3-Day Fundraising Letter for 2011

I got to see Demetri today!...and then the inside of the ER

My mom and I ran some errands this morning before a friend I have known since I was 5 was coming up to visit.  It was a little chilly this morning so I put my blue jeans on, but they are soooooo tight.  How could I have put that much weight on?  I am hardly eating anything.

Demetri's mom and my mom worked together at the elementary school we attended.  We became friends quickly, and even though we lost contact with each other after middle school we finally reconnected.  He brought his son Jackson, a.k.a. Deuce, to visit as well.  Demetri, thank you for understanding that I am so devoid of energy and it was hard for me to stay awake.  Your visit really lifted my spirits.  I hope you don't mind me borrowing your picture from your Facebook page.  The one I took of the both of you didn't come out well.

About an hour after Demetri left, I discovered that my legs were extremely swollen.  I called the on call line with my oncologist office.  The doctor asked me if I have had trouble breathing as well.  I never really paid attention, but I have been pretty winded when I walk even short distances.  They told me to go straight to the ER.

 When I got there, the nurse gave me a mask immediately and took me to the back because of me being exposed to everyone who is sick while my white blood count is low.  Duh, Dana!

I had an EKG, CT scan, ultrasound, and chest x-rays done.  Everything came out ok with the tests, with the exception of me having my lungs full of fluid.  Oh, so that's why I haven't been able to breathe well when doing anything other than lying in bed.  They think it is from all of the iv fluids and antibiotics.  All I needed was a shot of Lasix.  They made sure I knew where the bathroom was because I would be getting rid of the fluid through my kidneys.  Translation....LOTS of trips to the bathroom.  The nurse wasn't kidding.  I barely made it to the restroom.  After about 6 trips, I started to feel a bit better.  I knew I had to be in the outpatient area of the same hospital in about 5 hours for the iv fluid and antibiotic (ha!  that's what sent me to the e.r.), so I asked if I could just stay there and then walk over to the outpatient area.    They said that was fine, so I watched a little television and then fell asleep.

And the fun continues......I begged the nurse at the ER to leave the i.v. in so I wouldn't have to be stuck again.  We can't use my left arm anymore due to danger of blood clots after my lymph node biopsy.  My doctors used my port a lot, but I don't have it anymore, remember?

So the veins in my right arm are pretty much shot.  When I woke up my upper right arm (where the i.v. was) was hurting badly.  Looks like it blew the vein...the third one since I had been there tonight.  So I do have to be stuck again.  The nurses in the outpatient area had to use ultrasound to find a vein

My arm bruised pretty badly from the first two veins that blew.

Using ultrasound to find one good vein.  They had to look for a deep one.
It was very painful after they found one.

I treated myself to a little breakfast while getting my infusions.
I haven't had a cinnamon roll and bacon in MONTHS!

Fighting cancer is soooooo hard, but no one said it would be easy.  I'm just so glad I have the Lord on my side.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The pathology from my port removal has come back.  The culprit?  MRSA.  YIKES!  If you don't know what it is, it is the worse staph infection you can get.  It is vicious.  From what they can tell, it stayed in the area where the port is.  Whew!

I am on daily IV fluid and vancomycin antibiotics.  The oncologist's office will be where you will find me 5 days a week, and the hospital on the weekend.  Yeah?!

Happy St. Patrick's Day from some of the staff at my oncologist's office.

Encouraging words

Cameron, you have always been a great friend.  Thank you for your encouraging words.  I have wanted to be inspiring to someone through this journey.  Thank you for letting me know my fight is not in vain.. 

Follow-up with doc, ultrasound, and CLEAN HOUSE!

 I have a follow-up appointment to have my neck and chest checked.

Here is a pic of the incision where they took my port out.

 Dr. Volas-Redd wants to have an ultra-sound of my neck to make sure I don't have a blood clot.  My dear friend, Jessie, is giving me one of the best gifts EVER.  She is cleaning the house.  Jessie is Type A like me.  So having a clean and tidy house is a blessing.  Thank you so much!

My ultrasound is scheduled for 3:00 today.  Jeremiah needed to go to the office but didn't want me driving.  He stayed with me at the out patient facility until they took me back.  Our friend Jimmy drives by the facility on his way home, so he will stop and pick me up in Juanita.  Believe it or not, the ultrasound really hurt.  There is a lot of inflammation in my neck and she had to push on it to get the images they needed.

When I got home, Jessie had left me two little gifts...pink gerber daisies and a little something else on top of the television.  Sorry I can't post a picture of her 2nd gift.  Just know I laughed so hard when I saw it.

Port from ****

Remember how I said I didn't feel good but couldn't put my finger on it?  Well, we discovered what it was.  Around 7:00 Sunday evening I was in our driveway when our neighbors stopped to check on me.  They could tell I was not feeling well.  I wasn't able to stand up straight, walking very slow, and my neck was very sore where the catheter "was".  I was down in the dumps and had said some pretty awful things shortly after out of frustration.

Around midnight on Sunday, I woke up with my neck on fire.  It hurt worse than when I woke up in the ER after having the port and catheter put in.  I was in tears and went to the bathroom to look at it in the mirror.  I had the reddest line from my port up my neck tracing the path of the catheter.  All I could do was sob.  Jeremiah wanted to take me to the ER, but I wouldn't let him.  I knew I had my standing appointment with the oncologist the next day (Monday) for my iv fluids.  I decided to just show up there when they first opened.

At 8:30 am on Monday morning, I walked into their office in tears.  I told whoever was at the front desk that I was in so much pain, and could I please see one of the doctors.  Patty, one of the nurses, immediately knew something bad was happening with my port.  She took me to a room and had the doctor who was in the office come in and check my neck.  They knew I had a bad infection, but what kind...they didn't know.

I was sent to the infusion room and hooked up to an iv bag of vancomycin while they called Dr. Johnson (my breast surgeon who put my port in).  They needed to get the port out pronto.  Luckily, Dr. Johnson was at the local Northside Hospital near our house, and they scheduled me for surgery at 2:00 pm to remove it.

I can no longer have my blood pressure or blood drawn from my left arm

I woke up to this wonderful man

Jessie sent me a text while in recovery to see if I'm o.k..  I posed for my reply.  :)

  
 I was kept in the hospital over night for more iv antibiotics and to be monitored.

Breakfast of champions

Miah still has to work

My mom the morning after surgery

Beautiful flowers from a sweet friend

 

What a beautiful day...

I am having a difficult day emotionally and physically.  Something just doesn't feel right with my body, but I can't put my finger on it.  I am going to focus on the little things that bring joy into my life.

 Gerber Daisies

 Lying in the hammock with Miah and the girls

Looking at the clouds above us that the Lord has created

Lunch with my favorite guy....

Yep, more iv fluids today, but I did get to have lunch with Miah.  xoxoxo

#5 for real today

Onward we march.  Like it or not, I am at the oncologist office for chemo #5 and my regular bag of fluids because I am so dehydrated.  I'm so very tired today and don't feel up to doing anything other than lie in the recliner.  I'll report to the hospital tomorrow and Sunday for more iv fluids.

No chemo today!

Today I was scheduled to have chemo treatment #5 at Kennestone Hospital.  My mom sent me a text telling me good luck, and I sent her this joyful picture of me waiting. 

With every chemo, I know we are growing closer to ridding my body of this EVIL visitor, but my body is wearing down.  My heart rate is still high (120 today), so Dr. Volas-Redd told me my heart is a major concern since we haven't been able to get my heart rate down.  She has canceled my chemo and sending me straight to the cardiologist today.  His name is Dr Donald Page at Kennestone Hospital.  I'm not allowed to continue my chemo until he clears me.  My appointment is at 1:30.  Let's go get some lunch!!!!

Guess who's happy about no chemo today!!!

Eating lunch at Chili's with my favorite guy.  Love you!

Dr Page did an EKG and echo on my heart today.  He is putting me on a beta blocker to try to get my heart rate back down.  At 4:25 pm today, I was cleared for my next chemo treatment.  We will be heading back to the oncologist tomorrow with my next dance with The Red Devil.

My Guard

I'm back in my safe place...a hot bubble bath.  My fur angel, Nutmeg.  She always stays close to me because she knows I'm not feeling well.

Mom Childs

Supper tonight smelled so good...and Jeremiah LOVED it!  Sharon Childs (Jessie's Mom) brought ziti, brownies, garlic bread, and sweet tea.  I was able to eat a little bit of the bread...and watch Jeremiah eat the brownies with vanilla ice cream and caramel on top.  (insert pouty face hear)  All of this wonderful food and I'm too sick to eat it.  Everyone who has gone out of their way to provide a meal has taken so much stress off of me.  I'm use to being the one taking care of others.  It's so hard for me to lie on the couch while others cook, clean the house, and run my errands.  It lightens the stress I am putting on myself to make sure those who are taking care of me at least have a hot meal while here.  

Sharon, you have know idea how much you mean to me.  Jessie and Kelly are so blessed to have you as their mom.

You left an impression on me

I've been sleeping a lot at work lately.  Hmmmm.....wonder why?  We were cracking up at the marks left on my face by the pillow.  Notice the Gatorade and crescent rolls in the back ground?  That's the only thing I can tolerate eating and drinking, and the only thing I am able to keep down.  Thank you Donna (behind me) for stocking me up on the Gatorade!

Jail Break

I needed to get a few items from the grocery store, but there is no way I can go by myself.  My neighbor, Monique, and her daughters picked me up for a short outing at Kroger.  I'm getting cabin fever from lying around all the time but don't have the energy to stand up.  I had a short list of items to get.  I hung onto the grocery cart as much as I could to keep from passing out.  We say another one of our neighbors as well, Jennifer Gilmore.  She always has a smile on her face.  Thanks for taking pity on my Monique and breaking me out of the house for 30 minutes.  Love ya!

I love the David's Flowers Staff!

Remember in a couple of posts back, I mentioned how sweet the staff at David's Flowers are.  I went in to work today, and there was a beautifully wrapped present for me.  They bought me the most comfortable pair of pajamas!  They knew that at this point all I want is a little bit of peaceful rest.  It's so hard having clothes touch your body or lie on one side of your body for even a short period of time.  Thank you so much!

Lazy Day

I am feeling so bad today.  I can't muster the strength to get dressed, much less go to work.  Look who's keeping me company.

Sucking the life out of me

The adriamycin has sucked the life out of my body.  I can't even begin to find the words for just how bad I feel.  Yes, you see me with a smile on my face and I seem very perky.  This is all a ploy to convince my mind that I am over coming the horrible effects of my chemo (adriamycin).  My blood pressure is extremely low, my heart rate in the 140s, and I have the worst head aches.  I'm so glad I only have two more chemo treatments to go.  Hallelujah!

Kelly, you are amazing

My friend and one of my Bible Study ladies (Kelly Bridges) made supper for us tonight.  I should mention she's having surgery tomorrow.  She is super woman!  Little did she know that she made one of my all time favorite desserts/breakfast meal/snack...monkey bread!  Thank you very much, Kelly.  We are praying that the surgery goes well and you will hopefully have some answers.  Love ya girl!