Same as it ever was...

..and yet totally different.

It's Friday again and in many ways it's like the other Fridays. Mom is done with IL-2 (they stopped her after her 9th dose again), the diarrhea and other digestive side effects continue to increase (and stand as one of the major issues keeping her from being released), and her kidney/liver function is compromised. That is all familiar.

However she is sitting up in bed, dressed in bright clothing, and speaking in a strong, clear coherent voice. Moreover when she does need to deal with bathroom issues, she's able to get up and walk into the bathroom and take care of things herself instead of needing to be helped onto a bedside commode. And her electrolytes are pretty much back in line. As simple as those differences sound, they are HUGE. None of us who were here for the earlier cycle can believe how much better she seems this time.

Now we wait to see how quickly and slowly the rest of the recovery comes along. Her digestive issues need to slow WAY down before they'll let her go (that's what kept her 'til Wednesday in Cycle 1 and Sunday in Cycle 2) and I think they are also a little concerned about her kidney function coming back on line as her creatinine levels have continued to rise even after she stopped getting doses.

So we're hopeful that she'll be released this weekend (though I think more likely Sunday than Saturday). We'll keep you posted.

One of the things Mom asked me to pass along is her belief that the healing energy you all have sent and the amazing love and support and images of healing blue light you provided her at the send off Saturday morning have been a key component of this Cycle going more smoothly. So thank you all.