Enjoying the view

After the valley that was last week's post-chemo depression and decimation, it is with great pleasure that I say both my mom and I are enjoying the view from on top of one of the peaks of this trek.

The past few days have been good ones for her. She is eating, putting on weight (8 pounds in the last week), and feeling stronger. As I talk to her on the phone I almost forget that she is going through all of this. Her sense of humor is present. Her voice and spirit are both strong. I know that this is temporary and that she will most likely experience more lows after she goes through more chemo, but one day at a time for right now is how we're taking it.

Mom will be having a CT scan on Aug 11 and get the results on Aug 16. Hopefully this means that she will have a couple more weeks of feeling as good as she does now. I want nothing more than for her quality of life in between chemo treatments to be as high as possible. She is enjoying the views that her new residence affords her. She is finding a sense of peace and tranquility watching sailboats go up and down the Columbia River as well as the planes taking off from the Portland Airport. She is eating well (and often - at least for her) and watching some summer-time TV. So You Think You Can Dance is a favorite of hers right now. I 've managed to get her watching Rock Star and rooting for Portland's own Storm Large.

I would like to say hello to Veronique, a friend of Judy's who has been incredibly supportive of her and Mike as they continue on the journey to the Wizard for a new heart. Though she has never met Jenny, mom, or myself, she is spreading her love and support to us as well. Thank you so much Veronique. Judy has told us many wonderful things about you and your husband and we look forward to meeting you both someday.

Pat

2 down, 2 to go

Round 2 came and went but not before it took an exponential toll on mom's health. Dr. Smith had said the first round of chemo is typically the worst. This was most definitely not the case this time.

Mom was incredibly nauseous all last week as her body took the beating of its life. Luckily, Dr. Smith ordered for the chemo to be administered in the hospital. A lot of cancer patients will get chemo at an outpatient center where they stay for a matter of hours. Dr. Smith has deemed mom too weak to be a candidate for that method, opting for a cautious approach to her treatment. Both her and I are very thankful for this. In the hospital, she is quick to receive anti-nausea medication when necessary and this alone eases her recovery.

Unfortunately for her, this round of chemo decimated her strength, her energy, and for a few days, her spirit. I can only imagine what must have been going through her head as she faced a level of hell she had never before felt. Her weight dropped 10 pounds, back down to 100, where it was at the end of the first round of treatments.

That seems to be the pattern. Chemo leads to weight loss, recovery puts the pounds back on, and then chemo zaps them away again. I consider it to be training for her own personal marathon. Get the body to an acceptable state of relative wellness and let 'er rip again. This whole experience has been an emotional rollercoaster for her, but she now knows the physical ups and downs as well. It is my hope she can prepare herself mentally for another round like the last and hold on to the courage that has got her this far.

She will have plenty of time to recuperate at the Adult Foster Home that she is in. Jenny and I visited her there this weekend. She was doing well in her air-conditioned abode. She is gaining her strength back little by little. Her hair really came out this time so Jenny and I brought her a couple scarves. She still has enough up top for a mohawk, but despite my best efforts, she wasn't keen on that 'do. Her spirits are improving and hopefully the next few days will see some weight come back as well.

It sounds like Dr. Smith wants a CT scan within the next two weeks. We are looking forward to knowing what is going on in her war on cancer. Mom knows that I do this blog and told me to send her love to all of you. She is so thankful for the support and the prayers. We all are. Keep 'em coming.

Pat