Blessing -- Word for the Day -- Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Blessing

Definition: the act or words of one that blesses b: approval , encouragement; a thing conducive to happiness or welfare.

We were blessed to be able to get out of town and escape to such wonderful people in Illinois. We were pampered, entertained, fed and consoled. I am ready to go back.

ChemoSabe came through all his tests last week just fine. He gets the port and begins chemo on Monday, 03/30. We are ready. This should be a drop in the bucket.

He recovered from his Walking Pneumonia, but I truly believe it was because we got out of town. He took off work on Friday and Monday and that made a world of difference. He would have kept on ticking like that damn ole battery if we had stayed in town. Big E was sick, too, but was 100% better when we got back.

I miss my mom terribly. If I could just touch her hand or smell her one more time for just a few seconds. But, then, I would need to do it again and again. I think of her each day. This week started out bad with her on my mind because when ChemoSabe did the blessing at dinner the other night he asked for God to take care of her. I haven't been able to think of her without crying since.

My sister-in-law, if you remember, had stroke like symptoms when my mom first had hers in October. It resulted in a brain tumor that was cancerous. From then to now, her cancer has spread and she is Stage IV. She had radiation that burned her throat which now makes it difficult for her to eat. The chemo was first too strong and it made her kidneys go into failure. That was going on when mom broke her hip.

She has since improved, but was placed back in the hospital this week with the same problems with her kidneys. She has had six pints of blood since yesterday. My little brother has been beside himself with grief, with losing my mom and he feels now he is losing his wife. He, too, is a wheelchair victim from a disease called Reiters. He has been that way sinc 1997.

We are all going out to his house this weekend to clear some land where my mom's mobile home use to be. It is just within a few hundred feet of his home. So, her death has been a major toll for him going out his door every day and seeing her deck and wheelchair ramps, with a home.

ChemoSabe is looking and feeling very well. He doesn't know what to do for me with my emotional times. I do find he helps more around the house when I am crying.... Have I found a tool? ha.

I have dreaded this next round of chemo. Maybe it is just the inconvenience. Just when you can plan to do anything at any time, then the daily Infusion visits and labs return. You can't really plan a day trip on the bikes, or even to work in the yard.

Roger and Ruthie got through the second transplant and are already back home. Just like any transplant, I believe it totally zapped him. They have not heard the word, "Remission".

I went through ChemoSabe test reports from his MRI, Scans, bone marrow biopsy and such and found a report on his immune system. It was registering pretty low. So, I asked if there was a problem. Our transplant nurse advised his immune system levels would be low throughout the rest of his life. It will go lower during his treatment sessions. Sooooooooooooooooo..... I will have to advise his immediate family that the kissing and hugging is taboo. While he was sick last week I didn't kiss him myself.... This life we live as MM patients and caregivers.... Gotta love it, can't leave it.

He is still holding his levels up on the WBC, RBC, Platelets and CRP. His meds are three pills a day now, but soon to change on Monday. Again.... he has done extremely well.

I will keep you posted, beginning next week... Be prepared for tests!!! Aunt Nomey wanted to know what stem cells were while we were visiting. Raise your hand if you know.


Good afternoon and Love --- Kathy