Pardon my delay in keeping you all updated. This third visit for chemo was definitely the most challenging. I'm finding my head has associations with all sorts of details surrounding my treatment that causes me to feel ill if I think about it too much. It's a common response in chemo patients. Everything went as before including great blood counts, kind nurses, and good friends taking great care of us. But the rest of Thurs- Sunday morning I just felt more off and gross than before. It's kind of hard to describe because they are very different feelings than a cold or a flu or anything I've been through, but the thought of doing this again several more times got me down. Our prayer for before the next treatment is for a ready, thankful, trusting, and strong heart rooted only in Jesus. After that, we get a scan to see the progress and we're very excited for that. Thank you all again for your support.
Braden and Christy
Monday, March 28, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Encouraging Doc Visit
I just got back from the doctor where we had an encouraging interaction. From his checkup he couldn't find any lymph nodes behaving abnormally and I appeared to be quite healthy given the situation. Even the previously swollen node behind my collar bone only feels different due to scar tissue from the biopsy. We will continue as planned and do 1 more round (two more sessions) and then scan me up. We are praying for a clear scan and in the event of a clear scan would probably only continue for 1 more round, but I don't want to get ahead of myself so I'll just take what comes and be thankful for how good I feel right now. Thanks again for your prayers!
Braden
Braden
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Round 1.1
Just got back from the second half of chemotherapy round one. Praise the Lord they cut my benadryl dose by half and the whole process was smooth sailing. I fell asleep, leaving my poor mother to fend for herself for entertainment, but I had my computer with and now she may be hooked on Text Twist. Only a few interruptions later did I wake up and find out I was done. I don't think I could ask for better considering what we're getting done. Thanks again for your prayers!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Some pictures!
Hello all!
Pardon the delay on the promised pictures. Tomorrow I go in for the second half of chemotherapy round one. The last handful of days have been smooth sailing with virtually no side effects. On Saturday, we got a new niece! Her name is Katy. Also, on the same day, I got a new lathe! It does not have a name yet. Thanks again for your prayers. God has been answering them.
Pardon the delay on the promised pictures. Tomorrow I go in for the second half of chemotherapy round one. The last handful of days have been smooth sailing with virtually no side effects. On Saturday, we got a new niece! Her name is Katy. Also, on the same day, I got a new lathe! It does not have a name yet. Thanks again for your prayers. God has been answering them.
Us and Katy!
Just turning bowls in the dining room...
This is where the lathe lives now.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Doing Fine
Hello family and friends!
Day 5 and I feel good. I've held down all my food, only got nauseous in a car ride, only a little bit dizzy sometimes, and not too fatigued. I know as the treatments layer up it may not all be as smooth sailing, but I'm quite thankful for now. Yesterday I walked to the post office and took the L up north to a tea shop and only got a little dizzy once. The fresh air was quite nice and I ran up some stairs once. Thanks again for all your prayers He really is answering them and has promised to do good things through these tough times.
Braden
Day 5 and I feel good. I've held down all my food, only got nauseous in a car ride, only a little bit dizzy sometimes, and not too fatigued. I know as the treatments layer up it may not all be as smooth sailing, but I'm quite thankful for now. Yesterday I walked to the post office and took the L up north to a tea shop and only got a little dizzy once. The fresh air was quite nice and I ran up some stairs once. Thanks again for all your prayers He really is answering them and has promised to do good things through these tough times.
Braden
Thursday, February 24, 2011
first round!
Hi all!
Braden got through his first round of chemo today! It took about 6 hours, but now we're home, and so far, side-effect free! The day started out early and trafficy, but once we got to the hospital, everything was smooth sailing. The people at Mercy are amazing. All of the nurses we've interacted with have been incredibly kind and helpful.
Because this whole chemo thing is new to us, I wanted to describe how it went for all of you who, like us, have never experienced chemo close-up before. First off, the chemo room looks like the first-class section of an airplane -- all fancy recliners and personal TVs and funky equipment. We went to the back of the 7 chair room, because that's where all the cool kids sit. Our very kind nurse offered us breakfast, then we had an hour-or-so wait while they did a few tests, attached the port, and ordered up the chemo drugs. We were a little surprised at the wait, but were told that, for some inexplicable reason, these drugs are hideously expensive, they don't put together the doses until the patient is physically at the hospital and ready to begin. Praise the Lord for our insurance! I can't imagine being uninsured in our position. It really is criminal that so many people have to go without good medical care in our country (and...end rant here).
Once we were ready to go, they started out with an injection of anti-puking drugs, and a heavy dose of benadryl to prevent reactions. The benadryl got into Braden's system immediately, put him right to sleep, and made his legs all twitchy and dancy-like. This was the worst part of the day. We were both unprepared for his reaction to the benadryl, and it scared us both quite a bit! Now that we know what to expect, next time will be easier. After that, the rest of the truly toxic drugs held no problems at all. The only side-effect we are currently experiencing is that the A of the ABVD round turns urine bright red...which, if you think about it, is pretty awesome. How many of us secretly want multi-colored excretions? Maybe it's just me. Sorry.
Now Braden's zonked out on the couch, sleeping off the rest of the benadryl. We're as prepared as we know how to be for the next few days. We're both curious, and a little apprehensive, to see what side- effects come with time. We are prepared for all sorts of stomach yuckyness, but praying for the best!
Next post will include a picture of Braden with his shaved head! We thought it best to preemt any hair loss, so we cut his hair as short as we could last night using sewing scissors and a straight razor. Booya.
Thanks again for all of the amazing support and love we've received! We'll keep the updates coming!
~ Christy
Braden got through his first round of chemo today! It took about 6 hours, but now we're home, and so far, side-effect free! The day started out early and trafficy, but once we got to the hospital, everything was smooth sailing. The people at Mercy are amazing. All of the nurses we've interacted with have been incredibly kind and helpful.
Because this whole chemo thing is new to us, I wanted to describe how it went for all of you who, like us, have never experienced chemo close-up before. First off, the chemo room looks like the first-class section of an airplane -- all fancy recliners and personal TVs and funky equipment. We went to the back of the 7 chair room, because that's where all the cool kids sit. Our very kind nurse offered us breakfast, then we had an hour-or-so wait while they did a few tests, attached the port, and ordered up the chemo drugs. We were a little surprised at the wait, but were told that, for some inexplicable reason, these drugs are hideously expensive, they don't put together the doses until the patient is physically at the hospital and ready to begin. Praise the Lord for our insurance! I can't imagine being uninsured in our position. It really is criminal that so many people have to go without good medical care in our country (and...end rant here).
Once we were ready to go, they started out with an injection of anti-puking drugs, and a heavy dose of benadryl to prevent reactions. The benadryl got into Braden's system immediately, put him right to sleep, and made his legs all twitchy and dancy-like. This was the worst part of the day. We were both unprepared for his reaction to the benadryl, and it scared us both quite a bit! Now that we know what to expect, next time will be easier. After that, the rest of the truly toxic drugs held no problems at all. The only side-effect we are currently experiencing is that the A of the ABVD round turns urine bright red...which, if you think about it, is pretty awesome. How many of us secretly want multi-colored excretions? Maybe it's just me. Sorry.
Now Braden's zonked out on the couch, sleeping off the rest of the benadryl. We're as prepared as we know how to be for the next few days. We're both curious, and a little apprehensive, to see what side- effects come with time. We are prepared for all sorts of stomach yuckyness, but praying for the best!
Next post will include a picture of Braden with his shaved head! We thought it best to preemt any hair loss, so we cut his hair as short as we could last night using sewing scissors and a straight razor. Booya.
Thanks again for all of the amazing support and love we've received! We'll keep the updates coming!
~ Christy
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Ready to rumble
I've just come back from my lung test which seemed positive and was a little bit fun. Tomorrow is the big day of starting chemotherapy and Christy has been given the day off to accompany me (on piano). We sent Laura and Dawn (wonderful in-laws) packing this morning back to New Hampshire and Connecticut respectively after a very fun visit in which I won the train game and the monk game an embarrassing amount of times. They did not let me win. I did it with skill and sneakery. They will be driving all day today. Please pray for their safe arrivals.
I think today, when Christy gets home, we will see if my head looks lumpy without hair. I've been curious on the matter for quite some time and now we'll know. I was excited last week about starting chemo, then I got a bit scared, and now I think I'm excited again ready to get active towards the cure. We've been praying against false hopes, like statistics and just wishing, and instead have been praying for God's strength, His peace, and trusting Him. Thanks again for your prayers! I'll let you know how it goes.
I think today, when Christy gets home, we will see if my head looks lumpy without hair. I've been curious on the matter for quite some time and now we'll know. I was excited last week about starting chemo, then I got a bit scared, and now I think I'm excited again ready to get active towards the cure. We've been praying against false hopes, like statistics and just wishing, and instead have been praying for God's strength, His peace, and trusting Him. Thanks again for your prayers! I'll let you know how it goes.
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