Brianne is getting better today and was a bit cheerful and energetic today. She was feeling better until this evening and crashed, but it's still nice to see some improvement in energy and disposition.
She started getting fluids today from the home health nurse and that went well without any problems. Otherwise, it was a pretty uneventful day.
Joshua
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Schedule:
Bri goes to the clinic every other day for labs, Dr., Infusion, tx. She went today, got more platelets, iv fluids and they are ordering home health to give her iv fluids at the lodge to help with the dehydration. She has lost 24 lbs. in 10 days. As they told us they will be watching her closely.
Visits:
Any day she is not at the Clinic which this upcoming week is Wed 2, Fri 4., Sun 6., Tues. 8, Thurs. 10, Sat. 12. We have lots of other appts. coming up but have not gotten those yet. If you would like to come see the Bri. Just call one of us to see how it works out. Brenda 229-506-3221 and Joshua 478-737-4178. Bri would love visitors, just making sure she is well enough. Visits at this time should be short.
Bri goes to the clinic every other day for labs, Dr., Infusion, tx. She went today, got more platelets, iv fluids and they are ordering home health to give her iv fluids at the lodge to help with the dehydration. She has lost 24 lbs. in 10 days. As they told us they will be watching her closely.
Visits:
Any day she is not at the Clinic which this upcoming week is Wed 2, Fri 4., Sun 6., Tues. 8, Thurs. 10, Sat. 12. We have lots of other appts. coming up but have not gotten those yet. If you would like to come see the Bri. Just call one of us to see how it works out. Brenda 229-506-3221 and Joshua 478-737-4178. Bri would love visitors, just making sure she is well enough. Visits at this time should be short.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
The Hope Lodge
(Joshua Reporting):
Well, Brianne got out on Wednesday and has spent the last few days here at the Hope Lodge. The Hope Lodge is an amazing facility set up by the American Cancer Society and is totally free with a doctor's order. It has 34 units with 2 beds in each unit (1 for the patient and 1 for the caregiver), a large spacious kitchen and common areas, is close to Emory's campus, is rather secluded, and has a beautiful view of the nearby woods - you'd never think you're in the middle of Atlanta. When I first came up here on Thursday, I was overwhelmed by the place - it's an amazing blessing. The staff here is great and the other patients are welcoming, friendly, and great for conversation.
Update on physical health. Brianne's leukemia is back and right now she is recovering from the chemo she got last week. She's been exhausted all weekend and sickly. She'll get up for a few minutes to walk downstairs or walk around and before long she is too tired or has to go the bathroom. She's barely eaten and is mostly only drinking water and gatorade. This morning, we spent 6 hours at the clinic getting 2 bags of blood, fluids, potassium, and platelets. She perked up for a little bit after getting fluids, but was tired again within an hour or two.
Emotional/mental/spiritual health. As you know and can tell from her last post, this entire ordeal has been very trying and the last two weeks have been really disappointing as the transplant date was pushed back again and Brianne hated having to have chemo AGAIN.
Keep her in your prayers for physical strength as the side effects from the chemo can be devastating. Also pray that she would feel God's love and presence through this hard time (we know it's there, it's just sometimes hard to feel/see). This morning she met Ann Something from Smyrna who was diagnosed with ALL leukemia last week and the two of them had a really good talk about God, faith, and illness - it's a wonderful thing to see the people God puts in our lives especially when we really need them. Those wonderful people include all of y'all out there in computer land - she really appreciates your prayers, letters, comments et al. Here's her address for the Hope Lodge:
Brianne Tsavatewa Room 212
1552 Shoup Court
Decatur GA 30033
Joshua signing off. - (Also - you can click on the title "Hope Lodge" and it'll take you to the Decatur Hope Lodge website)
Well, Brianne got out on Wednesday and has spent the last few days here at the Hope Lodge. The Hope Lodge is an amazing facility set up by the American Cancer Society and is totally free with a doctor's order. It has 34 units with 2 beds in each unit (1 for the patient and 1 for the caregiver), a large spacious kitchen and common areas, is close to Emory's campus, is rather secluded, and has a beautiful view of the nearby woods - you'd never think you're in the middle of Atlanta. When I first came up here on Thursday, I was overwhelmed by the place - it's an amazing blessing. The staff here is great and the other patients are welcoming, friendly, and great for conversation.
Update on physical health. Brianne's leukemia is back and right now she is recovering from the chemo she got last week. She's been exhausted all weekend and sickly. She'll get up for a few minutes to walk downstairs or walk around and before long she is too tired or has to go the bathroom. She's barely eaten and is mostly only drinking water and gatorade. This morning, we spent 6 hours at the clinic getting 2 bags of blood, fluids, potassium, and platelets. She perked up for a little bit after getting fluids, but was tired again within an hour or two.
Emotional/mental/spiritual health. As you know and can tell from her last post, this entire ordeal has been very trying and the last two weeks have been really disappointing as the transplant date was pushed back again and Brianne hated having to have chemo AGAIN.
Keep her in your prayers for physical strength as the side effects from the chemo can be devastating. Also pray that she would feel God's love and presence through this hard time (we know it's there, it's just sometimes hard to feel/see). This morning she met Ann Something from Smyrna who was diagnosed with ALL leukemia last week and the two of them had a really good talk about God, faith, and illness - it's a wonderful thing to see the people God puts in our lives especially when we really need them. Those wonderful people include all of y'all out there in computer land - she really appreciates your prayers, letters, comments et al. Here's her address for the Hope Lodge:
Brianne Tsavatewa Room 212
1552 Shoup Court
Decatur GA 30033
Joshua signing off. - (Also - you can click on the title "Hope Lodge" and it'll take you to the Decatur Hope Lodge website)
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Unsettled
I'm so unsettled. My mind, my body, and my emotions. I just need something solid to hold on to. I turn to God and pray, but there is a frustration because I can't see Him. I can't physically be held by Him. I'm so angry and I just want this to be over. Oh, God I cry out to you. Hold your child. Please Lord wrap me in your arms. Give me the strength I need to carry on. It seems too hard to keep pressing on. It feels so overwhelming. Heal me Father God. I need You more than anything in this world.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Shocked
Hello, This is Brenda, Bri's Mom.
Friday afternoon the doctor told us the lab results and comparisons to Tuesdays lab and biopsy. Her white count had doubled in two days and her leukemia blasts were around 30%. I was shocked and just broke down crying as I asked does this mean what I think it does? The doctor said it is a very agressive leukemia with poor prognosis and we need to be just as agressive in treatment. He went on to explain what treatment should look like and to expect they may keep her in the hospital until transplant. Additionally, if all goes well without major complications the earliest time transplant is possible is four weeks. We are praying for the four weeks. As more info comes we will update you.
Friday afternoon the doctor told us the lab results and comparisons to Tuesdays lab and biopsy. Her white count had doubled in two days and her leukemia blasts were around 30%. I was shocked and just broke down crying as I asked does this mean what I think it does? The doctor said it is a very agressive leukemia with poor prognosis and we need to be just as agressive in treatment. He went on to explain what treatment should look like and to expect they may keep her in the hospital until transplant. Additionally, if all goes well without major complications the earliest time transplant is possible is four weeks. We are praying for the four weeks. As more info comes we will update you.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
I just can't believe it.
By now I'm sure the majority of you all have received an email from my mom about the return of my leukemia. This insane turn of events has thrown me for some loop. I was admitted again to Emory University Hospital. This time for the long haul. I wasn't aware that I would be staying here for an extended amount of time. Over the next few days I will have more information I'm sure about what the time line is going to look like, but my doctor did say that they will most likely not be sending me back home. It could be six weeks before I get out of here. I will be posting things that I need or fun things I would want. Mostly I need and your prayers. This chemo that I am undergoing right now is taking full affect on my body. It causes me to be extremely tired and I am constantly worn out. I am so tired right now. I will finish with this tomorrow. Sorry for the short ending. Check out Isaiah 40:28, "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom."
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Bad News
Hello Everyone, This is Bri's Mom.
It has been a long while since I posted. However, I am reaching out in a time of need with a request for prayer. Brianne was really doing well and preparing for her bone marrow transplant set for April 9th. She has been undergoing all the preparation, tests and procedures. Last week we had a very rough day with the radiologist upon hearing the finality of her not ever being able to conceive a child due to the chemo and radiation that is coming. We grieved and have been practicing acceptance in the light of what we are hoping for.... a cure. We hold on to Hope.Yesterday, Bri had a bone marrow biopsy and the doctor expressed some concerns they discovered. He called us today with the results/confirmation....The cancer is back....... We were told she will not be able to proceed with transplant on the 9th, she has to undergo another type of treatment and will be admitted to Emory tomorrow. In asking the doctor what happened he explained with her chromosome abnormality, the prognosis has always been poor, no cure with chemo alone, therefore transplant is the only possible cure. They just could not predict the very fast rate of return while we were preparing for transplant. Obviously, it is a very fast replicating cancer. The new treatment plan is intensive 5 day chemotherapy in-patient with a different type of chemo and very close monitoring, then allowing her body systems to recover and gain strength. As soon as she is cleared (which could be a matter of several weeks) then move to transplant as soon as possible. The requirements for transplant are: Must be in remission and system (organs) ready (recovered from effects of chemo). We are all shocked as things had been going so smoothly and this was the last thing we expected. Fear has gripped me and is wreaking a little havoc in my thoughts. We had been told how serious her diagnosis was, the prognosis and treatment expectations but everything was going so well and I just felt like everything was going to be okay. I do believe that it will be okay but as I said I have been jolted into the reality of the relentless disease of cancer.
All this being said, I am asking for your prayers, I thank you in advance for them. Again, I thank you for all your support and prayers. By the way, even though it is hard at times to hold on to Hope, I know I can rest in the assurance that Hope holds on to us, He always has and He always will. Each of you are a part of that same Hope and I thank you for being there for us. Bless You all. Will share more later.
It has been a long while since I posted. However, I am reaching out in a time of need with a request for prayer. Brianne was really doing well and preparing for her bone marrow transplant set for April 9th. She has been undergoing all the preparation, tests and procedures. Last week we had a very rough day with the radiologist upon hearing the finality of her not ever being able to conceive a child due to the chemo and radiation that is coming. We grieved and have been practicing acceptance in the light of what we are hoping for.... a cure. We hold on to Hope.Yesterday, Bri had a bone marrow biopsy and the doctor expressed some concerns they discovered. He called us today with the results/confirmation....The cancer is back....... We were told she will not be able to proceed with transplant on the 9th, she has to undergo another type of treatment and will be admitted to Emory tomorrow. In asking the doctor what happened he explained with her chromosome abnormality, the prognosis has always been poor, no cure with chemo alone, therefore transplant is the only possible cure. They just could not predict the very fast rate of return while we were preparing for transplant. Obviously, it is a very fast replicating cancer. The new treatment plan is intensive 5 day chemotherapy in-patient with a different type of chemo and very close monitoring, then allowing her body systems to recover and gain strength. As soon as she is cleared (which could be a matter of several weeks) then move to transplant as soon as possible. The requirements for transplant are: Must be in remission and system (organs) ready (recovered from effects of chemo). We are all shocked as things had been going so smoothly and this was the last thing we expected. Fear has gripped me and is wreaking a little havoc in my thoughts. We had been told how serious her diagnosis was, the prognosis and treatment expectations but everything was going so well and I just felt like everything was going to be okay. I do believe that it will be okay but as I said I have been jolted into the reality of the relentless disease of cancer.
All this being said, I am asking for your prayers, I thank you in advance for them. Again, I thank you for all your support and prayers. By the way, even though it is hard at times to hold on to Hope, I know I can rest in the assurance that Hope holds on to us, He always has and He always will. Each of you are a part of that same Hope and I thank you for being there for us. Bless You all. Will share more later.
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