Week 8...

Last week was an interesting week in regards to not only chemo but Mom n George's future arrangements. As of August 1st their lease officially started on the townhouse they'll eventually live in on the property where George works.

Two Saturdays ago (July 24) George and I took 3 trips with a trailer from storage to their place. We made a pretty good dent in the 15 foot by 30 foot storage unit where their stuff was stored. We made another trip Monday, and another Tuesday. Wednesday (July 28) was Chemo Day (full dose) and Mom had come off her bye week from chemo and was feeling pretty good that day. I took the day off, took mom to chemo about 12:30 and then Heather and I went to an all day concert. George picked mom up at about 6:00 or so that evening and she said she slept through the whole thing!!! And they brought her up in a wheelchair because she was still so tired. We had a feeling this one would take it's toll after the week off. However...

Thursday when I went to meet George at the storage unit at about 5:30pm to finish the move I find out he's taken half day, he's already taken a load over and Mom was at their place unpacking....whaaaaaaat?!

Friday chemo struck a bit. Mom started having pain for the 3rd time during this first 8 weeks in her feeding tube. It appeared to be infected again. She wanted to rip it out. We all know how doctors are. If they're concerned they tend to over explain, if they're not they tend to under explain. Well the first 2 times it bothered her they pretty much blew it off and gave her antibiotics so I'm pretty sure they were not too concerned. This time George mentioned something about it being weird that every time she gets a full dose of chemo her tube site acts up. (cue light bulb!) It dawned on me that the full doses are usually the ones that wipe out her white blood cells...you know the ones that fight infection (cough tube site cough). Hence every time her blood count drops the infection flares up, once her count goes back up add in a few antibiotics it goes back away. Whew...mystery solved and Mom is content with the explanation. Tube stays....for now.

So she made it through week 8 even though she had another minor infection, up this week was more prep work for the benefit on the 14th for Heather and I and our cast of helpers to be named later, and Erbitux only for mom. Check back for this weeks update soon.


**Side note - thanks for all your donations whether they be to the Silent Auction/Raffle, or directly to Mom through this site. It's much needed and greatly appreciated! Thanks again!