Happy Mothers' Day to Me

...or rather, to Mom.

Continuing her much-better-than-expected experience this cycle, Mom was actually released from the hospital today/Saturday mid-day (which is the normal time to go home for the treatment cycle but the first time she's actually been able to do it). What a great early Mothers' Day gift.

Friday night Mom was feeling well enough to eat real food, so Phyllis and Carolyn went to the market and came back with a wonderful deli spread. Evidently they "picnicked" in Mom's room until quite late at night, talking about any and all subjects other than Mom's treatment.

Because the digestive issues got way better overnight and her creatinine levels had fallen, Mom got the ok to head out of the hospital and move to home care. Of course Mom being Mom she promptly insisted on taking P & C out to lunch on the way home to thank them, totally over-pushed herself, and ended up crashed with a slight set-back by late afternoon. However after a long nap, some medicine, and a chat with her physician it sounds like she's back on the recovery track and is sufficiently chastened that she promises to behave during the next few days.

The good news doesn't just end there though. Not only was she able to get out of the hospital earlier, but she was also cleared to return to Corvallis on Monday. Up to this point she's ended up staying in Portland for most of the week after treatment both because she was required to come back in for blood tests to make sure she was doing okay and because even without that, she didn't have the strength or feel well enough to make the drive home. But now (barring any setbacks over the next day or so), she should be able to be taken home and get back to her own bed, own dog, and own friends much sooner than any of us could have predicted.

A huge thank you to Phyllis, Carolyn and Bobbie who really stepped up this week and made it possible for Jon and me (and for Lori and Brian) to take a step back in intensity of care and be comfortable that she was still in excellent hands. With our own sleep deprivation to deal with and 2 two-week old babies (plus 2 toddlers) to care for that was a huge gift to our families as well.

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.

Hanging in there...

It's amazing how different each of these three treatment cycles have been. They warned us about that but it still is strange to think that you've got things figured out and know what to expect and then find that actually, you don't.

For the most part, this has actually worked in Mom's favor this cycle. Though she does have a couple of new side effects we haven't seen before (bright red rash, very painful stomach cramps, nausea and a hugely swollen face from fluid retention) they are manageable, and the more familiar side effects (debilitating diarrhea, neurotoxicity/confusion/incoherency, chills/rigors etc) have as yet to hit her as hard.

Today is Thursday, traditionally one of Mom's worst days on the cycle, and she was actually up to having a sponge bath and sitting in the window seat to enjoy the view (such as it is) and occasional sunshine. That would never have happened on Cycle 1 or 2. This is not to say that she feels great...she's still feeling pretty darn sick and miserable ...but just to emphasize how different (and I think better) this cycle is going.

She was able to get her 9th dose this morning and then they skipped the 3 pm dose so she's currently 9/10. Given that 9 doses was all her body could handle in the first two cycles I don't know if they're still hoping to sneak another dose or two in or whether they're done.

Mom has one of her favorite nurse/CNA combos back today (Daniel and the incredibly hunky Max) and it definitely cheered her up to see the familiar and trusted faces. Alex and I stopped by mid-day (as did Jon) to give Phyllis and Carolyn a break and Mom was able to get some baby-holding therapy in...always a good thing

One of the things that has really really helped her this week was reading and re-reading all the 'healing slips' from the wishes and images and items that so many of you sent with her during the past couple of healing circles she held pre-cycle. It's hard to overstate how much these help, and each time she reaches for one she gets to see and enjoy that beautiful, meaningful quilted bag that they are held in. So a huge thank you to all of you for the support you've given her.

Managing the balancing act...

A rare sunny day in Portland and Mom took advantage of it to sit in big chair by the window and soak in some of the warmth and rays.

That was a rare highlight for her though in a day when the big IL-2 side effects were all starting to make their presence felt. Her blood pressure and electrolyte levels were all over the place (mostly way too low) and took a lot of managing by the nursing staff. And this evening Mom reported that the less pleasant digestive side effects had all started to kick in in all their misery.

Despite this she was 7/7 on doses as of this evening and expected to be able to get her 8th dose tonight at 11. If she does she'll only be one short of where she made it the past two cycles. So mostly likely she is very close to being done with receiving doses (unless her body is able to absorb a lot more punishment this time) and will spend the remainder of the time in the hospital trying to re-stabilize her systems so that she is well enough to be released.

Alex and I will probably go spend some time at the hospital tomorrow so I'll be able to give a first-hand report on how she's doing on what (in the past) has been one of her rougher days of the cycle.

2 Days Down, 3 to Go

End of Day 2 and Mom is hanging in there. As of now she's 4/4 on doses and I don't think there's any reason to think she wouldn't be getting her 5th dose at 11 tonight. That will make her (likely) more than halfway through her treatment as both of the previous cycles she ended up with 9 of the 14 possible doses. But we'll see...

It wasn't too bad of a day today. Mostly so far the side effects have just been bone-crushing tiredness/lack of energy with an accompanying drop in blood pressure/disruption of electrolytes. But so far (and we're all enjoying it while we can) no diarrhea or vomiting.

Though she was tied to a an IV pole for the majority of the day, she did manage to take a nice walk around the floor in the morning, and was able to enjoy visits from Jon, the Davis family four (with double grandchild bonding), and her sister Sue. Meanwhile, Phyllis has been great company and taken really good care of her.

She's very frustrated being (mostly) locked in a bed (which has been a consistent issue for her to deal with over the 3 treatments) but she's taking to heart the comment from one of her friends that there must be a 'jet stream' of healing energy being sent her way and she's planning on riding it as far as she can.

And so it begins again...

So Becca here at the end of Day 1.

By cycle 3 you start to get into a real routine. Brian got Mom to the hospital bright and early this morning and she set about setting up her mattress pad and healing altar and fleece throw and the other little touches that make the hospital room seem a little more homey and bearable.

It was a long morning though: there were a number of delays getting the central line put in (including the seemingly inevitable laying on gurney in a hallway for 20-30 minutes waiting for transportation to arrive) so Mom wasn't back up in the room and able to order lunch and get settled until 1 pm.

The Davis family four were there at that point and Mom got to have a little bit of baby bonding time and then some great chatting and interacting with Kai during which time Kai took full advantage of Mom's last real meal for a week to pilfer as many french fries as she could get away with.

Phyllis, who will be with Mom this week (thank you thank you thank you), arrived in the early afternoon in time for dose #1. One of the things you learn about IL-2 treatment is that the body starts recognizing it and reacting more quickly as you go through more cycles. It says...ah yes, I remember you...WHAM!

Evidently that's what's happening/going to happen this time (though it didn't so much on cycle #2 when we had been expecting it) as it only took that first dose this afternoon for Mom to be hit hard and have the wind taken out of her sails. Though not nauseous yet, she is already exhausted and feeling flu-y. The positive way to take that is that is certainly seems to indicate that her immune system is on the case and primed and ready to go.

Mom had a good visit in the early evening with the Bloomfield-Townzen family four including some nice Dashiell bonding.

Keep/Start sending healing and energy-filled thoughts up this way. Looks like Mom is definitely going to need them this cycle.

I'll do my best to keep things updated.

Ready to tackle cycle 3!

What a marvelous weekend to get me psychologically and emotionally ready to begin my next cycle of treatment on Monday morning. Saturday morning 23 friends gathered to share wonderful food and gifts of special traits with me. The room was filled with love and healing energy that will carry me through the next two cycles of treatment. Any time I feel down or need encouragement, I can reach into my beautiful bag and pull out a message of support from the healing circle breakfasts that I have had.

This morning my children and grandchildren got together for an early Mothers day brunch. They gave me flowers and loads of hugs. The day was beautiful so we made the most of it by being outside and taking walks around the neighborhood. Just the thing I needed before being locked in a hospital bed for the week.

Even though I know what to expect, it takes a great deal of courage to enter another cycle of this treatment. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers and I will imagine being held by your supportive hands and surrounded by healing blue energy.