A new day.

Tuesday July 1, 2008

Today was a new day in more ways than one.
Not only was it in the very literal sense, but it was the best first 24 hours of chemotherapy yet. Mom had her first bag of Ifosfomide(One of the big dogs of chemo meds)hung last night around midnight. When I arrived this morning, she was sitting up dressed and in a yellow top and her cute yellow hat that you see in the picture.

She was so happy that she had not had any mental or neurological reactions to it and still felt good.

We took several walks today and even her knee was bending really well. It has not bent well after the replacement, but mainly (we feel) due to the sweeling and tumor placement in her leg. She was really encoutaged.

Dad had gotten her a notebook yesterday and she had written down 13 blessings for the day. I was pretty sure we could come up with 14 today and when I left this evening she was still thinking about them.

She did get sick once today while on a walk and threw up. It came on really suddenly and without much warning. She got some antinausea meds and later something for some heartburn symptoms, but nothing unmanageable as of yet.

They will hang the second bag of Ifosfomide tonight around 11:00 PM. Her other chemo med (Adromycin) runs 24 hours a day. We are really praying that this round will not kick her as hard since she came in feeling better and stronger than ever before.

She does have a rash and hives that are really bothersome so she is also taking some benedryl to help with those symptoms. We are hoping she will get a dermatologist consult tomorrow as this has been a daily occurance for the last 3+ weeks even while at home.

On another note, we got a call while in Mom's room that Dad's Mother (Grandma Miller)was being taken to the hospital for possible heart problems. We have spoken t o Troy, Sherry (Dad's sister) and Carmen several times to try and get an idea of how serious it was and if Dad needed to go. As of this afternoon and evening, she is stable, comfortable and at Providence hospital. It was hard for Dad to know what he should do, but we prayed that the Lord would give him wisdom and help him decide.
After talking to Troy and Sherry at the hospital, they felt comfortable that she was stable and that they would just be running tests. She is not apparently in any pain so we are grateful for that. I would ask that you pray for Grandma as well as Mom and Dad. It's not fun having your wife in one hospital and your Mother in another two hours away from each other. We do feel like they will get to the bottom of what is going on with Grandma and know that Aunt Sherry is with her at the hospital tonight and Gary (Dad's brother)will be there tonorrow. Carm and Troy have and will also be there at some point and I know that helps Dad a lot. Grandma's first name is Evelyn. Thank you for your prayers for her.

I am expecting if there are any bad reactions for Mom they still may be a day off.I am praying that she just continues to do remarkably well, but ask that you keep her in your prayers throughout the day and night when you think of her.

Will try to update earlier in the evening tomorrow as Carmen will be there and I will be able to update from home.

Thank you again for your prayers and love.
Kimberly and family