FREEDOM

Your chorus of prayers lifted up in my behalf for healing of the lung and release from the use of oxygen have been answered in the way we had hoped God would grant. On Friday my oncologist heard good sounding lungs, and so I am free during the day to use oxygen at my discretion. I will continue to use it during the night for a while anyway. I can certainly live with that. We are ordering a CAT scan to have a look at the lung and also the abdomen and pelvic areas. That will probably be some time this coming week. The chemotherapy treatment went without any problem, as we continue to start the drip slowly and build up to what I can tolerate. It takes a little longer that way, but what a small price to pay. Dr. Fox is addressing the concern of the extreme bone pain the last round by switching from one mega shot for increasing the white blood cells created through the bone marrow to a series of ten daily shots at a lesser dosage. As it builds in my system day-by-day I will still experience some pain but hopefully not as intense. I still anticipate the usual post-chemo weakness, dizziness, etc. this coming week and will sleep and rest a lot. But we are well on our way to recovery, as I have only two more chemo sessions to go. In the meantime I was able to actually use my stove to cook a hearty breakfast this morning and look forward to going out into the back yard to see where Willie has put the plants I have been given and to see his vegetable garden. Lots to be thankful for. Pattie K

READY FOR THE NEXT STEP

Hello to my family and friends. Thank you so much for your interest in and concern for my well-being. This is a reminder that my next chemotherapy session is coming up the morning of Friday, June 26. I will have blood drawn and talk with my oncologist prior to the treatment. We are all hoping for good news regarding getting rid of the oxygen, right? We also want the chemo drug to do its job in killing any and all cancer cells in my body. I will try to be courageous in facing the inevitable pain and weakness that comes the week following the chemo. Knowing that I am in your thoughts and prayers helps so much. Pattie K

FEELING BETTER

I wanted to let you know that starting over the weekend, I have begun to gradually feel better each day. I have learned, though, that how I feel is quite relative. Compared to six months ago I feel rather lousy; but compared to last week I feel great. I would say my level of weakness and pain is about 10% of what it was last week. My greatest desire right now is to get rid of the oxygen. I have had it 24/7 for three months now. I have a concentrator in the living room with a super long cord attached that I drag with me to go from room to room (even into the shower). On the other end is the cannula that goes across my face and into my nose. About the only time I take it off is to wash my face and put on make-up. Obviously I am pretty well limited to the house; not even the yard. I cannot cook as we have a gas stove, and I can't go near the flame. We do have a portable to use to go to medical appts.; but the tank holds only about an hour's worth of oxygen, which means that Willie watches it and always has an extra tank or two on hand. I needed the oxygen whenever I was having the fluid build-up of my lung; but with the chemo the build-up has stopped and the fluid is drying. My last drain was May 26. Let's pray the time is near for freedom from the limitations of the oxygen. I appreciate your thoughts and prayers. Pattie K

UNPREPARED

Somehow I lost what I wrote and will try again. I was not ready for the difficulty of this past week. Due to the new chemo drug and a shot last Saturday to encourage my bone marrow to manufacture more white blood cells, I have spent most of the week in bed. I have experienced weakness unlike anything I have known before, and the pain in my bones is deeper than I ever imagined pain could be. I had read that the effects of chemo were cumulative over time, but I was not prepared for what that actually would look like. Today I have felt a little better, and at Friday's medical appointment I was told that the worst should be over within the next several days. I was glad to hear that. I have much to be grateful for -- your concern and prayers; a visit today from Kurt, Barb, Megan and Ethan (our son and his family from Ft. Collins); for friends who provided meals this week. I never seem to be too sick to eat!! Lastly, my calendar shows that this will be the first week since late February that I have no medical appointments scheduled. Whatever will I do with my time? Pattie K

TWO SUCCESSES

First, Friday's CHEMOTHERAPY REPORT -- We introduced a new drug to replace the Taxol. A little while into the process I began to have a reaction. So they stopped the Taxotere, gave me more Benadryl, which should address the issue of reacting to the chemo drug. Then they told me to let them know when the symptoms were 100% gone. After about ten minutes we restarted the Taxotere and were able to complete the entire amount with no more problems. I was grateful for that. I will see over the next week what side effects might develop. Pray that they be minimal. Next, THURSDAY'S OUTING -- I had not been anywhere except to medical appointments since I went on oxygen on March 24. But Thursday I decided to go to GrandRabbits to buy birthday presents for Delia and Hayley (our son, Peter's, twin girls who live in CT and will turn four on June 21). So for the first time I put on one of those special scarves that people with hair loss wear, had Willie hook up the portable oxygen tank, and off we went. It felt good to get out a little. However, with the low white blood count I do have to be careful about going where there are lots of people and possibilities of germs, as I am very suseptible to infections at this particular point in my treatment. But I am grateful for the positive experience of being able to go to GrandRabbits. Pattie K