Almost there...

We've made it!  It has been a difficult two days, but we are finally at the end of this road.  Chris is swollen, tired, and very ready to go home.  He did a great job!

Christopher will go home and rest for the next week before returning to work. We are excited to go home and be reunited with our four-legged babies, Sophie and Stella!  And we are thrilled to return to normalcy for the next eight weeks.  Even though this treatment is grueling, it's really only ten days of hardship. We feel very fortunate for that.

Chris and I will return to Roswell in mid April for the results of the treatment.  Please continue to pray that it is God's will to heal Christopher!  Thank you for all your love and prayers!!!!  We couldn't do it without you.

Much love, Teresa xo

Good bye Day 3

Good morning!

I'm sending a quick update while Chris gets a morning dose of IL2.  He did great yesterday.  He was able to get an afternoon dose.  He did a wonderful job walking yesterday.  He's becoming very swollen and walking helps to disperse the fluid from his hands and feet.  After the walk, he sat in the recliner and watched the 11 o'clock news.  Thank you to the Buffalo Sabres for their decisions yesterday.  You gave my husband a terrific distraction!

While I'm very happy it's Thursday, we still have to get through this agonizing day.  Sometimes the closer you are to the finish line, the longer it takes to get there.  Thank you for your texts, comments, and cards.  As usual, it helps the time pass by.

Much love, Teresa xo

Delayed Day 2

It's Wednesday morning!  The beginning of our halfway day!

Chris was able to get two doses yesterday.  One at 10 last night, thus my delayed blog post.  It was very difficult and the side effects hit him hard.  Luckily this morning, he is feeling much better.

We skipped this morning's dose and are using the time to recharge.  Chris just ordered breakfast and I'm awaiting my dad's arrival with Starbucks!  I'm in desperate need of it after last night.

We hope you have a happy Wednesday.

Much love, Teresa xo

We're Baaack

Hi Everyone!

Did your week go as fast as mine?  Hopefully many of you will be reading my blog posts from your laptop on a beach while sipping an adult beverage!  Unfortunately, our winter break will be spent overlooking the wind turbines along the Buffalo waterfront.  But with much hope and faith, it will all be worth it in the end!

I've actually spent the majority of today looking for a vacation destination for our spring break.  We will be on a cancer treatment reprieve.  We are thinking the puppies, along with Chris and I, deserve a getaway!  Hopefully, I'll be able to find the perfect spot.  We haven't given ourselves much time to browse!

We've been welcomed back to Five West.  Honestly, it feels like the summer was only yesterday.  It really is amazing how quickly time goes.  Not that this blog post should be an advice column today, but take advantage of every moment.  Yes, many times it's easier said then done, but it's so very important to live in the moment.  It really does your body good.  Not that I want to live in this moment, I know it will help shape our future selves.

Back to my patient.  He got his first dose of IL2 at 2 pm.  Although he didn't rigor, he has spiked a nice high fever.  He's very uncomfortable.  My prediction: no dose at 10.  But one never can really tell.  These weeks turn out to be very unpredictable.

On a happy note, Christopher's platelet count is nice and high!

Have a beautiful night.  Soon I can cross today off of our week.  I know some of you don't want this week to go fast.  I wouldn't either if I had a glass of wine in hand and was watching the sunset on a beach somewhere.  From our little hospital room with my cooling tea in hand, I'd really like it to fly by!

Much love, Teresa xo

Day 4 and the beginning of Day 5

Yesterday was a quiet day.  Chris's platelets are not in the mood to cooperate.  Translation; his body is nearing its IL2 limit.  We did not get any doses on Thursday, but just got one this morning.  It was his seventh dose.  We were able to match the amount from our first week in July.  Chris has felt pretty good.  He was able to eat here and there throughout the week.  Overall, he's tolerated everything pretty well.

I think this will be our last dose.  We will use the rest of the day to recover and prepare to go home tomorrow.  We will continue our diet throughout treatment, hoping that it will help starve the tumor.   Most importantly, we will continue to have faith.  We will pray that God continue to guide us down the path to healing.  The path meant for Chris and I.  As my friend Julie beautifully said, this was meant to be part of our life story.  Lent begins on Wednesday, a reminder of how important God is in our journey.

Thank you for all your loving support.  Chris and I, as always, appreciate it more that words can ever express.

Much love,
Teresa xo

Day 3

Sorry for the delayed post.  It was a long night.  Chris and I are both quite tired.  The days are starting to blend into one another.  Chris was able to get two doses yesterday.  His platelets are causing a problem once again.  They keep dropping on us, preventing two doses in a row.  We had to skip this morning's dose.  It was disappointing because Chris feels good and was ready to endure it all again.  Instead, we both got some sleep and will get up and walk the halls shortly.  We are keeping our fingers crossed that his body will let us get in a few more doses before we are discharged on Saturday.  Have a great day!

With love,
Teresa xo

Day 2

This post will be short.  It is 12:30 in the morning and Chris is enduring a round of side effects from his 10 pm dose.  Chris was able to get two doses in today.  2 pm and 10 pm.  We had a nice reprieve this morning.  Chris was able to walk two miles (31 laps on the floor is a mile) and take a shower.  He felt good enough to have some breakfast too.  His appetite will fade away as the week progresses.  So here we are in the late hours of night, taking on another dose.  Tomorrow is Wednesday, half way through the week...hooray!

Much love,
Teresa xo

Day 1

It certainly doesn't feel like seven months have passed since we've graced 5 West with our presence.  The smells hit Chris and I instantly.  The smells of disinfectant, disease, and courage.  We were greeted with a beautiful, warm welcome as we crossed the threshold to our home for the next 5 days.  The nurses were so happy to see us.  They do want you to return, it means something is working!  We were welcomed by a few adorable baby bumps. It's amazing how drastic lives can change in only a few short months.  We were even more happy to find out our long lost caregivers, Jim and Theresa, signed up to take care of us for the next three days!  It was even sweeter when we were told several nurses wanted to take care of us, but they scooped us up first.  It is such a relief knowing we have such terrific people taking care of us.  They truly are amazing.

Today felt like getting on a bike when you haven't been on one in a year.  I was a little rusty at first, but it's all coming back pretty quickly.  I'm remembering the drug names, the blood pressure cuff instructions, our side effect routine...

Chris got his first dose of IL2 at 2 pm.  He tolerated it pretty well.  Very mild rigors, body aches, and a headache.  Now he is sleeping next to me, feeling as if he has the flu.  Remember the side effects will get more severe with each dose and we won't get every dose in.  Blood work will be taken and we will see if Chris is ready for a dose at 10 pm.  It'll be a long night here on 5 West, but then it will be over, and we will be one day closer to going home.

Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers!

Much love,
Teresa xo

Treatment Plan

Sorry for the post delay.  Life has been a bit busy this week.  It seems that to get into a clinical trial, you must be very sick.  Christopher is not sick enough...and that's okay...I'd like it to stay that way.  The study we were hoping to be a part of is looking for patients that have tried multiple treatments with no impact.  Fortunately, that's not us.  This means on Monday we will be checking into our old stomping grounds, 5 West at Roswell Park.  Chris will undergo another round of IL2.  While this treatment is grueling and absolutely icky, it is by no means the worst drug to have to take.  I've been praying that God guide us to the best treatment, so IL2 it is.  Check the blog, I'll be back to my daily updates as we continue our battle.  I keep telling myself the sooner we get this started, the sooner we'll be finished.  Please pray for us this week!

With love,
Teresa xo