I'm Home!!!

The doctors let me go home today since I had several days of rising counts with no fevers, and my neutraphils hit 0.5.  It took most of the day to get my medications, discharge orders, and home health training completed.  It also took that long to pack up the room - who knew you could collect that much stuff in one month!  Brant drove me and mom home.  It is so nice to be on my sofa updating this blog after saying good night to the kids.

I have to give a big thank you to the nurses and care partners that cared for me on the Acute Oncology floor at Massey Cancer Center.  After 32 days in the hospital I thought I met each of them at least one shift, but amazingly, there were some I never had.  They were all so professional, so competent, but so caring and gentle.  They worked together as a team and really supported each other.  They were my cheerleaders when I walked the halls and always had a smile of encouragement.  Whenever I had a float nurse from another floor, I could tell.  Although they were good, it wasn't like the regular team from oncology.  Thanks for all you did - although I am sad I will likely be back soon to visit you....at least I know I will get great care.

Good Bye Gertrude

Today my counts were up again.  WBC = 1.2, Neutr = 0.4, and Platelets up to 59.  I am inching closer to discharge, maybe Monday.  Since all of my meds are taken as pills now, they disconnected my IV pole and I am a free woman!!  It was so nice to get a shower and walk the halls almost like a regular person today.  Gertrude is over in the corner of the room looking a little dejected but I feel no guilt.  I spent plenty of time with her and am ready to move on......

Progress!

Just a quick note to say my blood counts did budge today.  My WBCs went from 0.7 to 0.9, Neutraphils went from 0.2 to 0.3, and platelets jumped from 33 to 47.  I don't know how long it will take to get to my discharge level of Neutraphils equal to 0.5, but I am happy that at least for a day they moved up!!

Still Waiting

Not too much to new report.  My WBC are back at 0.7 and my Neutrphils still holding at 0.2.  My platelets have continued to climb and I am up to 33 on my own with no transfusions, so that is some progress.  The nurses and doctors are fairly certain I am just having a slow recovery, especially given my previous treatments that have taxed my bone marrow already.  They assured me there are other patients that have taken longer than this to have any type of recovery.  They will do a biopsy next week if there is still no progress.

My mood and energy have been up and down.  After a bit of a down day on Tuesday I re-read key scripture verses and sort of merged them together - "Be anxious for nothing....for I know the plans I have for you...Be strong and courageous...my rod and my staff will comfort you".  Probably not theologically correct, but it helped.  I prayed that night for just a small sign of hope to hold on to.  Wednesday I awoke after one of my best nights of sleep and full of energy and optimism.  My WBC had increased from 0.6 to 0.7.  My mom returned from two days back at home and I got to see Brant for a few hours.  So a great day and answered prayers.  I did hope it would translate into higher numbers today, but no such luck.  So today has been a little more challenging and a little less energy.  I was so hoping to be home for Memorial Day weekend.  It has been a reminder that I really need to take it ONE DAY AT A TIME and not make plans in my mind.

A dear friend back in Blacksburg was returning books to the library and saw there was a Blood Drive. Even though she is a grandma (and "Mom" to many Mech Engr students) and has never given blood before, she decided too on my behalf.  My mom was so inspired that she just went downstairs to give blood at the drive they are having here.  So consider giving blood whenever you have the chance!! And if you are in the Richmond area on June 1st, there is a Run Walk event to benefit the Be the Match Registry.  This non-profit organization works to increase the number of people available to be bone marrow/stem cell donors.  This Registry is critical for blood cancer patients to have a chance for a cure.

Speaking of bone marrow donors, I still haven't heard if my siblings are matches.  If they haven't heard by Friday they will be checking in with the lab.  Hopefully I will have a match, but if not, I will be counting on the Be the Match Registry myself!

Guess I will have some extra time to watch Downton Abbey episodes.  Thanks to a suggestion from a friend this has been a fun diversion.

Slow Progress

After watching my WBC  count rise Fri. Sat. and Sunday, I practically had my bags packed and figured I was out of here.  But of course, my plans aren't always realistic.  My WBCs have sorta just stalled yesterday and today.  It is a tad depressing.  The doctor said he thinks it is just a "slow recovery" and I have had similar experiences before.  It took me longer than expected to produce stem cells when I did my auto transplant in 2007.  And my cell count didn't recover in normal time when I did my first ABVD treatment in 2005.  Soooo, we will try thinking that my marrow is taking extra time to make extra good blood cells.  But it is hard not to worry and be impatient.

One of the other patients on the hall got discharged today and although I am so happy for him and his wife, I have a new term - "discharge envy".  In order for me to get out of here I have to achieve a neutraphil (related to WBCs)  reading of 0.5 for two days in a row and have no fevers for 2 days.  I have been doing well with no fevers, but my neutraphils have been stuck at 0.2 for three days.  I feel pretty good and am walking a the halls.  Yesterday I got back on the treadmill for the first time since before my chemo impacts took hold. Everything else seems to be recovering....my stubble is even growing out.

Watching all of the coverage of the horrible Oklahoma tornado today does put things in perspective.  My prayers go out to that community and all of the people that are dealing with such tragedy and loss.

Well, I better go hit my afternoon session with the treadmill.  I am hoping some praise music will lift my spirits a little.

Way to go George!

My brother George ran his first road half marathon today.  He decided to sign up for the Sydney Half Marathon just 2-1/2 weeks ago in my honor and was able to raise over $4000 for The Leukemia Foundation.  His unofficial time was somewhere around 1:47.  I am so impressed, and touched.  Thanks George.

So my sister Ruth walked a marathon for me last time I was sick and my brother George ran a half marathon for me this time. I will plan on this being the last go around with cancer because I'm not sure what my oldest brother John would be up to if there was a next time!!!!  I am sure it would be interesting.....

Things continue to go well in our little room.  Hard to believe it has been 3-1/2 weeks.  I have had a nice stream of visitors over the last few days.  The best was seeing Brant and the kids on both Friday and Saturday.  It is good to hear their stories and they walk the hallway laps with me.  They did not appreciate me introducing them to the nurses as "my babies".  Even though they always will be.

My blood counts have improved.  I was up to 18 on platelets today and didn't have to get a transfusion for the first time in I don't know when.  My RBC count went up on its own and the WBC ticked up from 0.5 to 0.6.  I am hoping this is statistically significant and not just within the margin of error of the testing.  Can't wait to get my lab sheet in the morning to see if I have gone up some more.  They are talking maybe a week and I can get out and take a break at home for a little bit before we move on with treatment.  It just depends on how quickly my counts recover.

Mom is doing well, too.  She changed my Hickman dressing today with the assistance of the nurse and did a great job.  She still has those nursing skills, even with the "new-fangled-gadgets-they-come-up-with-to-make-it-safer". She also went to a luncheon at the Hospitality House that was put on by a local church for people that are staying there while their loved ones are at MCVH.  She said the food and music were very nice.  I think it is good that she is able to get out and have some other contacts.  I am planning to kick her out for a few days next week so she can spend some time back home.

It has been a looooong day and I am ready to get some sleep!!

The "No" Do

You can't really call it a new hair-do if there is no hair...... After losing about 85% of my hair with it just falling out over the last 7 days, Massey's Magical Touch came to my room and finished up the job this afternoon.  The poor lady that cleans my room each day, I just know she was thinking "oh, now you cut it....". Even though I wasn't sure , the last 15% of my hair was looking a little too mad scientist and it had to go.  I have never actually had my head shaved before.  It felt kinda funny.  The hairdresser volunteer was very nice and gave me a do-rag and a quilt made by her church members for cancer patients.  The quilt has lemons on it, and I will try to think of making lemonade whenever I see it.

So I will be sporting lots of new headgear.  The above was made by one of the soccer moms.  And my brother made one that is travelling over from Australia. 

Things are going well here.  I lost my "progressive care" label and am just a regular old patient again.  My electrolytes have all been in a good range for over 24 hrs and they took me off of telemetry - yeah no wires! My platelets are still being a bit stubborn.. After going as low as 3, I am excited that they were up to 8 yesterday and 9 today.  If I hit double digits tomorrow I may not need my twice a day platelet transfusions.

The doctors are shifting me back to taking pills instead of getting my meds IV.  I am lazy and would prefer it stay IV, but then again, I don't want to bring Gertrude the IV pole home with me.  The doctors finally reduced the IV fluids that I am getting.  I told them I would like to sleep more than two hours without having to go pee!  Sorry if that was TMI.

So my job is to avoid germs, walk, and eat as well as possible while we wait for the white cell count to go back up.  Cancer is a lot about waiting......learning patience and dealing with the wait is something I am getting lots of practice with, but still struggle with. A verse that helps me is Psalm 27:14 - Wait on the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait on the Lord