Hello everybody, Thank you for your prayers! We feel them. Erin is feeling nauseous today and she says everything tastes really weird. I have to force her to eat something so her pills won't hurt her stomach more than it already hurts. I guess it is just par for the course. She is so tired of all this. It is hard to see the end from here. She told the Dr. she wanted to skip the rest of the chemo (thanks Jeff!) and he told her absolutely not. He said the reason they are achieving the success they are is because they follow the protocol to the letter. He said other cancer centers have tried to cut corners because they feel sorry for their patients when the chemo is so rough, but that they don't get the higher cure rates when they do that. It was just what she needed to hear because she was ready to throw in the towel a couple of days ago! I know one more round sounds like it should be encouraging, and it is to you and me, but to Erin it is torture. All our spirits are in need of a lift, so I guess that is our prayer request today. Thank you so much for standing firm on that prayer wall for Erin. We are blessed!
"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 15:5-6
Thanks again for all the love and encouragement! You all are the best! love, janet
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
Home Again Home Again!!!
Hey gang....Bill here,
So happy to report we are back home this evening! Round 4 is in the books and we have one round to go!! Erin did pretty well the last 2 days getting in 2 miles yesterday and another mile today. Once again the three sisters provided the entertainment for the staff as they found very creative and different ways to do each lap including speed walking ( got to move those hips), Charlie's Angels (crouched with hands clasped like guns covering each other as they moved from one position to the next), longest stride contests, one piggyback round, break dancing, grapevine walk, lunges....well you get the idea. One of the staff actually snitched on me for taking a shortcut through the kitchen on the speedwalking round!!
All in all even with the nausea and body aches over the first few days this round seemed to be more emotionally challenging than physically. I think the sadness of missing out on so many things that over the past 5 months including her friends wedding this weekend just caught up with her. We figured out that she has been in the hospital 60 days since we started and that doesn't include the twice weekly clinic visits during the times she has been recovering at home. Needless to say that we are thankful to be closing in on what will hopefully be the final round of treatment on the way to being completely cured. If all goes according to plan, we will have 3 weeks of recovery at home before round 5. Our prayer for the coming days is for Erin to continue to have minimal side effects as her counts come down and that her counts will return to normal quickly so she can have some freedom before the final assault and stay on schedule to get done with no delays. We are thankful to God for all the blessings he has provided us on this journey including the presence of so many faithful friends and strangers who always seemed to lift us just when we needed it most!
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." - Hebrews 12:1
Thanks for being our cloud of witnesses that help us to persevere!
So happy to report we are back home this evening! Round 4 is in the books and we have one round to go!! Erin did pretty well the last 2 days getting in 2 miles yesterday and another mile today. Once again the three sisters provided the entertainment for the staff as they found very creative and different ways to do each lap including speed walking ( got to move those hips), Charlie's Angels (crouched with hands clasped like guns covering each other as they moved from one position to the next), longest stride contests, one piggyback round, break dancing, grapevine walk, lunges....well you get the idea. One of the staff actually snitched on me for taking a shortcut through the kitchen on the speedwalking round!!
All in all even with the nausea and body aches over the first few days this round seemed to be more emotionally challenging than physically. I think the sadness of missing out on so many things that over the past 5 months including her friends wedding this weekend just caught up with her. We figured out that she has been in the hospital 60 days since we started and that doesn't include the twice weekly clinic visits during the times she has been recovering at home. Needless to say that we are thankful to be closing in on what will hopefully be the final round of treatment on the way to being completely cured. If all goes according to plan, we will have 3 weeks of recovery at home before round 5. Our prayer for the coming days is for Erin to continue to have minimal side effects as her counts come down and that her counts will return to normal quickly so she can have some freedom before the final assault and stay on schedule to get done with no delays. We are thankful to God for all the blessings he has provided us on this journey including the presence of so many faithful friends and strangers who always seemed to lift us just when we needed it most!
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." - Hebrews 12:1
Thanks for being our cloud of witnesses that help us to persevere!
Blessings..... Bill
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Sun 5/25
Happy Sunday, Erin is feeling better today. Yesterday she was just down because she was missing another important event, her friend's wedding. I tried to figure out how to sneak her out but it just wasn't to be. It is hard to be sick and watch the rest of the world go on with life and you be the one stuck on the sidelines. But I praise God she is able to be patient for His timing. Anyway, the cloud passed and she feels better today. They did an x-ray last evening to rule out any sources of infection. They still don't think she has one but they have to check all possibilities. We are still hoping to go home tomorrow evening after her last dose of chemo. Please pray that we can go home, it's just easier to rest at home. Thanks for your prayers for the nausea, whatever combo of pills and prayers she is on is working! God has been so faithful to Erin during this whole process and we are grateful to be witness to the stream of miracles He is providing!
"Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples." Psalms 77:13-14
Yes, He performs miracles every day! We just have to watch and believe! love, janet
"Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples." Psalms 77:13-14
Yes, He performs miracles every day! We just have to watch and believe! love, janet
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Sat 5/24
Hello and Happy Wedding Day to Andrew and Kristin,
Erin had a really rough day yesterday. She was miserable all day until they started some steroids. They also gave her a new drug called Emend for the nausea and one or the other or the combination of the two worked and she felt well enough to eat some cheerios for dinner. Then she spiked a fever of 101 around 8:30. We were scared but after some tears and fears, the nurse came in and said they decided it was just the 2 chemos reacting together and they didn't consider it an infection yet. Of course they did blood cultures but her fever went away so it was probably nothing big. What a rollercoaster of emotions we ride. We are halfway through this round though and that is a praise. We have a list on the white board and celebrate crossing off each day!
On another subject, Aunt Debbie has committed to ride her bicycle 100 miles for the Leukemia/Lymphoma society in October. To do that she has to raise $2000. If you would like to check it out, she has a web site where you can get the details.
http://pages.teamintraining.org/sun/waterway08/dsolanes
Erin is so blessed to be her honorary teammate and we are proud of her for undertaking such a big task! It is quite a testiment to her love of the Lord and Erin to tackle this ride. I hope you all can help us support this fundraiser which also helps others now and in the future who are struggling with this disease.
May your day be blessed. Thanks for the prayers! love, janet
Erin had a really rough day yesterday. She was miserable all day until they started some steroids. They also gave her a new drug called Emend for the nausea and one or the other or the combination of the two worked and she felt well enough to eat some cheerios for dinner. Then she spiked a fever of 101 around 8:30. We were scared but after some tears and fears, the nurse came in and said they decided it was just the 2 chemos reacting together and they didn't consider it an infection yet. Of course they did blood cultures but her fever went away so it was probably nothing big. What a rollercoaster of emotions we ride. We are halfway through this round though and that is a praise. We have a list on the white board and celebrate crossing off each day!
On another subject, Aunt Debbie has committed to ride her bicycle 100 miles for the Leukemia/Lymphoma society in October. To do that she has to raise $2000. If you would like to check it out, she has a web site where you can get the details.
http://pages.teamintraining.org/sun/waterway08/dsolanes
Erin is so blessed to be her honorary teammate and we are proud of her for undertaking such a big task! It is quite a testiment to her love of the Lord and Erin to tackle this ride. I hope you all can help us support this fundraiser which also helps others now and in the future who are struggling with this disease.
May your day be blessed. Thanks for the prayers! love, janet
Friday, May 23, 2008
Round 4: 2 Days Down - 4 days to Go
Good morning dear friends....Bill here,
Erin has been experiencing bouts of pain and nausea that come and go. The meds seem to work for a couple hours and then wear off before the next scheduled dose. I have learned that each round of chemo is different in terms of side effects and effective meds and there is an art to finding the right combination of meds, dosages, and intervals to try to keep Erin somewhat comfortable. The med that seems to alleviate the discomfort the best right now also makes her sleepy...but at this point sleepy seems to be an acceptable alternative to pain. Erin was able to get a mile in yesterday so that is a praise!
This round of chemo is comprised of hi-dose Cytarabine administered over a 2 hour period every 12 hours on days 1-4. Erin has had this in prior rounds. A new chemical, Mitoxantrone, that she has not had before is administered once a day on days 3-6. Our prayer today is that there will be no additional severe reactions or side effects with the introduction of this new chemical, for clean results from the spinal tap, and for Erin's complete healing. We praise God that he is a God of love, grace, mercy, miracles, and healing.
Blessings,
Bill
".... but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing." - Luke 9:10
Erin has been experiencing bouts of pain and nausea that come and go. The meds seem to work for a couple hours and then wear off before the next scheduled dose. I have learned that each round of chemo is different in terms of side effects and effective meds and there is an art to finding the right combination of meds, dosages, and intervals to try to keep Erin somewhat comfortable. The med that seems to alleviate the discomfort the best right now also makes her sleepy...but at this point sleepy seems to be an acceptable alternative to pain. Erin was able to get a mile in yesterday so that is a praise!
This round of chemo is comprised of hi-dose Cytarabine administered over a 2 hour period every 12 hours on days 1-4. Erin has had this in prior rounds. A new chemical, Mitoxantrone, that she has not had before is administered once a day on days 3-6. Our prayer today is that there will be no additional severe reactions or side effects with the introduction of this new chemical, for clean results from the spinal tap, and for Erin's complete healing. We praise God that he is a God of love, grace, mercy, miracles, and healing.
Blessings,
Bill
".... but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing." - Luke 9:10
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Thurs 5/22
Hello bloggers, Erin is doing o.k. She just completed her mile for today. Yesterday she did her mile before any chemo and actually skipped a whole lap with Amanda. The Drs were standing there with their chins on the floor in amazement. She has had some nausea already and her back is sore from the spinal tap, but other than that, so far so good. We are hoping she doesn't get the bad rash again like last time. Thanks for your prayers. Knowing you are out there praying is so comforting to us all.
"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." Ephesians 6:18
Blessings on you! love, janet
"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." Ephesians 6:18
Blessings on you! love, janet
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
5/21
Hello, Erin is finally getting started after a few delays. We came in last night but they didn't start anything because they wanted her to have an echocardiogram before they started and that couldn't be done until today. So she had her echo today and it was fine. She just finished her last spinal tap!! Big praise!! They will start her chemo at 6 p.m. tonight. We had hoped to go home after 4 days and do the last 2 days outpatient but it turns out the clinic is closed on Memorial Day so we will have to stay here the full 6 days. Another big praise is that her bone marrow results from last friday are all clear. We are very excited to get great results! Please pray for minimal side effects and a quick recovery. Thanks again for being a vital part of Erin's team!
"I will say to the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." Psalm 91:2,4
love, janet
"I will say to the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." Psalm 91:2,4
love, janet