Tuesday, April 23 - Today marked the third of the four final chemotherapy treatments that my Mom will have before a final sonogram evaluation and the double mastectomy which will (God willing) remove the last of the cancerous mass that attacked her breasts since this November. Her blood counts were back up to normal and everything seems to be progressing in spite of her fatigue and inability to eat.
The past two weeks have been trying ones for my Mom. Her white blood cell count dropped to dangerous levels which made her vulnerable to even a common cold which might lead to pneumonia and therefore she was able to work the three days at her part-time job which in itself is a huge stress on my Mom who has never missed a days work in her life. Thankfully her supervisor was able to reason with her enough to make her see that she needed to be at home getting the rest that her doctor had prescribed.
Then last Tuesday her blood work showed that the levels were back up to an acceptable range and so Mom proceeded to work her three days but by Saturday she was so week she took a nasty fall trying to step up on her deck at the house while carrying a bag of groceries. Mom hit her eye and fell hard on her shoulder cutting open her hand. She wasn't able to get up right away and admittedly thought she would have to call for help. Once she did make it into her house her eye was black and almost swollen shut. The cut bleed profusely thanks to the Coumadin that is necessary to thin her blood. My Mom looks like she lost a bought with a prize fighter!
And so today, I traveled to Cameron with her to discuss her treatment with her doctor and explain just how weak she is. Much to my surprise her white blood count was up and all of her blood levels were good. She has maintained her weight for two weeks and seems to be responding perfectly to the treatments.
Mom will continue for the next two weeks with her regular Tuesday blood checks and then in three weeks, Tuesday, May 14, she will take her final chemotherapy treatment. About June 4, she will have a sonogram to evaluate the exact size and location of any remaining mass and the appointment will be made soon thereafter for the double mastectomy.
We are all looking forward to this stage of the treatment being over because of how weak and sick it has made her. All in all though, I am so thankful because I have heard so many other stories of people who were much sicker and even bed-ridden during their chemotherapy. I know my Mom has been blessed and God has answered her prayers to continue work throughout this process. Today she confided in me that at night she sits in her chair watching TV wrapped in the prayer quilts that two area churches made for her. Mom says that wrapped in all of those prayers comforts her and she believes that she will be ok in the end. I am so thankful to all of the people who are praying for her and thinking of those precious gifts that bring her hope! I am fortunate to be surrounded by love and support. This too brings me hope that I can deal with all of the much more trivial challenges that at times threaten to consume me. Thank you!
