Yesterday was a good day, and we were all feeling very encouraged by the doctor's hopes for my mom. She was feeling so well, she was ready to come home! Today was unfortunately just the opposite. My mom had a severe reaction to the chemotherapy drug, and was very ill all morning. It really frightened her as she said she couldn't breathe or see, and she was severely nauseous. They gave her an IV medicine to help the nausea, so when I arrived this afternoon she was feeling a bit better.
We were also discouraged by the potentcy of this chemo drug. I had to put gloves on before entering the room, and we were told that I could not hug her, or touch anything she had touched. All of her clothes must be washed seperately from the family's when she comes home, and the children are not to touch her skin due to any perspiration. We cannot handle her drinking glasses, etc...Toilets must be flushed twice, and she is only to use one that the rest of the family does not use. If one of the chemo pills breaks open, the family is instructed to leave the room and not inhale any of the dust from the powder. This is so serious, that she is doubting if she wants to continue on the chemo course as she does not want to risk our children's growth and development by being exposed to such a drug. She also wants to weigh her days in terms of "quality" time vs. "quantity." We will meet with the oncology doctor tomorrow morning to discuss all of her concerns.
Please keep us in your prayers, and especially my mom as she weighs all the pros and cons of this treatment. I have told her this is a decision she needs to make for herself, and we will stand by whatever course she wants to follow. Being the organized person she is, she is already thinking ahead to returning to Red Bluff. She told the nurses that she wants to be at her party in February, and wants to feel well enough to enjoy her time! I will keep you posted as to what the doctor says tomorrow, and what she decides to do. Thank you again for your continued love, hope, and support!
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
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7 comments:
Denise...with this chemo mouth sore, I can say with authority, quality counts for A LOT! Maybe there is a different protocol they could try. I'll be praying for Grandma Lorraine's decision and that she has peace with it.
Hi Denise,
I am so sorry to hear the first round of chemotherapy did not go so well for your Mom. We pray that with each treatment her body will adjust and she can handle the chemotherapy better.
That is so scary to hear about the Chemotherapy pills and how dangerous they can be for others. I had no idea.
We love you all. Keep the Faith!
Love, DeClercq's
Denise. What a difficult day for all of you. Please know that we love you and are thinking of you and your mom constantly. I am so sorry that she suffered so today.
Kirsten
Hi Lorraine,
So sorry the chemo threw you for a loop. My mom sends her best wishes and prayers to you too.
How about a joke for the day-- To impress his date, the young man took her to a very chick Italian restaurant. After sipping some fine wine, he picked up the menu and ordered. "We'll have the Giuseppe Spomdalucci," he said. "Sorry, sir," said the waiter. "That"s the owner."
Okay, so that way lame. Lots of love, Judy
Denise, I am so, so very sorry to read today's blog. Please give your mom a great big hug. And give yourself one, too, from me. I am thinking of you and praying hard. You're in my heart. I just called my mom and you're in her prayers, too, of course. I, too, had no idea about the inherent dangers involved in taking a particular type of chemo pill. And I also wish for peace in her thoughts tonight. Give her a great big smile for me!
love,
kim l.
Denise,
I'm so very sorry to hear that today was so very hard, but I know it's such a comfort to your mom to have you there with her! I pray that this new day will be a good one! Please give my love to your mom, Tom, and the children.
Beth
Denise, we are so sorry that the treatments are not working out for your Mom. It saddens us to know that she had such pain today. We will continue to pray for God to show her the answers she needs and to give her peace in the decisions she makes. Please know we are thinking about all of you!
Love,
The Wileys
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