Tentative Treatment Schedule

I thought I would post some important dates in Chris' treatment schedule. These are dates that we could use tons of positive thoughts and prayers. We will not know if the drugs did their job until September. If the they did, we will repeat our treatment. Then we would have another eight weeks off, followed by a CT scan, and hopefully a third and final round of treatment. I know Chris' treatment is confusing, so hopefully this layout makes it a bit easier to understand. xo, Teresa August 27: CT scan (we pray that this will show that the cancer has shrunk, or better yet, disappeared.) September 4: Appointment with Dr. Pili to find out the results of the scan. September 17-21: 5 day stay in the hospital, receiving IL2 treatment. September 22-30: Home for nine days recovering. October 1-5: 5 day stay in the hospital, receiving IL2 treatment.

Treatment Week 2, Day 5

We did it! Our treatment for the summer is complete! Chris was able to get his eighth and final dose at 2 o'clock this afternoon. He is still recovering. While I type, he is lying next to me, his feet swollen and elevated, his skin "sunburned", and his body fighting the end of a high fever. It's been a very difficult finish. The side effects at the end were horrendous, but it's over. He has been an unbelievable fighter. I knew he would be, he has a lot worth fighting for. Words cannot express how much I love this man. I'm so proud of the husband he is. We believe in our love, we have hope for our future, and we have faith in the Lord. Those three things will get us through the next six months. Yes, I typed six months. We may have won this battle, but we haven't finished the war. We get a reprieve for eight weeks. Then we will come to the hospital for a CT scan. We will believe, hope, and pray that the cancer has shrunk (or better yet, disappeared). If it does, we will have another round of treatment. To better explain this, I will post a tentative treatment schedule in the morning. As Dr. Pili said when he came to visit Chris today, it is time to go home, enjoy summer, and celebrate life! Love to all of you for coming on this journey with us. We are beyond blessed that God has put you in our life. Your thoughts, prayers, and words of encouragment have been a tremendous support. There is strength in numbers. It is with your love that we will overcome this hurdle in our first year of marriage. xo, Teresa

Treatment Week 2, Day 4

Excuse my late post, but Chris received a 10 o'clock treatment and we are both drained. Yesterday was a tough day. With every treatment the side effects become more difficult to recover from. Chris got an early morning dose that took him the entire day to finally feel better. He was strong enough for the night dose. We were up until about four this morning dealing with the effects. We got through it and we are one day away from our summer vacation! Chris has been able to get seven doses this week, the same amount he received last time. That doesn't often happen! Will we be able to get one more today? We will wait and see what his body tells us. Thank you for the continued positive thoughts and prayers! We can feel them giving us the strength to get through the finish line! xo, Teresa

Treatment Week 2, Day 3

I cannot begin to tell you how happy we are that this day is over. More than half the week is complete! Once again, our day was redundant. IL2 dose, rigors, Demerol, fever, cold compresses, sleep. Repeat. The days are blending into one continuous cycle. A cycle that we can't wait to end. Please don't think I am complaining! Redundant is okay. It's fantastic, really. Redundant means everything is working. Chris is doing great. He takes each dose like a champion. He was able to get two doses in today, giving us a total of five, thus far. He is walking in between doses and drinking tons of water. He is experiencing some swelling in his hands and feet. I've been rubbing them with a special lotion that should help his sensitive skin. He tells me he owes me many a foot massage after this is over, and I plan on holding him to it! His wedding band is now around my neck, it was too tight on his finger. And of course, we purchased a metal that cannot be resized, or cut off easily. Therefore, I will wear it on a necklace close to my heart until he can put it back on. Chris is resting comfortably, so I'm going to snuggle up in my chair and see if I can catch the fireworks from the All Star game at Bison stadium. We are beyond thrilled that tomorrow is Thursday. We are getting there! Love to all! xo, Teresa

Treatment Week 2, Day 2

My post will be short and sweet tonight. Today seems like the day that never wants to end. Nothing eventful happened (which is fine by both of us), but the seconds felt like minutes, and the minutes felt like hours, and the hours felt like days. We are both starting to succumb to exhaustion. Last night I wrote that we would take it one dose at a time. We were hopeful Chris would get the ten o'clock treatment. Now, I need to eat my words. I shouldn't have predicted the next dose! He didn't receive it. He spiked a fever, which we've all learned means, no treatment! Instead, he was able to get two doses of IL2 today! With each dose the side effects are the same, but the recovery time is becoming longer and longer. Mentally, Chris is amazing. Physically, his body is fighting very hard. There will not be an evening treatment. Dr. Pili was satisfied with Chris's performance today. We will see what the morning brings. We continue to keep the faith. We know that we can handle this...one dose at a time! Sweet dreams. xo, Teresa

Treatment Week 2, Day 1

Deja Vu. As we walked into the 5 West corridor, it didn't feel like we'd been gone nine days. It felt as though we never left. We were greeted by the smiling faces and happy welcome of the amazing nursing staff. I really cannot express what wonderful people work here. Our nurse, Jim, claimed us today and so did our night nurse Theresa. Not that I should pick favorites, but they are fantastic. The moment I found out they were taking care of us, a wave of relief washed over me. The day got off slow and steady, but I look at that as a good sign. It's what wins the race in the end, right? On a side note, I cannot forget to mention the highlight of our day. Chris' platelet count skyrocketed while we were home! We are hoping this will help him get in a few extra doses, however, we've learned to take it one dose at a time. Chris' dad, my parents, Granny, Poppa and DJ were here today. Of course, DJ helped keep us entertained. He and Chris have decided to grow "treatment beards." While Chris' beard is relatively filled in, DJ's is more of a patchwork quilt. I apologize for those that see him out in public and do not know that his disheveled appearance is not intentional, but in support of his brother-in-law. Unfortunately, the first dose did not arrive on time. We anxiously waited until Jim showed up with the purple gloves at 3 o'clock. When administering toxic medications, the nurses where purple gloves. We've yet to learn why, but I'm guessing they have some kind of extra protective coating. Not the most settling thought when you know this drug will be pumped through your veins. My déjà vu moment came as Chris began to get the daunting side effects of his first IL2 dose. He had the rigors, but only for a short time. Jim adminstered the Demerol immediately and they subsided in ten minutes. Now, four hours later, Chris is napping with a slight fever and a round of nausea. We are very hopeful he will receive his next treatment at 10 o'clock. As the sun sets I'm visualizing a calendar, and I'm crossing off Day One. Please continue to think and pray for us as you watch the sun set from your porches and decks. Another day of your summer is ending, but it is one day closer to ours beginning. xo, Teresa

Hiatus

I apologize.  I wrote in my last post that I would continue to write while we were home recuperating.  Clearly, that has not been the case.  Chris and I were home Saturday by noon.  Even though we were both beyond exhausted, we were beyond elated to finally be home.  As we were waiting for the discharge papers, I could not believe the butterflies I was feeling to get out of that hospital and get home with my husband.  I felt like our first week of summer could actually begin.  I thought I'd blog when I got home, let everyone know we were home safe and sound.  But my emotions surprised me, as most women's do.  I had no desire to blog, document or discuss.  Do you know the very first thing I did when we got home?  I unpacked.  I unpacked everything.  As quickly as I tried to make the hospital room home-like for Chris, I just as quickly tried erasing it. I tried to turn my home back into the warm, loving place we had worked so hard to make it. I wanted to forget about hospitals, and blood pressures, and Tylenol, and schedules, and cancer for the next nine days.  I wanted to be the newlyweds we were supposed to be this summer. I wanted to use my china, my wine glasses, my new water pitcher.  All of the wedding gifts you use during your first few years, then decades later you realize it's just easier to use paper.  I wanted to try new recipes that take ridiculous amounts of preparation only to be consumed, and possibly disliked, in twenty minutes.  I wanted to go shopping for the old school Schwinn bikes I'd been conning Chris into buying, so we could pedal around the neighborhood on a lazy summer morning.  I wanted to work in our flower gardens. I wanted to enjoy an early morning cup of coffee on our deck while the birds chirped and Sophie sunbathed. And we did. We did all of it.  Thank you so much for thinking about us.  Though we've remained quiet this week, your kindness has not gone unnoticed.  We have been blessed with meals, cards, gift certificates. It's overwhelming at times.  I can only hope someday we can pay it all forward.  I promise, we are going to try.  I will begin updating daily. As you know, tomorrow begins another week at Roswell. Our final hospital stay for the summer. We can do it.  I know we can.  We have all of you to help get us there.  I'm starting to see a small light at the end of the tunnel.  xo, Teresa