Update Feb 23, 2009

Sorry for the long delay...my mom is feeling better. Her cold seems to be gone. Her WBC have gone down, despite multiple neuprogen shots last week. Maybe that's because they were fighting off the cold? Not sure if that's medically accurate. Anyway, her next doctor's appointment is Wednesday for more blood work and either another shot or start her back up on the Revlimid. Please keep praying.

Update Feb 9, 2009

My mom is slowly on the mend. She's getting up to walk around. She doesn't sound like an seasoned smoker anymore. She still has a nasty cough and resting in her recliner is her favorite activity. Today is the last day of the antibiotics, so hopefully she'll keep getting better.

Keep Praying

Over the past few days my mom has developed a pretty bad cold. Stuff has been going around but because of my mom's weakened immune system she isn't fighting it off well. She was up the past few night coughing. When I went to visit (and take her to a doctor) she looked pretty sick. I called her oncologist to ask if this is something we need to worry about. He talked to my mom and she wasn't up for talking with me except that he is putting her on antibiotics. Hopefully over the next few days she'll start feeling better. I'll keep you all posted.

Update Feb 3, 2009

My mom's WBC have dropped again. Last week they were down to 400 but are back up to 1100 this week. She's off treatments again. Her doctors have different theories (of course) on what the next step is. One wants her to stop treatments all together and let her body heal. She would restart them if her cancer numbers got bad again. Her other doctor wants her to continue a low dose permenantly-as long as her body can handle it. Both theories make sense but who will win?

She has also stopped Zometa treatments. During her annual dentist appointment, the x-rays showed a dark spot on her jaw. Apparently long exposure to Zometa causes something of the jaw. I can't remember what the word was but nevertheless she's stopped Zometa and will have x-rays again in a month.

Sorry I only post when there is not so great news. Hopefully there will be some victories to report soon.

Giving Thanks

Late in coming but much to give thanks over. Wednesday before Thanksgiving we found out Betty's WBC count was up to 3000...YIPPIE!! She was deemed ready for treatment and that day they started her back on the Revlimid. Get their body back and break it again - that the oncologists motto. She went this past Wednesday to check her WBC again and they were up to 4000!! She's scheduled to go back on Wednesday, again, to check her numbers, again. We may petitioned the state to build a tram from my mom's house to Greenwich, only one stop in between: "The Club Sandwich" in New Canaan - YUM.

Can We Get A White Blood Cell?

Wednesday Mom headed back to the doctors to check her WBC and possibly begin her final Revlimid cycle. Unfortunately, she's only at 1100 white blood cells. Her doctor doesn't seem worried and thank God (yes, please take a moment to thank Him) the kids (and thus my mom) haven't been sick yet. She got another Neuprogen shot and will make the 30 minute drive again next Wednesday to have blood work, again.

As I was going through some boxes this week, I found the notebook I kept during my mom's stem cell transplant. It was kind of funny to see how neurotic I was. I wrote down everything, medicines she had to take, her temperature and blood sugars, a few days I wrote what food she ate and how she reacted, and near the end her blood work. I discovered after her chemo, her WBC dropped to below 100. We are grateful for the extra 1000 this time, but could really use about 4000 more :)

Today Mom is hosting a Lily & Nana Special Day. Right now they should be taking naps but what they are actually doing...hmmm.

Little Improvement

My mom had her appointment on Wednesday and there wasn't much improvement. Her WBC is only 1100, still a far cry from where it needs to be. She got another shot of Neuprogen and holds off on further treatments for another week.