Blood Transfusion, 4th round complete & 5th round started

Hi Everyone,

Sorry that it has taken forever to post an update on my mom!

My mom is doing well, just taking things one day at a time! :) She completed her 4th round of chemo a few weeks ago. After that round of chemo, she was starting to feel quite run down and was even more drained than usual. Her Dr.'s office called her after her weekly blood draw and told her that she would need to have a blood transfusion since her counts were quite low. After the blood transfusion she felt so much better and even had some "pep in her step"! She was then able to rest and try and get some of her energy back during her off week from chemo treatment. Her "off week" is a very precious and treasured week for her, one that she looks forward to with excitement and the opportunity to feel a little "normal" for a few days.

My mom started her 5th round of chemo 2 days ago which was this past Wednesday, May 13th! That means that she is really getting close to the finish line with only 1 1/2 more chemo rounds to go for a total of 3 more treatments!!!! She has told me on several occasions that the further she gets into her chemo treatments, the more intense the side effects seem to get. She continues to have a very positive outlook and is SO looking forward to finishing her chemo treatments soon, getting back to work & enjoying her everyday life again!

Next Wednesday, May 20th will be the 2nd dose in her 5th round of chemo. She will be off for a week and then start the 6th and (hopefully) final round of chemo on Wednesday, June 3rd with her last dose on Wednesday, June 10th!!!! June 3rd also happens to be my parents 35th wedding anniversary so needless to say, there will be more than one thing to celebrate that day!!!!

Thank you ALL for the love & support that you have shown during my mom's treatments!

Hugs,

Jennie

By the way, I do have a photo of my mom during her blood transfusion that my dad took. I will be adding the photo later this evening.

On the down hill run......

Yes, it is true!  My mom is on the down hill run on her chemo treatments!  She started her 4th round today!  Everything went according to plan and she is now home attempting to rest and let her body recover and let the chemo "do its thing"!  She has her 2nd dose (in the 4th round) scheduled for next Wednesday, April 29th.  I know that she is looking forward to that appointment next week since she also has an appointment to see her Oncologist and will be able to visit with him for a while and go over her treatment plan & the progress that she is making.

I'll update more next week but for now, just know that she is hanging in there and is very excited to be half way finished with her chemo treatments!!!!!  

Hugs,

Jennie  

3rd Round of Chemo Complete!!!

My mom finished her 3rd round of Chemo last Wednesday, April 8th! She is officially half way through her treatments! Yea!!! What an accomplishment!

Her treatment went well as usual with the exception of the nurse administering her chemo was very sick herself with a cold! My mom (along with the rest of our family) of course was not very happy being breathed on and handled by someone who was not feeling well themselves and then passing on those wonderful germs onto her. That just shouldn't be allowed!

My dad was able to take a picture of my mom while she was getting her chemo treatment so I wanted to be sure and attach that picture to this post. She looks great huh? :)

Over the last week she has been experiencing the "normal yuckies" as we like call it! She is looking forward to being off of chemo treatments this week so she can start to feel a little more normal again, even if it is only for a few days before it starts all over again.

We were unable to celebrate her half way mark on her chemo treatments this weekend but will celebrate it soon!!!!

My mom's next scheduled chemo treatment will be next Wednesday, April 22nd. Thanks again for your continued support and love!

Hugs,

Jennie & Sheree

3rd Round of Chemo started

Today my mom started the 1st dose in her 3rd round of Chemo!  That means that she is almost half way through her chemo treatments!  YEA!!!!!  We are so proud and excited for her to be at the halfway point!!!!  She will have the 2nd dose in her 3rd round of chemo next Wednesday April 8th.  

So, she will not be feeling very well over the next few days but the chemo is doing everything that it should be doing.  It just has some not so nice side effects that go along with chemo treatments (which are very normal to have).  One great thing that I wanted to be sure to mention is that my mom has NOT lost her hair!  It has thinned in spots but has not all fallen out.  

My mom has mentioned that she is going to try and take her camera with her during her next treatment so we can post a few pictures with the next update.  Years from now I'm sure that she will want to be able to look back at those pictures and see how far she has gone and all that she accomplished during this trial in her life.

I'll post more next week after the remaining dose in her 3rd round.  I was also thinking it might be nice if our family celebrated this half way mark during her journey while our family will be together over the Easter holiday.  Ideas anyone????    

Thanks for all of your love & prayers!!!!

Hugs,

Jennie

2nd Round Completed

Today my mom completed her 2nd round of chemo!  Yea!  The administering of her chemo went very smoothly at her oncologists office and they were able to find a good vein to use on the first attempt!  My mom really likes her new nurse who will be administering her chemo each time and her nurse as well as the rest of the staff are taking very good care of her during her treatments.

My mom was also able to visit with her oncologist after her round of chemo this afternoon.  Her oncologist was very uplifting and told my mom that she is really doing well all things considered and he was also able to answer the questions that she had for him.  The good news he gave her today is that her cancer cell levels are going down which means that her cancer is responding to the chemo treatments!  As soon as my mom has more energy she will post an update but for now just know that she is finished with her 2nd round of chemo and only has 4 more rounds to go!  The end is in sight! :)

The dates for her 3rd round of chemo are scheduled for April 1st & April 8th (subject to change of course).  I know I'm starting to sound like a broken record but I just wanted to be sure and "Thank all of YOU" for your wonderfully uplifting encouragement and prayers!  The love & support that she feels from all of you is truly a blessing!

Love to all of you,

Jennie (Sheree's Daughter)  

2nd Round of Chemo is under way

I just wanted to post a quick update to let you know that my mom started her 2nd round of chemo this past Wednesday, March 11, 2009.  She is doing remarkably well all things considered.  She is feeling a lot more nauseated this time around and has not had as much energy but her spirits and attitude continue to remain high!    

My mom will go back in for the last half of her 2nd round of chemo on Wednesday March 18, 2009.  Once she is feeling a little better I'm sure that she will post an update herself but in the meantime I just wanted keep everyone informed.

Thanks again for all of the love & support.  You are the best!

-Jennie  

1st Round of Chemo Completed!!!!

It is a day for CELEBRATION!!  I finally completed my first complete round of chemo on Tuesday, February 24th!  I even had the Neulesta shot that you have to have after each round that helps with the white blood count.  So far, so good!  I am so grateful for each day that I feel fairly normal and feel like eating.  I am resting as much as possible and enjoying each moment!   I do not have anything next week (Hooray!!!).

 

My next round of chemo starts on Wednesday, March 11th.  I will have both Gemzar and Carboplatin for Day 1.  Then Day 8 will be on Wednesday, March 18th, when I will just have Gemzar and another Neulesta shot.  I won't have anything the week of March 22nd!  (Hooray again!)  The only thing that I keep having to work on is not getting to constipated ~ it makes for bad days!! (I know, to much information!) 

 

I do know, for a fact, that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is a THANK YOU to Heavenly Father for all that I have!  I am truly blessed!  (A.I.E.)