Treatment # 4

Big blessing.... Mama didn't have to get more blood yesterday. Her blood count was higher than it's been in a long time! We were so excited for her. It makes for a long day when you spend 4-5 hours at chemo and then have to spend 7+ hours getting blood. She started 3 different kinds of chemo drugs yesterday. Since they found the cancer in the stomach, the doctor wanted to start a more effective chemo for the type of cancer she has. It took longer this time because they had to explain the new drugs and all that good stuff. She was also sent home with a pouch that has a chemo drug that will be administered over a 48 period. We go back Wednesday to get that taken off. She will only be going for treatment every other week now. So we have next week off!!!! She felt really good last night. Actually had some energy. Not enough to run around the block, but more than she's had in the past week. We also had a special visitor that we haven't seen in about 10 years. He and his family lived next door to us for many years. They live in Illinois now, and he's down on a business trip. It was so good to see him again.

The doctor said mama would have even less side effects from this chemo. The main thing is going to be extreme temperatures. She can't drink anything really cold or really hot for a few days after each treatment. She also can't touch really cold things either, as in reaching into the fridge or freezer for anything. Good thing its summer. The doctor said that many people who are on these drugs in the winter have a hard time even opening car door because the handle is so cold. Mama hasn't lost any hair yet, and the doc said she has an even less chance of losing hair with the new drugs. Hair loss may be a minor thing compared to whats going on, but it does give her that peace of mind. Anything to make my mommy happy :D

Please pray that she will do well with these new drugs and that the cancer will begin to shrink. She is retaining alot of fluid, almost 25lbs worth. She is really tight around the abdominal area and her legs and feet. As the cancer shrinks, it will help reduce the fluid!

Thank you all for the prayers, cards, and visits so far. It means so much!