More news on my mom.

[Reenie]

I spoke to my mom today and she goes to the hospital in Charleston next week to start the bone marrow transplant process. She will be there for about 2 1/2 weeks to get the marrow cells harvested, all out patient. After that she will be able to go home for a week or two, then will go back and be inpatient for 4-6 weeks. We can use all the thoughts and prayers you guys can spare. Thanks.

Reenie

[Lisa Salberg]

Your mom is in our prayers here in NJ!!

Best wishes!
Lisa

[shirleymahoney]

Reenie

Your mom is also in our prayers here in Virginia

Shirley

[LynnS]

Reenie - thank you for the update. We will be thinking of your mother, you and your entire family.

Hugs to all,
L

[Pam Alexson]

Reenie ,

Plenty of thoughts and prayers to spare for your mom from blizzard weary Massachusetts.

Pam

[Eileen2345]

Reenie, I am praying for your mom. I hope all goes well for her. Please let us know how she is doing.

((((((Healing Hugs)))))))

Eileen

[Midge Rollins]

Reenie, I will be keeping you and your mom in my prayers. Hang in there.

[Linda]

Prayers from Maryland, Linda

[Debbie]

Reenie,

I will keep your mom in my thoughts and prayers. I know it's so hard to have a sick mom. Please know that I have been there, although in a different way. I will keep watching for your news.

Please also send my best wishes to your mom.

Debbie

[Laoshur]

I'll be praying wherever I am.

Rhoda

[kelly]

Reenie,

You and your mom are in my thoughts and prayers.

Please call if you need to talk.

Kelly

[Abbygirl2]

Reenie,

Many prayers and well wishes to your mom and the rest of your family at this time.
Take care

Pam

[SharonBates]

Dear Reenie,
Hugs to you and prayers for you and your mother through this process. We send healing thoughts, love and light to you and yours!

Blessings to all,
Sharon

[bryan]

prayers from Massachusetts, Bryan

[Reenie]

If anyone would like to send a card my mom would love it. She doesn't know I'm asking, but I know that last time she was sick she saved every card she received. She would pull them out and read them when she was feeling bad. She already has a box made up for this illness and I'd like her to have something to read on the down-days again. If you're inclined to send a card, please send me a PM and I'll give you her address. Thanks a lot!

Reenie

[Reenie]

Well, we had a minor setback this weekend. Mama developed a fever and had to be admitted to the hospital on Saturday morning. They couldn't find an active infection but they gave her antibiotics and she's much better now. They released her on Sunday afternoon. I am inclined to think that the fever was due to stress and fatigue. Her body just figured it had had enough for the time being. Keep her in your thoughts and prayers, please. This is so hard for us.

Reenie

[Linda]

Reenie, Thinking of you, prayers for your Mom - Linda

[shirleymahoney]

Reenie

Sounds like your Mom is like me we just have to over do it and then we pay, she is always in my prayer

Shirley

[Reenie]

Thank you, Ladies.

Reenie

[Pam Alexson]

Reenie you and your mom are in my thoughts and prayers.

Pam

[Debbie]

Same here, Reenie.

I will keep watching for news of your mom.

God Bless,

Debbie

[Reenie]

Well, Mama's at the hospital again. Any fever over 100.5 and it's admission time. It was at 101.7. The good thing, though, was that they expected to get whole blood and platelets today but her counts were up enough to avoid it this time.

Reenie

PS, this is a sort of journal for me, to keep my thoughts and timelines straight. Thanks to all who are praying!

[Laoshur]

Reenie,

I am so glad you can use this site as a journal. You have helped so many of us with our struggles that it is wonderful that you can use this to keep your sense of direction. We pray that the final outcome will be great joy!

Can you update us on where in this whole process your mother is? I have been trying to figure out whether they have been able to harvest the bone marrow. As I look at your initial time line, it would appear that she is in the stage where they are trying to harvest. Is that correct? How does her hospitalizations affect this process? I would love to know so I can pray more intelligently.

Get well Reenie's Mom!

Rhoda

[Reenie]

Thanks, Rhoda. I'll be happy to set the timeline for you. She is now in the stage where she's getting daily shots to make her body over-produce stem/marrow cells, which spill into the blood stream. I don't think the hospitalization will affect that, but I'm not positive. Starting next week they will begin harvesting. That process is 2 IV's. One will take blood out, a machine will separate the stem cells from the blood, the other will put the blood back. They won't know until they start that process if they can do it all in one day or if it will take several days. This is done outpatient and she's been staying at a Cancer House across the street from the hospital for the last 2 weeks.

When they have enough stem cells harvested they will release her to go home, which is roughly 2 hours from Charleston, for a week or so. Then they will admit her to the hospital, give her a large dose of chemo to kill all marrow she currently has, and reintroduce the stored cells. This hospitalization should be anywhere from 4-6 weeks. She's severely immuno-depressed too, hence the concern over the fevers.

Her name is Dora Way, if you would like to use her name while you're praying for her. Thanks!

Reenie

~~Edited to add~~
I just spoke with them and it seems the fevers are better but they still aren't sure what's causing them. It could be a side-affect of the medicines. Her BP is way down, though. She's always been hypertensive and has been on meds for ages. This morning her BP was 86/47. They're discontinuing the BP meds until further notice. That probably explains a lot of why she's been so weak.

[Reenie]

They released mom yesterday morning because the cultures didn't show anything and her fevers were under control. I think that it was the medicine, since that can be a side affect.

Today they started the pheresis where they separate the stem cells from the blood. It sounded like they will get enough today and she won't have to do it again tomorrow. If that's the case, she may get to go home tomorrow or Wednesday, depending on how her blood counts are. If they're too low they want her to stay close to the hospital in case she develops a fever again. If they're up she can go home and just keep away from people until the next step of the procedure.

The next tentative steps are to return to the hospital inpatient on March 2 where they will start the chemo. She will (tentatively) get the stem cells reintroduced on March 10. Her anniversary is March 5. Some present, huh? :?

Reenie

[Pam Alexson]

My heart goes out to your mom . This is a tough time for her and for you and your family as you watch her and try to offer comfort and support. Know that you are all in my thoughts and prayers.

Pam

[Lisa Salberg]

Reenie,

You and your mom are in my thoughts and prayers. I am very glad that we are able to be here for you when you have given so much time to be there for so many others.

Big Hugs,
Lisa

[Reenie]

Thanks, I really appreciate the support. It's been a long haul and we have a long way to go yet. They weren't able to get quite enough stem cells yesterday so she has to do the pheresis again today. It should be a much shorter day today since they were close yesterday. In the last 2 weeks I've added myself to the national bone marrow donor list and have given blood, all in her honor. I hope that I'm able to help someone else someday.

Reenie

[shirleymahoney]

Reenie

Please tell your mom that we are thinking of her and wish her the very best

Shirley

[Reenie]

When they went to the doctor this morning they were told that they did get enough stem cells yesterday. The nurse who was looking at the collection didn't see a second bag. I'm hoping they will be able to go back to their home soon before the other segment of treatment starts.

Reenie

[Pam Alexson]

May your mother lean on you for added strength during this time. My thoughts and prayers are with you that you be given extra strength for her.

Pam

[Reenie]

She went home tonight. I'm sure she's happy to be in her own bed again. I haven't talked to her yet, but will call before too long. Thanks, Pam. We're getting along ok for now. :)

Reenie

[Reenie]

Ok, so here's the latest. Mom will go in the hospital on Wednesday and begin heavy duty chemo on Thursday. Their 39th anniverary is on Saturday so she'll be feeling really cruddy by then. My sis and I are arranging a card shower for them so that they have something positive about that day.

And I talked to my sister in law about her breast cancer. Apparently it was a lot more aggressive than I even imagined. She'd probably be dead now if she hadn't followed her gut and double checked after the nurse told her that the mammogram wasn't that odd and come back in a year. She also got into a study for a new drug. Everyone she knows in the same boat who didn't have the new drug has already had a relapse. Everyone who DID get on the new drug is still cancer free. *SIGH*

Ok, now if this isn't enough, my mother's sister has had 3 weird mammograms and they're looking to do a biopsy soon to see what the heck is going on with her. We aren't telling Mom and Dad any of this because they sure don't need more to worry about! Please, please keep us all in your prayers.

Reenie

[shirleymahoney]

Oh my Reenie

You certainly have allot going on in your family right now and i will definitely keep them and yourself in my prayers

Shirley

[Pam Alexson]

Reenie,

Thoughts and prayers to you and your family .

Pam

[Linda]

Praying for you all, Linda

[Abbygirl2]

Many prayers for you and your family. I hope you will all soon be able to find some peace among the chaos. My thoughts are with you and your loved ones.

Hugs
Pam

[angall]

Reenie
I've been gone for awhile. I'm really sorry to hear all that is going on with your family.

I pray for strength for you and comfort for your mother.

Keep in touch.

[Debbie]

Reenie,

I, also, am sending good thoughts your way, to you and your family.

Debbie

[Reenie]

Well Mom was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday but she had a fever so they postponed the chemo until she's over whatever is ailing her. They released her to go home on Friday morning. She woke up Saturday with a headache and a swollen and sore neck. They took her back to the hospital and it seems that it's likely she has developed a blood clot in the juglar at the point the Hickman Catheter is inserted. That's all I know for now. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers still.

Reenie

[shirleymahoney]

Reenie

She is in my thoughts and prayers.....keep us updated please


Shirley

[angall]

Hi Reenie
Your mother is going through so much. I hope she soon gets a break and no more surprises.

I'm sure she is depressed and having your support is really important to her.

Your mother is always in my prayers. I will pray that you continue the strength needed to be your mother's crutch.

Please continue to let us know how your mother is doing.

Stay strong

[Reenie]

Thank you, Esther. I really appreciate the kind words. They thoughts and prayer of our friends and family are what's keeping me going.

They confirmed the blood clot this morning and she also has a little fluid in her lungs. My theory is that the fluid might be a little CHF due to her heart working so hard to work around the clot. They're giving her meds and she's a lot more comfortable today than she was yesterday. I hope she is all right.

Reenie

[Lisa Salberg]

Reenie,
I hope you mother is feeling a little better today. I know this is hard on the entire family - - I am glad we are able to be here for you as you spend so much time and effort to support others.

Best wishes,
Lisa

[Midge Rollins]

Reenie, I am hoping your mother is better today and am keeping you and your family in my prayers

[Reenie]

She's much more stable today than last night and last time I called she was asleep. I know she's in a good place for treatment. When they took her in her breathing was very labored and she couldn't sit up. Her neck is still swollen, but the meds have kicked in some and she isn't in as much pain now. Last night she said it was a 12 out of a 1-10 scale. They also had to stop using the Hickman catheter because it was blocked. I'm assuming because of the clot, but it could have gotten a kink in it somehow. She now has 2 IV's in her to compensate for losing the Hickman. My sister is keeping me posted and I'm hoping I don't have to take a red-eye trip home this week. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers.

Reenie

[LynnS]

Reenie,

Tim & I are watching the board for updates, please know our prayers continue for all of you.

L

[Pam Alexson]

Hi Reenie,

Your mom is in my thoughts and prayers and you are too. my heart goes out to you , I am here to talk whenever you desire.

I hope they are able to maintain some good solid lines of access for her meds.

Blessings.

Pam

[Reenie]

The only thing I know right now is that they will take the Hickman out sometime today and that they are going to pull some fluid off her lungs. I'm sure they will put another Hickman in sometime, but not today. The CT scan showed that the fluid is actually around the lungs, not in them. I'm sure they will culture whatever fluid they're able to drain to see if there is an infection on top of the other issues.

Reenie

[Eileen2345]

I am keeping your mom, you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

I am so sorry your mom is going through this. I pray that your mom and your family receive strength and support.


(((((((Reenie and Mom))))))))

[Reenie]

My mom was released from the hospital on Wednesday. She's at home and is on Lovenox injections to thin the blood. They're giving her oxycontin and phenergan too. She still has a lot of fluid built up in her head and chest but she's much better. The fluid in the head is causing a lot of motion-sickness type symptoms. And they just told me last night how much fluid she must've had on her lungs. Her blood oxygen was at 88 when they got her to the hospital. It was up to 95 when they released her. I appreciate all of you who continue to say a prayer for her when you think of her. It's a slow battle, but she's definitely getting better.

They've decided that they will postpone the bone marrow transplant indefinitely until she's strong enough to handle it. Waiting is so hard. Waiting to get better, waiting to have the transplant, waiting again to get better. UGH. :?

Reenie

[Pam Alexson]

Reenie,

It is along road you and your family are traveling. May strength and energy in large amounts come your way. Your mom is daily kept in thought and prayer.

Pam

[SharonBates]

Reenie,
I continue to pray for you and your family and especially for your Mom!

Blessings and comfort to you always,
Sharon

[shirleymahoney]

Reenie

I'm glad she got to come home and i'm sooo sorry she has had to go through this, but i'm glad you are there for her and any time you need to talk we are here for you

Shirley