Chemo Easter

Elizabeth's blood levels looked good on her last lab draw, so they told us to plan on admitting to the hospital on Friday for her 5 day chemo. They're going to check her labs one more time tomorrow, just to be sure. I'm sad that our family will have to spend the Easter holiday apart, but so grateful that her blood counts are doing so well. I am also thankful that we will be able to come home on Tues, because my kids have spring break starting on Monday and the thought of having to be in the hospital, away from the rest of my kids, for all of spring break was breaking my heart. Hope everyone is enjoying the bursts of warm weather and the little signs of Spring all around us. Thank you for your prayers! We love and pray for you too!

Chlorophyll

Not long after getting back from Seattle, I thought I'd stop in at my favorite vitamin store, Good Earth, to see if they had any good ideas to help boost Elizabeth's platelets. (Every single chemo delay she's had since Dec has been due to low platelets.) I found found one of the store health consultants and explained the chemo/platelet situation to her. It just so happened that she has a son with a blood disorder and chronically low platelets. She told me that chlorophyll fixed it and I figured it was worth a try. After only a few weeks of Elizabeth taking chlorophyll, I can't believe the difference! Her platelets and other blood levels are better than they have been in months, and that's especially significant because of how late we are into her treatments. In general, the more chemo you have had, the longer it takes to rebound and Elizabeth has had only a few days delay in her chemo (as opposed to a whole week) since she started taking chlorophyll. I am so hopeful that she may be able to start chemo on time a week from today! 🙏 She's working hard in her PT and continues to make slow, steady progress. Her back is healing well and no longer causing her constant pain. She is turning 15 a month from yesterday and is so excited to be able to get her driving permit soon. It's very fortunate that her right leg works! 😊 (Her left leg is far behind still.) We love you all! Thank you for your continuous support and prayers💕

A day in the cancer life

Chemo side effects have kicked in and Elizabeth needed it all...2 units of blood and platelets. We're both just so grateful to be home with family and friends and it makes these little "bumps in the road" of cancer life so much more tolerable. (Of course we were so grateful to be with family and friends in Seattle too, but it was time to be home.) Elizabeth's back has been painfullly miserable as it heals from radiation, but I think we finally found the right fit for bandaging (after trying pretty much everything) and it seems like it's starting to get better. Noteworthy today is that Elizabeth WALKED into the hospital. She's not totally steady, so I kept her crutches in hand as I walked next to her, but she made it without them. It wore her out, but it's very exciting progress! Dave and I were fortunate enough to be able to attend the wedding celebration of our niece last night. It was a wonderful occasion, both for my niece and her new husband, but also for Dave and I to be with extended family as well. Everyone is so supportive and loving and I am so grateful for the faith, prayers and concern of our amazing family! It means everything! We keep you all in our prayers as well. The nurse just hung Elizabeth's last unit of blood, so we should be home in time for dinner. Horray!

Last Doxo!

Elizabeth made chemo counts yesterday and she's all settled in at the hospital getting her hydration before chemo. This is her last time getting Doxo...our most hated chemo drug! Yay! She has two rounds of 5 day chemo left and then her 2 day chemo visits will be only 1 day. (She also has 2 of those left.) Her back is finally scabbed over. It's still painful, but on the healing side of painful now and that's encouraging. Hope you're all doing well! We're eager for nice spring weather!!