Under the weather...

Woke up this morning feeling a little off and by this afternoon, it looks like I am coming down with a little cold.: scratchy throat, runny nose, bit of a cough. Am staying home, drinking liquids until I feel like I am going to float away. Hopefully I will nip this in the bud. Had hoped to go to the coast for a few days of R&R but am thinking it will be wise to just stay home. Darn...

SUNSHINE!!

It sure helps to have a couple days of sunshine to lift your spirits and to help me with my recovery. I am able to get out and walk around the neighborhood, going a little farther each day. Sat out on my patio and read a book yesterday afternoon...what a treat!! Looks like the rain is coming back this weekend so I am going to try to take advantage of every moment of sunshine. Sending out rays of positive energy!

Home is really good!

Too tired last night after coming home to post. Was wonderful to sleep in my own bed and see Sophie. Right now I need lots of sleep and just need to pace myself. (Keep reminding me everyone!) One thing that we learned is that no cycle is like another and we just can't predict what reaction and side effects I am going to have from the IL-2. Just when you think you have things under control something new crops up. But we are learning strategies of things I can do before I am in the hospital and during that may help lesson the side effects.

I can't thank Phyllis, Carolyn, and Bobbie enough for taking such good care of me in the hospital and afterward. I am sure it is a major reason that I am doing so well. And, of course, all of your prayers and healing thoughts make a huge difference. I really can feel the energy!

Good Evening from Molly

First, thanks to my wonderful daughter for keeping everyone informed and for outshining me with her posts.

I am very comfortably ensconced in a two bedroom suite with a lovely view of downtown Portland. We have seen several rainbows as it rains and then shines.

I am doing well (sooo much better than the last two times) but due to my setback of yesterday, I won't be heading home until Tuesday. But I think that is good that I stay in one place for a couple of days to just rest and recover before taking the 2 hour drive there.

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.