Relay for Life

Yesterday, I went to a Relay for Life event at Westlake High School with Mom, Aunt Janet and Uncle Bill. Aunt Janet is a 33 year breast cancer survivor. Mom is a 6 month survivor. They were part of the 100 or so honored guests of the event. Uncle Bill and I were there as Caregivers. We were all given t-shirts for survivors and caregivers. We listened to the opening ceremonies speeches. Then, the survivors and caregivers walked around the track. Aunt Janet pulled Mom up to walk around. Mom made it about a quarter of the way around the track, but she just didn't have the energy to walk the entire lap. Aunt Janet made it around the track. It was really emotional to watch the survivors walk by. Mom is now a survivor and I'm so proud of that.

The Last Side Effect Cycle

I knew that the last treatment would be the hardest for Mom. Dr. Bagai has mentioned that she would feel more fatigued and more achy as her treatments went along. However, Mom handled the 3rd treatment pretty well. However, the last treatment has really hit Mom hard. She is now in the middle of her "lowest point" for her blood counts, when she really does feel the worse. Mom pretty much slept on and off for the past 4 days. She went out today for a short time, but that exhausted her and she was back in bed. Her allergies have really been in overdrive. We don't know if having her nose cauterized last week is also playing a role in all of this as well. We go to the Ear, Nose Throat Doctor tomorrow for a follow up.

Mom has a busy week ahead of her with the follow-up tomorrow and then a visit to the chiropractor on Wednesday. Friday night, we are going to a Relay for Life event at Westlake High School. Then, she is going to a retreat in Burton, Ohio for newly diagnosed breast cancer survivors. This is sponsored by The Gathering Place. I reminded Mom that she has all of this to do this week. She asked me when she would feel better. I said by Friday. She needed a goal. Any encouragement for her to feel better is a good thing. She's nearly there. She can do this!

Sue and I are going to put together a team for Race for the Cure in September for Pauline. More information to come on that event. We need a name for our team. Any suggestions?

Follow Up

Mom had an appointment with an Ear, Nose, Throat doctor yesterday afternoon to find out why she has been getting the nosebleeds the past few weeks. She had another nosebleed late Sunday night. Thankfully, this wasn't that bad and with the "tricks" that the emergency room doctor taught us, Mom was able to get the blood flow to stop. Anyways, we went to the doctor yesterday. He said that she had a burst blood vessel in her left nostril. He cauterized the vessel all the while cracking jokes. At least that put her a bit at ease. Now, she has to use an antibiotic cream in the nostril and wait for it to heal. We have a follow-up appointment next week to make sure that it is healing.

Mom is officially over going to doctor's offices, hospitals, etc. I am there with her!! I never wanted to have to know all the information that I have researched, but I have. Now is the time for Mom to recover and regain her health, strength and mental well being.

Mother's Day was very mellow for the family. We went to Sue's house for dinner. Mom was very tired and achy. She just sat and watched the kids play and wasn't very interactive with them. Once she feels stronger, she will be more interactive with the kids. (which I think will be a big factor in helping her heal). Mother's Day also put the past 5 months into perspective for me. I realized, even more than I already do, that it is important to cherish every minute with your parents!

Last Chemotherapy Treatment...With a Twist

Friday was Mom's last Chemotherapy treatment! That is something to celebrate! This will be her last time dealing with the chemo side-effect cycle!!! Everything went relatively smoothly during the treatment, it was later in the evening that the excitement happened.

We had our usual 7.5 hour day at the chemo lab. It started with her blood tests, a visit with the doctor and then off to her treatment. She got in the chemo lab about 10am and we left at 4:30pm. Her sugar level was elevated as in the past few weeks, due to the steroids. Dr. Bagai was concerned with that, so the nurse kept testing her sugar level and Mom got a few small doses of insulin. He also told her not to take the steroids at home the day after treatment. Mom was happy with that because the ups and downs of the sugar-level really messes up her system. Mom's red blood cell count was just a tad low of normal this time around too, but the doctor didn't seem concerned. Knowing that this was her last session, just made the time drag. We all wanted it over. Mom, Dad and I struck up a conversation with the patient sitting next to her and his family. They have been there the past 3 treatments. He has lung cancer and one more treatment to go. That helped make the afternoon go by quicker. Mom didn't have a reaction to the taxotere this time around. I kept watching her for reactions and this time, thankfully, she was fine. We have an appointment for the follow-up and next steps on June 1st. The doctor did mention that for sure she would be on a hormone treatment for the next 5 years. More on that when we get the official word from Dr. Bagai.

Now for the excitement! I drove Mom home from treatment. We got home and she got settled. I headed off to work for the evening at Steinmart, which is across the street from my parent's condo. I get a call from Dad at 8:15pm saying that Mom has been having a severe nose bleed for the last hour. Dad called the doctor and he said to call 911 and go to the hospital. I got there as the paramedics had arrived. I helped answer questions as they got Mom on the stretcher. Her nose was still bleeding. So much so, that she couldn't change out of her nightgown (which was covered with blood drops) or slippers. I gathered her robe and a jacket, then Dad and I headed to Fairview Hospital. . Mom's nose stopped bleeding in the emergency room. We settled in for a wait to see the doctor. I think that they were waiting for her nose to stop bleeding, before they did the visit. The doctor said that the nose bleed wouldn't be because of the chemotherapy, but her system is compromised, which does make these types of things happen. He said that would take some blood tests to make sure that the blood was clotting okay and let us decide if he would "pack" her nose or leave it as is until she saw an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist. Mom opted not to have the nose packed. Mom was released 2.5 hours after she got to the hospital. I dropped off Mom and Dad by midnight. As Mom was getting ready for bed, the nosebleed started again. It kept going for an hour, before she was able to get it to stop. Thankfully, the nosebleed hasn't come back since. What a day!!

I took mom to get her neulasta shot yesterday afternoon back at Fairview Hospital. Then, she wanted to run a few errands. She was doing pretty good. She has to get through this side-effect cycle and then she will be on the road to getting her health back. I have to say that I'm glad that I won't have to go back to the chemo lab. Not that we didn't get great care there, but it has too many negative connotations for me. I want to focus on the positive.

Family Time

Sunday evenings are family dinner time at my parent's house. We have been doing this since both my sister and I moved out of the house, so it is a long tradition. Sue brings the kids over and we have play time and a good hearty meal. Mom has been handling these gatherings pretty well during her chemotherapy. There have been times that she can't hold or lift Brynn or Beckett due to colds, etc. Plus, mom couldn't lift Brynn after her biopsy in December and surgery in January. Most of the time, Mom watches the kids play from afar. She says that she enjoys that just as much as lifting the kids! Well, last night, even though Mom was feeling very tired and achy, she lifted Brynn and gave her hugs and kisses. It was so sweet to see. The pictures are of the playing chaos with Beckett and Brynn last night.

Mom also forgot to put her scarf or hat on last evening when the kids came over. But, Beckett or Brynn did not seem to mind at all. Mom's hair is very thin, very short and gray, so it is a difference from just a few months ago. The kids didn't seem to even notice. That is actually a relief for mom, because she isn't a big fan of wearing the hats and scarves. She did get some cute hats, which she does look cute in, so that is a help. She doesn't quite have the head for the scarf-look.

The countdown to the last chemo treatment has begun...Friday, May 7th is the last treatment and then we go on to the next stage of her treatment against breast cancer returning.