about what reality I would accept.

I have watched Mom get stronger and more active and I began to realize that a few myeloma cells can't mess up God's plans.

And then the other day, God reminded me of a story in the Bible that, for some reason, seems appropriate to share here.

Numbers 13 tells the story of Moses sending men from each of the twelve tribes out to inspect the land of Canaan.

In much the same way, the Doctor sent x-ray technicians, phlebotomists, nurses and the like to inspect Mom.

In the Bible, the men came back with the old good news/bad news scenario... The good news: The land really is flowing with milk and honey.! The fruit is delicious! The cities are beautiful! The bad news: Ummm... well, there are some people that live there.. they look pretty scary.. pretty tough and really really big. There are giants in that land, so hey, this wilderness doesn't look so bad..

Kind of like when Mom got her test results.. The good news: Kidneys look great. Bones look great.. no new damage of any kind. The bad news: We still have some myeloma cells.. (Ok, to me, myeloma cells, though microscopic, are the equivalent of giants in the land.)

Just then Caleb and Joshua spoke up. They had seen the giants too, but they weren't afraid of them. They knew God was on their side and that He had promised to lead them.

The doctor spoke up. He had seen the myeloma cells, but he also saw how well Mom was doing. He told her those cells weren't going to keep her from feeling good. They might be there, but they weren't going to hurt her or cause problems.

Now the rest of the story unfolds like this.. Of the twelve spies who went into Canaan, 10 focused on the bad news. They were punished. They never got to go live in the land. The two that focused on God, Caleb and Joshua, inherited the land and God's promises.

I want to be like Caleb and Joshua. Mom and Dad already are. They are "strong and courageous" as God commanded Joshua to be. God could have caused Mom to be in remission. God could have healed Mom completely, (something the doctors can't do) but He didn't. And it's not because He was withholding it from us. It's because He is giving us an even more precious gift than healing, the gift of walking in Faith every day, living with courage every day, and EVERY DAY building a closer and stronger relationship with Him.

A few years ago I wrote an essay called "Daddy's Hug" that was published in a Chicken Soup book. The basic story was how I was jilted by some Romeo my freshman year of college. This heartbreaking event sent me home to my dad who made it all better with just a hug. It was a hug I will always remember, and it was a hug that would not have happened without that heartbreak.

Mom and Dad are walking in the perpetual hug of God right now. No wonder Mom looks so good. She is glowing, because she is leaning on her Saviour and His glory is shining through. And just like Caleb and Joshua did inherit the promises of God, despite the giants in the land.. I now know Mom will live a long, healthy life, inheriting her own promises from God, despite those teeny tiny cells.

God has a plan. And I now fully trust Him.

Not only is the grass growing...

2008-07-24T17:12:00.000-07:00

but Mom's hair is growing too! If you look closely you can see all her new growth coming in. She is feeling good these days and right now is looking forward to getting her port removed. She will be going in tomorrow morning.. If she no longer needs fluids or blood, chances are great that she won't have to wear that port anymore. We are also hoping she gets the results of all her tests last week. We know by looking at her that the stem cell transplant did it's job... we are just anxious for the doctor to say it too. I will update as soon as we get the results.

And now for something completely different

2008-07-09T11:31:00.000-07:00

Another update, but this time the update is on Dad.

He had surgery today to repair a hernia. Mark is with him, while Mike and I are home with Mom. She is feeling better, but probably not up to waiting in a waiting room.. but then does any one feel up to waiting in a waiting room.

Dad is now out of surgery and in recovery. He did very well.. and apparently so did the surgeon. Not only did he repair daddy's hernia, but he also discovered a stranded gall stone, hanging around long after daddy's gall bladder removal years ago.

The gall stone was removed, the hernia was repaired, and all is well. Thanks for you prayers.

Edited to let everyone know that daddy is home and resting comfortably.. ok, comfortably might be a bit of a stretch.. but he is as comfortable as one could be after surgery.

Also stay tuned for updates on my mom.. her 100th day (from the stem cell transplant) is coming up next week. We will celebrate with x-rays and a bone marrow biopsy. I'll give all the details very soon!

The Grass is Growing

2008-07-03T08:17:00.001-07:00

I just wanted to post a quick update so everyone could see how much the "grass has grown" around here...

Mom can finally taste food again

And it tastes good!

We even went out to eat the other day.

She told me that she feels like things are working right again.

And to prove that, she went to her weekly doctor visit and all her numbers were good. She didn't need blood, platelets, fluids.. Her body was making everything she needed.

And all this is just in time around here. Daddy is going to have surgery on Wednesday to repair a hernia, so the roles will be a little reversed . Mom will be the caregiver .. (Actually, Megan, Mark, Mike and I be hanging around quite a bit too)

So, Mom's getting better.. Daddy's going to be better.. yep.. the grass is growing around here.. because it's being watered with all your prayers. Keep praying because the grass is sure pretty.

Shout out to the Dad

2008-06-15T22:51:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to take a second here to say Happy Father's Day to my dad. He is doing an amazing job of caring for Mom. I can see my Heavenly Father reflected in everything my Dad does... and I just wanted him to know that I noticed.

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

How has your life changed?

2008-06-08T21:18:00.000-07:00

I was visiting with Mom and Dad today and we were talking about how Mom has been fighting this cancer for a year now. (Although she wasn't officially diagnosed until July, she did go to the emergency room on June 1st, 2007 for pain that we would eventually find out was caused by the Myeloma.)

Last July, Mom was sicker than I have ever seen her, before or since. She is fighting with grace and strength. When she begins to feel better, will she feel like her old self? I think not. I think that she can't come through a battle like this unchanged. All of those around her are changed too. We all have a strength that we weren't aware of before. We all are much more generous with the "I Love You's". And most importantly, because God says He is with the Broken Hearted, we have all experienced God's love in a new and different way than ever before. And that alone changes you. It can't not change you.

I dare you to watch this video of some people showing how God has changed them. Then I dare you to leave a comment saying how God has changed you. I triple dog dare you.

My mom's cardboard testimony could be...

Cancer Patient
(flip)
Victorious Survivor

Mine would say

Fearfully depending on other people
(flip)
Faithfully knowing God will meet ALL my needs.

What would yours say?

The grass is still growing but we got a weed

2008-06-05T19:04:00.000-07:00

Remember the other day when I wrote how waiting for Mom to start to feel better was a bit like grass growing. Well, the grass is growing and mom is feeling a little better every day, but I think we might have grown a weed...

Mom has had a persistant cough since... well, since she got her stem cells. In the last few days the cough passed persistant and began down right annoying. We haven't been terribly worried since a cough can be a side effect of her chemo, but we have been watching it closely. Yesterday morning, Daddy could tell that Mom just wasn't feeling as well as she had been and her cough was getting worse. There were scheduled to go into the hospital just to have her iv lines flushed, but they weren't scheduled to see the doctor until Friday.

However, after Daddy checked Mom's temp and discovered she had fever, they immediately called the doctor who told them to come on down. A chest x-ray later, we discovered that mom was trying to develop pneumonia but they caught it in time. They gave her an antibiotic, as well as a shot to boost her white cell production . She is already feeling much better, and that weed is now under control.

We are just settling back to watch some more grass grow.

Surgery Went Well

2008-05-18T09:45:00.001-07:00

Just a quick update on my grandmother: She had surgery this morning and did very well. Her next step is rehabilitation. Thanks so much for your prayers.

Call for Prayer

2008-05-17T20:37:00.000-07:00

While I want everyone to keep praying for Mom's continued recovery, we have a new prayer request. My grandmother, Mom's Mom, who just turned 90, fell yesterday and broke her hip. She is in Houston and transferred to St. Lukes, where they can take better care of her. She will be having surgery at 8:00 tomorrow (Sunday) morning. As I understand it, the surgery will not be as complex as a hip replacement, and she should be up and walking within 24 hours.

Brenda and Jeff have both flown to Houston to be with Mamo. As you can imagine, Mom would really like to be there, but that is simply not an option at this time.

Please pray that surgery goes well, and Mamo recovers quickly. Pray also for peace for Mom.

I'm certain those of you in Houston will be busy but if you happen to read this and have any updates, please leave a comment and let us know the latest news.

Flashback Friday

2008-05-16T15:12:00.000-07:00

Just checking in with this flashback, circa.... well, I'm not sure of the date but considering that I'm exposing my belly button in this photo, we can be well assured it was long, long, long ago. This picture shows the family working in the yard which makes me think of two things... First, I dont' recall ever working in the yard. I'm fairly sure Mom and Dad worked in the yard. Mark and Mike were probably coerced into helping but not without whining and moaning. And I am fairly certain that I merely flitted and danced about practicing cartwheels and such. (To get a better look just click on the picture. It will allow you to see it in all it's vivid 70's detail.. on second thought, maybe you don't want to click on it.)

But this yardwork image also reminds me of just how difficult it is to watch grass grow. And according to Mom's doctor, that is what we are doing right now... watching and waiting and waiting and watching while grass grows. Let me explain. Mom came home from the hospital several days ago, and we were looking forward to her feeling better and stronger everyday. It hasn't really happened that way. She is pretty much as week and fatigued as when she left the hospital. And the chemo really did a number on her tastebuds this time and absolutely nothing tastes good to her. She's just really not been feeling well.

She has been going back to see the doctor twice a week. Everything is going according to plan and she is getting better, but it's just as a pace that is something like "watching grass grow".

But here's the thing about grass growing... You may not be able to actually see it grow, but it does, and my front lawn is sprouting with proof right now. When you look at the picture above, although you might be able to actually watch Mark's hair grow, the grass is still a bit, ummm.. still. But I'm sure it wasn't longafter this picture was taken, before Daddy started up the mower, Mom put on her head scarf, the boys started complaining and I began skipping. Because even though you can't see it.. it does grow, and it grows and it grows.

And just like that grass, Mom IS getting better everyday. We may not see it yet, but it's happening.. and just like a beautiful batch of bermuda on a dewy morning, mom will soon find her energy and her strength. And then maybe she will even feel like mowing the lawn.

Where the deer and the antelope play.....

2008-04-25T14:13:00.000-07:00

Ok, so maybe there aren't any antelope, and it might not be on a range.. but I have seen deer prancing about and more importantly ... It's HOME! And that is where Mom is!

Yep, Mom's home! She will have to go back to the hospital daily for a few days, but she gets to come home and rest in her recliner and sleep in her bed. She is a little weak and her mouth still burns a bit, but she says she's feeling pretty good!

More later... It's a busy day for me, but I wanted to let you know that Mom is home!

Chemo is still bad, but white blood cells are better...

2008-04-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

Mom has been having a bit of a hard time with the chemo this go around. They gave her a huge dose, larger than the last time, so it is not uncommon to see some effects we didn't see before. Her main complication this time is stomatitis.

Here's the scoop. Cancer is a rapidly multiplying cell and the chemo is designed to kill cancer. Unfortunately is can't differentiate between bad rapidly multiplying cells such as cancer, and good rapidly multiplying cells, such as the lining of your mouth and digestive tract. So while the chemo is doing it's job on the nasty myeloma cells, mom's mouth lining is making the ultimate sacrifice. And this is called stomatitis. And mom has it bad. Grade 3.

To make it bearable she has been on a morphine drip IV. And that is helping. In fact, it's helping her escape her room. Apparently she has been playing a little golf (she told daddy all she needed was three birdies) Maybe now that she's playing golf in her drug induced dreams, she will take up golf with daddy when she is healthy again. How fun will that be!

The morphine has a few side effects of it's own.. besides the whole golf thing, that is. She is retaining some fluid and that in turn has caused some breathing issues, so she has been on oxygen. Her blood pressure has been a little on the low side as well.

BUT, as bad as all that sounds.. here is the good news. These are only problems till the heroic white blood cells return. The chemo killed them off, and while those white blood cells are gone, all hell breaks loose. But once the white blood cells come back, everything will return to order once again... and guess what..... THEY'RE BACK!

Mom's white count went from readings like .1 and .2 in the past couple of days to 2.9 today! So, we expect those white cells to start whomping some stomatitis butt soon, and mom should be feeling much better. In fact, the doctor even insinuated that she would be back in her own bed at her own home in about 48 hours.

You just can't get a much better report than that!

Stem Cells Good - Chemo Bad

2008-04-16T15:40:00.000-07:00

While we are thrilled Mom has new healthy stem cells, we hate that she has to deal with the effects of chemotherapy.

The good news is there is no C. Diff. although she is having tummy troubles. They have been watching her closely for this but all tests continue to be negative. For that we are so thankful!

The bad news is Mom has developed a new symptom that she didn't have to deal with the first go around, but we are told it is quite common when recieving stem cells. Her mouth hurts. Bad. So bad, in fact, morphine is only taking the edge off. It hurts to talk, eat or swallow. This is a complication that will go away soon but we want soon to be sooner!

Continue to pray that there will be no C. Diff and that the lining of Mom's mouth and entire digestive track will heal quickly.

Speaking of Birthdays...

2008-04-11T14:50:00.000-07:00

I just want to interrupt this blog to wish my Mamo a very happy birthday. My mom's mom, Trellis, is 90 years old today. Since Mom has been ill, Mamo has been traveling. She spent several months with Aunt Brenda in California and is staying with Aunt Joyce in Texas right now.

Mamo, all of us here in Oklahoma wish you a wonderful 90th Birthday! We love you and we miss you.

2008-04-09T23:55:00.001-07:00

An Amazing Day

2008-04-09T21:33:00.000-07:00

Mom's stem cell transplant went perfectly today. Mom was quite anxious at first because they told her all the list of side effects that could happen. Of course, they didn't, but Mom was understandably worried.

The stem cells came to the room in a large container filled with freezing vapor. They thawed the stem cells, then her nurse, using all the strength she had, pushed the thick stem cells through the IV tube. As they entered Mom's blood stream, the perservative keeping the stem cells fresh, went to her lungs. She had to breath deeply and cough to keep her lungs clear. One interesting side effect from this preservative is a strange taste in Mom's mouth and eventually a smell that fills the room. For some this smells/tastes like Garlic. For some it is creamed corn. One patient described it as an old army boot and another set is tasted like an acetalyne torch. Mom thought it tasted like tomatoes.. probably because she's never munched on an army boot or a torch. Soon the room smelled like tomatoe juice which is not a scent I find particularly pleasurable. There were "Wow, I could have had a V8" jokes flying, but I think after today, it will be a while before Mom actually drinks another V8.

Her stem cells came in 3 bags which took less than a minute each to push through. Besides the tomato taste and an itchy throat, mom had no unpleasant side effects. In fact, she is feeling no effects from her chemo yesterday.

Janice, the transpant coordinator, told us that now Mom has another birthday. And you can be sure we will celebrate every year!

She's had her chemo..

2008-04-08T13:31:00.000-07:00

I just spoke with Mom. She had 2 big bags of chemo in about 30 minutes. She said she's feeling a bit light headed but not from the chemo. They have given her pain medicine for some pain associated with her catheter. She told me she had a good lunch and all but licked the plate!

This is such a change from when she went to the hospital in January. Then she was in a wheelchair. This time she walked to the transplant unit on her own.

Tomorrow she will get her stem cells at 1:30. I will be there with my camera so check back tomorrow for pics!

Neither hail nor sleet nor snow....

2008-04-08T09:50:00.000-07:00

Ok, it didn't sleet or snow, but it sure did hail. And thunder. And flood. But that didn't stop Mom and Dad. They are at the hospital now and she has her catheter now. You might remember that putting the catheter in is a surgical procedure, although she can have it done in her room. This time did not go quite as smoothly as the last time. It seemed to take quite a long time and Mom felt it a lot more than before.

She is in Room 7128 this time. We knew this room from a couple of outpatient visits and it's uncomfortable bed stood out. Fortunately, they've either gotten a new bed or Mom is not quite as picky as she was when she felt so bad. The official word from Mom is the bed is fine.

She should be getting her chemo soon. The doctor and the pharmacists have a plan to battle the c-difficle before it even starts, but your prayers are still appreciated on this battlefront.

More updates to come!

Small Change and Specific Prayers

2008-04-02T17:13:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to post a quick update since Mom's schedule has changed just a bit. Instead of Monday, she will check into the hospital on Tuesday. Everything else will happen just a day later than I originally posted.

Now, if you are wanting to know something you can specifically pray for, here it is. Pray that Mom does not have to deal with any C. Difficile this time around. This was the worst part of her chemo the first time, and it's something she's definately not looking forward to this time. She was told that her doctor is trying to figure out a way to keep this complication from happening again. Pray that he gets a grand idea, and short of that, that God just intervenes and keeps her gut happy!

More later!

Photos and an Update

2008-03-30T21:27:00.000-07:00

These photos were taken Easter day. Mom was feeling pretty good. She even did quite a bit of cooking which is a huge improvement over Thanksgiving and Christmas, when I don't think she felt like celebrating at all. We had a great time and Mom looks absolutely beautiful, don't you think? Not many people can pull off her minimal hair style, but she does.. and with flair!

Now for the update...

Mom is heading back to the hospital to pick up the stem cells she left behind last month. She checks in April 7 and will get her huge dose of chemo that day. The very next day, they will put back her harvested stem cells. They actually harvested twice as many as they need, and she will get them all back, making her recovery that much quicker.

She will stay in the hospital this time, although it will probably just be a couple of weeks.

To prepare for this second phase, Mom went through the full series of tests last week and everything checked out great. Her protein levels are below 0 now. 0.6 to be exact... which means their is virtually no myeloma protiens there! Her bones look pretty good, although some myeloma damage is showing up in her back. As soon as she get back on her Zometa, that should get better.

She is feeling so much better. Her only complaint is that her back is so weak, which I'm sure is a result of the Myeloma damage seen on her x-rays.

Please pray for her, especially on April 7th as she gets her chemo. This is the last speed bump on her road to recover and getting back to normal.

I'll be sure and keep you updated daily when she goes back into the hospital.

I just don't think anyone could say it any better

2008-03-12T09:54:00.001-07:00

Mission Accomplished

2008-02-23T15:31:00.001-08:00

Even after mom was discharged from the hospital, she still had to go back every day for a quick check up.. (quick being a relative word after several weeks in the hospital). This week she got the "all clear...we are through poking and prodding you for a while" and she is finally home to rest and get strong and not think about doctors and needles and toxic medicine for a few weeks.

They got more than enough stem cells, which are being stored in a freezer just waiting for their chance to shine again. In late March, mom will return for more tests, like she had before this first round, to make sure she is ready for round 2. Then in early April, she will have one day of chemo, and the very next day she will have her stem cells put back in.

They have said to expect 20 days in the hospital this time, but they have also told her it will be easier than the first round.

She is enjoying being back at home and is working to regain her strength. Other than that, she is going to be a lady of leisure until the end of March!

Keep praying! And keep checking back for more news, photos, and praise reports.

Home Sweet Home

2008-02-14T16:50:00.000-08:00

It's true. Mom is home, resting in her own bed.

Today was a bit exciting. During the her second day of stem cell harvesting, the catheter malfunctioned and instead of Mom's blood flowing into the machine, it was flowing onto her bed. They immediately got that stopped and bypassed the malfunctioning catheter with two IV's in her arms. In the end, everything turned out great. They got all the stem cells they needed and then some.. and mom and dad headed for home.

Throughout Mom's treatment food just hasn't tasted right to her. While she was in the hospital, she pretty much relied on IV's for nutrition and only nibbled a bit. Tonight, on the way home, they stopped at Taco Bell and Mom had a Gordita. SHE ATE THE WHOLE THING... AND SAID IT TASTED GOOD. We have truly learned to appreciate the little things!

She is awfully weak, but I know she continue to build up strength everyday.

Mom has to be back up at the hospital at 8:00 tomorrow morning. We are thinking they will remove her catheter and she can be free of any medical acoutrements for a while.

I'll keep updating so keep checking back. Phase two will start in a about a month.

Thanks so much for all the prayers, they made such a difference!

The stem cells are coming!

2008-02-13T16:41:00.000-08:00

They started harvesting stem cells about 7:00 AM and finished about 2 PM so it was quite a day. Unfortunately, we aren't through yet. Apparently they only got about half of what they need so they will harvest more tomorrow. They said this might happen and it is nothing to be alarmed about... Dad says they plan to start early tomorrow and be done by noon. Then maybe, just maybe, with enough prayer and enough stem cells, mom will be sleeping in her bed tomorrow night.

She is no longer connected to any IV's and she is completely free from C. Diff or any other infection. She has essentially completed this phase of the transplant.

Thank you so much for all your prayers during this time. Don't stop yet though. Mom has about a month to recover and then she starts phase 2..

I'll continue to keep everyone updated. I'll definately let you know how tomorrow goes!

Harvesting is best done by the early morning light

2008-02-12T12:48:00.000-08:00

Ok, we got excited and I announced the harvest but... it won't actually be until tomorrow morning. They had planned to do it, but it took a little time to get everything set up and decided to just start fresh in the morning. So.. the harvest will actually take place tomorrow.

HARVEST TIME

2008-02-12T10:17:00.000-08:00

Over the past few days mom's white blood cell count has just kept rising. It went from .7 to 1.8 to 4.1 to 10.1 and today it is over 14! She has had one negative C. Diff culture and we are waiting to find out if it is still negative today. If so, she can put that whole mess behind her.. (pardon the pun)

The one number we were waiting on was the CD34. I have no idea what it is or what it means other than that we need it to be 10 to harvest. Yesterday it was 4. The word yesterday was that we would probably be able to harvest on Thursday, and hopefully heading home on Friday.

The blood results came back today and I got a phone call from Dad, shouting hallelujah and praise the Lord! The CD34 is 11 and the harvest is happening even as I type.

Harvesting stem cells is a bit like dialysis. Mom's catheter is hooked up to a noisy machine which is taking her blood and filtering all the stem cells out. This process will take 3-4 hours. By this evening, there should be some healthy, clean stem cells chillin' in the freezer.

I'll let you know when the harvest is complete!

They're Multiplying!

2008-02-09T08:36:00.000-08:00

Apparently the white blood cells mom got yesterday are enjoying the new digs so much they've each called a friend or two. Mom's white cell count more than doubled last night. It is now 1.8 and we are expecting more tomorrow!

Keep praying because it is obviously working!

They're Here!

2008-02-08T08:18:00.000-08:00

Dad just called to tell me that during the night an army of white blood cells moved into battle! Mom's count is now .7 The doctor has said that he expects to harvest the stem cells and send mom home sometime next week.

Wow! You guys pray good!

Prayer Request

2008-02-06T09:42:00.001-08:00

We need some white blood cells! Mom's white cell count doubled today, but that still only leaves it at 0.2. We need some more. Mom has been battling this C. Diff but she can't make much headway as long as she is still on the antibiotics. She can't get off the antibiotics until she has some white blood cells. So it's a bit of a catch 22. We have been praying for the C. Diff to go away, but Daddy got the revelation that we need to be praying for the white blood cells to come!

Please pray with us that those good cells, those cells in the white hats, come quickly and chase those C. Diff toxins away. Then once the toxins are gone, they will be able to harvest the stem cells and mom can start recovering from this phase of the transplant.

Thank you for your prayers!

3 updates in 1 post

2008-02-01T17:59:00.000-08:00

Update #1 ~ The Cuteness

If you are reading Tulsa People Magazine, and come across a picture of a handsome guy getting a hair cut on page 66, that would be my dad. If your not in Tulsa, or don't have a Tulsa People handy, you can check it out online by clicking here.

Not long after this picture of Daddy in the barber chair was taken, he practiced his own barber skills on Mom. Her hair had started to fall out, and although I couldn't really tell, she could. Daddy brought the clippers to the hospital and Mom allowed him to shave her head. OK, it's not really shaved. But it's very very short. And it's adorable. I'll be posting pictures soon.

It should be noted that my dad is a rarity. Even though most living things love chocolate, he does not. (Even my dog loves chocolate, and dogs aren't supposed to eat chocolate!) And even though most men love long hair on a woman, he's always been into the short hair styles. And you can just see in his eyes how beautiful he thinks Mom is with her new hair cut. She is wearing cute little hats right now, not because she is trying to hide her head, but because her head is a bit chilly. When she took her hat off, daddy's eyes just twinkled and he whispered how cute he thought she was. And it is very cute! But between you and me, i don't think Daddy can look at Mom and not see all kinds of pretty. And I don't think Mom can look at Dad and not see all kinds of awesome.

Speaking of Awesome... Update #2

Yesterday Mom was thrilled to find out that her white blood cell count is slowly rising again. Sure, it's barely registering, but it IS registering. She may have only one white blood cell swimming around in there, but Praise God, that little cell is the first of many and it just brings home the point that she will get to feeling better. Her counts will continue to fluctuate for a bit, but soon they will rise enough to be able to harvest her stem cells and she will be that much closer to being well.

Speaking of Being Well... Update #3

Mom really is doing well... definately better than what I expected... but she is fighting hard. And today we learned she has a new enemy to fight... a little toxin called C. Difficile. Because her chemotherapy has left her immune compromised, and because she has been on lots of antibiotics over the past few days, this little bacteria, that is normally present, has gotten out of control. A new antibiotic (flagyl) will solve the problem. In the meantime, anyone who goes into Mom's room must wear gowns and gloves. So just close your eyes and picture my dad... wearing a long medical gown, gloves and waving around his hair clippers.

Do pray that the new antibiotic will clear everything up very quickly. Pray also that Mom's blood counts continue to rise quickly as well.

Mail Call

2008-01-29T08:49:00.000-08:00

I have had several ask me how they can send mom a card. Here is her address for the next several days to weeks...

Dolores Secrist
Room 7126
St. Francis Hospital
6161 South Yale Avenue
Tulsa, OK 74136

If she gets to go home before your card arrives, St. Francis will forward the mail to her.

"She's Tough" ~ Mom's doctor

2008-01-28T11:39:00.000-08:00

Today's mom's doctor told my dad that mom was sure tough and that he was amazed that she had stayed out of the hospital this long. BUT, because mom started to run fever last night, she has been admitted.

About 11:30 last night, mom's fever rose to about 101.5. Dad took her to the hospital where her room was waiting. By the time they got there her fever was back down to normal, but during the night it rose again. She had chills most of the night. She isn't coughing, nor does she have a sore throat or anything like that. Just fever. They have cultured her blood to find out exactly what she is fighting and have put her on antibiotics.

This is an expected complication. Mom has been saying that without white blood cells, this fever was simply a matter of "when", not "if".

She will be in the hospital until her stem cells are harvested and her counts start back up. It will be days to weeks.

Obviously, due to her compromised immune system, she can't have many visitors and flowers are not allowed in the transplant wing, but I know she would love cards. She is still reading over all the lovely cards sent to her during her first hospital stay. In fact, she packed them to take with her this time.

Also, both she and daddy read this blog so you can certainly leave comments for them here. Just click on the comment link at the bottom of each post.

Continue to pray!

You all sure know how to pray!

2008-01-24T18:15:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to pop in with a quick update. Mom is still home and doing well. She is weak to be sure, and has had some tummy issues, but nothing like what one would expect going through this type of procedure. Although her curly hair is kind of straigtening, she hasn't lost any yet. I'm not sure what the timeline is on that. She was told she could expect to be admitted to the hospital around day 5 or 6. We are on day 9 and no hospital stay yet. The nurse told dad that in all her years of working with these transplants, she has only known 2 or 3 patients to go without being admitted. Methinks mom could well be number 4. Right now, she simply goes to the hospital every morning to get some fluids and a blood count. Then she gets to go home to the comfort of her own bed.

Mom is now officially neutropenic which essentially means she has no white blood cells. This is all part of the course. Over the next few days, until her stem cells are harvested and her white blood cells return, she is particularly vulnerable to infection. We are watching her closely for fever, which would mean a definate hospital admittance.

Thank you so much for your prayers. They are working! Please continue to pray, specifically against infection.

Stay tuned for updates.

at the hospital

2008-01-20T09:55:00.000-08:00

Mom finished up all three doses of her chemo and has amazed everyone by how well she has tolerated it. In fact, her only side effect has been weakness. This morning her weakness was enough that she decided she needed to be checked out up at the transplant unit. They found that her blood pressure was a little low and her pulse was a little high. It seems she is a bit dehydrated. A bag of IV fluids will make her feel much better. She will go home as soon as she's done with the IV. They did tell her that next week would be a little rough on her and she will probably be admitted then. Of course, I think she won't feel nearly as bad as they expect... She has some extra help from above.

She's home

2008-01-16T16:40:00.000-08:00

Mom's home now. Her first round of chemo is under her belt. She will be going back early tomorrow morning for round two.

Thanks for the prayers!

quick update

2008-01-16T10:11:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to let everyone know, after a little delay where the surgeon was called into another surgery, mom now is sporting a fancy new catheter in her chest. She did well with the procedure. Right now they are waiting on the chest x-ray to confirm the catheter is where it is supposed to be and then they will start her chemo.

I'll keep you posted.

A New Year and New Bone Marrow

2008-01-10T15:09:00.001-08:00

Mom has sure been a trooper. This was a holiday season like no other. Mom had to endure chemotherapy on Christmas Eve and also on New Year's Eve... which was her birthday as well. The chemo isn't terrible, but it does make her feel bad and it's not the way to celebrate the season.. BUT it has been worth it.

The latest numbers show Mom's protein levels to be 1.4 so it has dropped considerably and that was a great Christmas present. All her other numbers look great, she is no longer anemic and here is the best number of all: When they first tested her bone marrow, they said it had 90% myeloma cells. Her latest bone marrow biopsy showed less than 10% myeloma cells.

She recently had to undergo a battery of tests to make sure she is ready for the stem cell transplant and she has come through with flying colors. In fact, the transplant has been scheduled.

Bright and early January 16th, she will go in and get an aphoresis catheter in her chest. It will be a surgical procedure but will make her much less of a pin cushion. This catheter will allow chemo to go in, blood to go in and out, and they will even harvest her stem cells through it.

She will take her first dose of chemo that day and then again the following two days. It will be a high dose chemo, so we think those three days will be all the chemo she will take during this harvesting portion of the transplant. She will have to go to the dr. everyday for lab work during this time.

She will probably start feeling the effects of the chemo within 2 weeks, and when she feels she can't handle the effects at home anymore, she will be admitted to the hospital. There they will be able to manage her side effects and make her feel better. Of course, I'm holding on the belief that her side effects will be mild - She told her transplant coordinator that she wasn't going to throw up. The coordinator told her that it certainly wasn't a requirement! In fact, there are some that don't get sick in that way. Considering that mom doesn't ever remember throwing up, she might stand a good chance of getting through this with nary a yak!

Mom will probably lose her hair, and she has prepared by buying some of the cutest hats. She also has a brand new wig, which I have to say, is beautiful on her. It looks very natural, very unwig like!

Of course, she is anxious as anyone would be, but she is ready to get this out of they way and begin enjoying remission. We all are.

Mom's sisters, Joyce and Brenda, and her mom have been for a visit. In fact, Joyce and Mamo just left for Texas a couple of hours ago. I know they hated to leave, but look forward to seeing mom healthy and in remission very soon!

As always, your prayers are appreciated.. and they are working!

You can be sure that I'll be updating more regularly as we go through this season so check back often...

About time for an update...

2007-12-05T19:42:00.001-08:00

First off, let me apologize for the radio silence. But rest assured, that in this case, no news is good news. Mom is feeling much better and is relatively pain free these days. She went to the doctor on Tuesday to find that her blood tests confirm she is getting better every day. Her protein levels have dropped down to 2, based on blood collected 3 weeks ago. They drew more blood this week which I’m positive will show her proteins dropping even lower. Just so you know, they started at 8. We want them to be 0.

When I last updated, mom was having a difficult time simply walking across the room. Last week, she actually went to the grocery store. Of course, she wore a surgical mask to avoid germ exposure. Daddy joked that several people handed her their wallets. I guess it’s better to mistake her a for a thief than an extreme Michael Jackson fan. Luckily, she didn’t wear a sequined glove.

There have been quite a few changes. Five months ago, Mom stood just a hair taller than me at about 5’8”. Today, she looks up at me from about 5’3”. We are hoping she will be able to get back some of her height, but I’ll take health over height any day. Oh, and she can also finally raise her arms above her head like the angel picture on this blog. That was one of her goals from the start.

December is test month. The doctors will be giving her a thorough work over testing everything they can think of to ensure she is “fit” enough for a stem cell transplant. (Of course, I would prefer that she be fit enough not to need said transplant)

So some might be asking, “what is a stem cell transplant and why does she need one?” Let me see if I can shed some light on the subject. Granted, my medical “degree” only comes from Google and much of that is beyond me. I could get my 14 year old to explain it all to me, but instead I just listened intently when we visited the transplant doctor. He put everything into terms we could understand, and while he didn’t make it sound like a picnic, he did put our hearts and minds at ease.

The stem cell transplant will consist of two stages. Stage One is the “Harvest”. Mom will be her own donor, as this is a much safer option with a greater success rate. But, wait… how can she be her own donor. We have firmly established that her bone marrow has issues! Otherwise, we wouldn’t be here now would we… Good question! Basically, they will zap mom with a powerful chemotherapy drug, giving her quite a bit more than they would use in a typical chemotherapy treatment plan. This drug will seek out and destroy all rapidly multiplying cells. The myeloma cells are rapidly multiplying and so they will be destroyed… Unfortunately, so are hair cells, and the cells that line the digestive track. These cells will be sacrificed as well. So while she will be getting rid of all those myeloma cells, she will also probably be very sick. We expect she will spend about a month in the hospital during this stage.

At this point the will collect her stem cells which should now be free from any nasty cancer cells and store it in the freezer. Fortunately, these stem cells can be collected with a simple blood draw as opposed to going into the hip for her marrow. As a result of the chemo, these stem cells, normally found in the bones will be purged into the blood stream.

Mom will then get a chance to recover from this process. Probably about 2 months… and then they will zap her again.. With an even higher dose of chemo. The point here is to go ahead and kill what’s left of the marrow.. But that’s ok, because she has a clean supply waiting for her in the freezer.. Free of any myeloma cells. It’s the ultimate do over. She will get these sparkly clean stem cells and once back in her body, they will get to work, rapidly multiplying… but in a good way. Once again, she will be in the hospital for a while as a result of this round of chemo, but because they put stem cells back in she should bounce back more quickly.

It is a scary process, but it also has an amazing success rate.. I don’t want to see my mom sick, but I really want to see her well. She is understandably nervous about all this so your prayers for a smooth procedure, with no complications are needed. Prayers for peace would be great too!
I promise I will keep you updated as we get closer transplant time.

What do Mom and Geraldine Ferraro have in common?

2007-09-03T12:11:00.001-07:00

Well, funny you should ask! My cousin Jamie (Thanks, Jamie!) gave me the heads up on this news story that appeared on the Today show. The medication that Ferraro talks about in the video is the same medication Mom is taking now.

In fact, she just completed her second cycle and now has the week off. Next week she will start cycle #3. She is improving every day. Although she still has pain in her chest and ribs, her breathing, walking, moving, and eating are 1000% better.

When Mom was in the hospital, one of the doctors told my dad about a patient who was in the same condition as Mom, and after three cycles of Velcade, they were doing much better... pain free, gaining weight... We can certainly see that it is working well for mom too!

It's like night and day

2007-08-16T19:47:00.000-07:00

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!

Home Sweet Home

2007-08-09T11:56:00.000-07:00

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.

It's about time for an update

2007-08-07T20:59:00.000-07:00

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!

Tough by Craig Morgan

2007-08-03T22:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday

2007-08-03T08:10:00.000-07:00

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.

The Results are In...

2007-08-01T22:07:00.000-07:00

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.

We've never really been CAT people...

2007-07-31T21:55:00.000-07:00

My whole family has always been more partial to dogs than cats, but today we realized how much we hate cats... CAT Scans, that is.

Mom's dr. decided he wanted another look at the bones in her chest and back so she got to go for x-rays and a CAT scan today.

My mom is one of the strongest women I know. She had her hip replaced and didn't take anything stronger than a Tylenol to deal with the pain. In fact, when she broke her hip, after slipping on the kitchen floor, she simply pulled herself into the living room, called my dad and asked if he might be able to come home early. Then she waited patiently until he got home to call 911. She a toughie!

But THIS pain... the cancer in the bone pain... is a pain I can't even begin to imagine. To raise her arm is excruciating. To raise her head is impossible. And yet, she had to go lay on a hard table today, twice. I don't think there was enough pain medicine in the hospital.

Please remember her in your prayers. Pray not only for the myeloma to go far far away, but also for her pain to be lessened and her bones to be strengthened.

Pleasant words are a honeycomb,

sweet to the soul and

healing to the bones.

Proverbs 16:24

In Good Hands

2007-07-30T19:48:00.000-07:00

You know, it's funny.

When people find out you are pregnant they proceed to torture you with stories of the hardest labor and most difficult births ever experienced.

But when people find out you have cancer, they shower you with Victory Stories. My mom and dad have met many people who have gone through much the same stuff mom is going through now. They are the best encouragement. They have literally LIVED through it. One of the key players in these Victory Stories is the Oncologist. There are many singing the praises of a certain doctor, who also happens to be Mom's Oncologist as well.

When my dad told him he had heard quite a few success stories, this doctor pointed to Heaven and said humbly, "I'm just the instrument."

I can't tell you how much peace and confidence it gives me to know that Mom is in the hands of a physician who knows who the Great Physician really is.

Dose Deux

2007-07-30T19:34:00.000-07:00

Mom had her second dose of Chemo today, and once again came through with flying colors. I was able to visit for a while this afternoon and even got a chance to see her smile. In truth, her pain meds were helping her with that smile.. but I'll take what I can get.

I can tell she is getting better, little by little. I'm not sure she feels it yet, but I can see it. I thank God for even the tiniest bit of improvement, whether it be more color in her cheeks, or a stronger voice, or even a little smile. The tiniest things will add up to a big miracle.

MM

2007-07-29T16:59:00.000-07:00

MM. It stands for Multiple Myeloma. It also stands for My Mother... who has recently been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma.

Mom first noticed it this winter. We had joined Curves to try to win back our girlish figures, but after just four or five visits, her chest began to hurt. She thought perhaps she had pulled a muscle so we took a break from our workouts.

She didn't get better. Her chest pain worsened, and at one point she ended up in the ER, fearing a heart problem. Fortunately, her heart was healthy and all her symptoms pointed to costochondritis, an inflammation of the cartilage and bones in the chest wall.

Her pain continued to worsen, and her doctor ran a blood test which came back suggestive of Multiple Myeloma. A CAT Scan seemed to confirm the suggestion of the blood test, and a bone marrow biopsy cinched the deal. My mom has Multiple Myeloma.

She immediately started her initial treatment... Thalidomide (yes, THAT thalidomide) along with dexamethasone. We were all very hopeful, and yet she appeared to be getting worse. A little over a week later, Mom was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia and tests revealed her myeloma was more aggressive than originally thought. Getting the pneumonia under control was crucial.. but so was finding an effective treatment for the Myeloma. It was decided she would begin a new chemotherapy called Velcade. Her first dose was just a couple of days ago.

Two days later, we are so blessed that her pneumonia is cleared up and she is tolerating the new chemo very well.

My brother, Mike, and I were talking today, and we both have such a strong confidence that Mom will win this battle. Prayers are lifting all over the world for my mom and I know they are being heard.

It only takes a mustard seed of Faith... and I know that Mountain is being Moved. Can you hear the rumbling?