Tuesday, August 19, 2008

4 More To Go

The spinal tap/chemo went well on Friday. Andrea has only 4 more of those, once a month through December. She has swollen ankles and appears to be retaining water, so we saw the main doctor Monday and he agreed with the pain management doctor to drop a medicine to see if that is the reason. Otherwise, she is feeling okay now, thank goodness!
The brain MRI was good, spinal tap fluid clear and bone marrow is 100% donor cells. We appreciate everyone's encouragement. It has been such a long process, and we are beginning to look forward to fall and cooler weather since we've been having a good dose of rain.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Friday is the Day

Andrea goes in for blood tests on Thursday, and if everything checks out good as it did Monday, then she gets the methotrexate chemotherapy in the spinal tap on Friday morning. Like I said before, she just wants to get on with the prescribed treatment and be done with it because she is feeling better. She does feel tired and fatigued, but that can be attributed to the chemo effects that last quite a while after it is given. Her MRI of the the brain this week looks very good, so they are confident the headaches were from low red blood cells. Thanks for your prayers, God listens!

Monday, August 11, 2008

More Rescheduling

The doctors are trying to get together again to reschedule more chemo since Andrea's white blood cells returned to normal, and even though the red blood cells and platelets are low, they are not so low that it would inhibit her from having the spinal tap. They also think the headaches could be from low red blood cells but have ordered an MRI to make sure they are on track. Please continue to pray that Andrea gets a boost in her red blood cells. We think of each of you wherever you are and pray for your families, t0o.

Friday, August 08, 2008

Well.....

I didn't think we'd be disappointed to NOT have chemo, but Andrea is at the point she would like for everything to go as scheduled so it will be fininshed. Today she could not get the scheduled spinal tap with chemo because her red blood count was too low. Most probable causes for this are the chemotherapies of the past, so we go in Monday to see what the blood counts are. We ate liver at Luby's at lunch to see if the iron in that boosts her system, and more yummy proteins this weekend are in store.....so we'll see what comes of it. Otherwise, she is feeling okay, so we'll be praying for a boost in her white and red blood cells.

Monday, August 04, 2008

Gaining Strength

Andrea is feeling better and gaining momentum.
However, today was a bit exhausting just in the waiting game to have blood taken, get a bone marrow aspiration, and see the doctor. Total time for all of those takes about 30 minutes, but we were at the hospital today for 6 1/2 hours, all without Andrea eating during that time because she has the bone marrow aspiration with sedation. We were glad to get home!
On Friday, she gets the once a month spinal tap with chemotherapy. So far, those have been going well and we pray for the same. Thank you for your continued prayers. God listens!