Prayers

I know several of you have started reading my blog to find out how my mom is doing, so here's what has been happening this week:

We went to the oncologist this Monday in preparation of the second round of chemo, the three drug cocktail she will be receiving every three weeks.  We met with the pharmacist who was able to describe some of the side effects she will be facing with this set of drugs.  We were relieved to hear that the neuropathy and the rash she's been having are not associated with this new drug, so those symptoms should begin to improve.   This is a huge relief because her hands and feet have been incredibly swollen, itchy, and painful to the touch to the point that it's difficult for her even to wear socks and shoes or wash her hands.  These drugs bring new side effects though:  mouth sores and nausea.  The pharmacist gave her some prescriptions to help with those symptoms and then we saw the oncologist.  My mom's regular doctor was not in that day so we saw someone else.  She was able to help us understand at what point we need to call for some help with the symptoms.  The rash was so bad that the chemo nurses weren't going to give her the treatment, but the doctor just brushed her off, so we were feeling a little frustrated.  We talked about my mom going to Seattle for the baby shower for my sister and the oncologist said it would be okay.  She just recommended my mom get a shot to boost white cell development since her numbers are already really low, right above the line of acceptable.  My mom got the shot the day after chemo and wasn't having too much trouble with it.

But then she got sick.  This is the first time since beginning chemo that she got sick with fever and cough and everything.  She got her breathing machine for her apnea just a week ago or so and now she can't really use it because she coughs so much during the night.  I had to work on Thursday and I had a friend stay with the boys and she ended up caring for my mom too.   She called the doctor and got a prescription for antibiotics but it's not really knocking it out the way we had hoped.  She won't eat because nothing tastes good.  She made nasty faces when I offered her some eggs that I made for the boys.  Sweet taste is the worst.  Sour is a little better.  Her fever is still fluctuating and we have gone back and forth about taking her into the ER or trying to hold out until Monday.  Now that's it's later on Sunday, she has eaten a little bit more, but she still has a long way to go to get her strength and energy back.

Please add her to your prayers.  We don't even know how much of this is from the chemo and how much is the cold.  She has a couple more weeks to recover, but she desperately needs for her immune system to improve.  Thank you for everything!