Jim Has Something to Show You

What's that you say? You can't see? Here, let's see if this helps.

It's really happening! It's hair! Jim is growing hair! I remember the sickening feeling we had as we watched him lose his hair. His thick, beautiful hair, on the shower floor. Now we are having fun as it is growing back in. Whenever we walk by Jim, we always rub his head to feel that new hair growing. Especially Kyle. He is loving it.

Yesterday Jim saw the nurse practitioner. His white blood count took a dive which means he is neutropenic again. He is not allowed out in public and his diet is once again restricted. No more fresh fruits or vegetables for a while. The reason? Because they could carry germs that might cause Jim to get sick. Everything must be cooked. We also had to get rid of our houseplants because they could carry fungus. So, now's the time we break out the Lysol wipes and keep everything clean, clean, clean!

His platelet count and hemoglobin are both low but no transfusions were required yesterday. Jim returns on Friday when we expect he'll receive transfusions. He doesn't have much energy and is often cold but he's doing well. By the way, doesn't he look great!

He's Home

Jim was discharged from the hospital this morning. He is tired today but feeling well. Although his blood counts were not as high as they had hoped to have them for admission to the hospital, he did not require any transfusions while in the hospital. He will see his doctor tomorrow, and they will be keeping a close eye on his blood counts as we expect they will begin to drop.

The time that Jim is away from us is a tough time for the rest of the family. We are happy to have him home and look forward to moving on to when Jim is back to full strength.

We are once again humbled by all of your prayers and concern for our family. Your support has meant so much to us.

Counting Down the Days

Jim's hospitalization is going as expected. Yesterday, he felt better and received more chemo. Today was a bit rougher and he requested medication to help with his discomfort. This evening, Steven, Kyle and I went up to visit and Jim was doing much better. Tomorrow will be the last time this week that he will receive chemo. We are definitely counting down the days until he will be back home again.

Thanks for your continued concern and prayers for us.

A Morphine Day

We have learned from Jim's other hospitalizations that the day after he receives chemo is the day he experiences all the nasty side effects of chemo. That day was today. Jim was feeling achy all over with an upset stomach and no energy. He has also learned, however, to request the medication that has been ordered for him sooner rather than later to make himself as comfortable as possible. So after I saw how uncomfortable and sick he was, I stayed by his bedside as the medications took effect and watched him peacefully sleep. It is amazing to me how the medication that is saving his life makes him so miserable. We are so thankful for the chemotherapy drugs and yet dread them so much!

This evening Jim seemed to be feeling better. Very much like his other hospitalizations have gone. Tomorrow we press on with the next dose all the while counting down the days until he is discharged. We have our eye on the finish line with the determination to make it through.

Thanks for your prayers and concern . . . and for the meals and the cards and the emails and the comments . . . and for all the love you've shown us. It is all very encouraging and very much appreciated.

One Last Time

Jim was admitted to Lutheran Hospital this morning for the third round of chemotherapy in the Consolidation Phase. Hopefully, this will be the last time he will need inpatient chemotherapy. His spirits are up, and he is determined to see this through to the end. He sounded tired this evening and complained of a little nausea, although had received medication to counteract that.

Thank you to all those who are once again caring for us with meals, cards, well wishes and prayers. It is the encouragement that we need now as we continue press on. Please pray for strength and comfort for Jim, and that he would be completely healed of this disease.

It's Finally Time

Jim saw his doctor yesterday and his blood draw showed that his counts were all within the normal range except for his hemoglobin which is still low. It was decided to admit him for his third and final round of chemotherapy in the Consolidation Phase even though his hemoglobin is low. Jim will be admitted tomorrow morning, on the 21st, with a plan to discharge him the following Monday, the 26th. The doctor assured him that hemoglobin is the easiest to replace with transfusions, and they could begin transfusions while he was still an inpatient if that was necessary. We are glad to finally get on with this step of the process, but Jim is understandably as little down as he knows what he is in for. He's not looking forward to not feeling well over the next few weeks.

After this round of chemo and once his blood counts return to normal, Jim will undergo another bone marrow biopsy. It is our understanding that if this test result shows normal blood cells and no leukemia, Jim will be declared in remission.

Please pray for Jim again this week as he undergoes this round of chemo. Pray that the side effects would be minimal and that Jim would be as comfortable as possible this week. Thank you to all who have followed us on this journey. We so appreciate all your love and support.

ARGH!! Frustration!

Last Wednesday I had a doctor appointment, and they told me my counts were rising and that I could get out of the house this weekend. So I did. Lunch out. Dinner out. Grocery store. Church. Lunch out again. It was a good weekend. I was able to ease some of the cabin fever I was feeling. My spirits were up. A little time out and now I am prepared to go back in to the hospital and have my last round of chemo.

Yesterday, the doctor said that my platelet and white cell counts had risen but not enough to be admitted for more chemo. I was also surprised to find out my hemoglobin fell. They gave me the choice of having a red blood cell transfusion or I could go without. If I had the transfusion, then my hemoglobin would be artificially high so we would have to wait for time to pass to determine when my body was producing hemoglobin on its own. If I didn’t take the transfusion, then my numbers would be real, but since I was already below the level when a blood transfusion is required, I was told I would be tired and that another blood draw would be needed on Wednesday to monitor my hemoglobin level. I chose no blood.

Well here is my beef. It is with my body:

The counts did not rise fast enough or high enough.
My hemoglobin fell.
I chose tired over a longer delay.

Today, I am really tired. I feel like my hemoglobin has fallen even lower (the result of the choice I made). My attitude before the labs came back was to let the doctor choose when I should go back in. My thinking was that if they said now, I’d get done a few days earlier. If they said wait a week, then I would feel well and enjoy the week. The answer was neither.

So if ever there was a lesson from God, I am learning it the hard way. Patience. Patience. Patience. I was patient on my terms. But God seems to say that my terms are not enough. Let’s learn it on His terms. So, as I lay on the couch, awake but resting, I will learn patience, and I will learn it. I will work on my attitude so that I will learn it with an open heart.

Jim

The Blood Counts Are On The Rise!

We received good news from Jim's doctor yesterday! Jim's blood counts dropped lower than they had before and have taken longer to rise with this last round of chemo than with the previous round. Monday, we were hoping they would be in the low range but not require any transfusions. Not so. Jim's platelets were still low and so a transfusion was ordered. When he returned yesterday, we were pleased to hear that his counts are beginning to rise. That means, by this weekend, he will be able to go out in public again with no diet restrictions. It also means that Jim will have more energy and feel better. And yes, I've started a short to-do list!

It is interesting how we can almost predict what level his counts are at by the level of energy he has. It is nice to see a spring in his step again and a smile on his face. Thank you to all those who contacted Jim this week by sending cards or emails or stopping by for a visit or phone call. It really does help the time go by in a sweeter way when he is homebound. We are truely blessed with wonderful friends and family.

A Quiet Week

This was a week where we laid low. Jim's blood counts have been lower than they were the last time he had chemotherapy. That means he didn't have much energy, has been cold and sometimes short of breath. He was monitored closely by his doctor and received platelets on two days this week and yesterday spent 5 hours at the outpatient clinic and received 2 units of hemoglobin and 1 of platelets. Brad and Steven have both been gone on a band trip to Phoenix which made for a quiet household for us. We are looking forward to next week when hopefully Jim's blood counts will begin to rise and he will feel better and have more energy. Until then, we will continue to work on puzzles and take down Christmas decorations. We wish you all a joyous New Year!