Hospital for Chemo and Reservoir - Happy Thanksgiving

Hello all - this is Joshua making my first post.

I've been here at the hospital since Monday with Brianne and we'll be breaking out on either Friday or Saturday. She's been having chemo all week and is holding up. On Monday, they performed surgery to put in the reservoir which went well, and she was groggy and slept most of the rest of the day. On Tuesday, she was a bit more alert, but threw up her lunch after having a procedure where they shot chemo straight into here brain using the new reservoir. She then slept the rest of the day and was out of it. We would be sitting there watching tv or something and she'd space out for a few minutes. It's been like that most of the week.

We've been walking around the floor some and she was able to hold down a little food on Wednesday, but hasn't eaten anything yet today (she's been a bit sick and Mom is coming in later this afternoon, bringing something good to eat). The McManuses came by on Wednesday which she really enjoyed. It's been really weird being here this week as this has been my first stay with Brianne in the hospital while she receives chemo. Most of the day is spent getting water, walking her to the bathroom, calling the nurses, talking to the nurses, alerting the nurses about the machines beeping, and a lot of sitting around. Brianne hasn't been sleeping well due to the nurses coming in an out at night and is very nauseous from the chemo and brain surgery. She seems to be getting better, as she has more times when we interact and watch tv or talk, but the chemo and multiple other medicines take a toll on her. Brianne having chemo is worlds different from Brianne at home.

We should be going home soon which will be nice, but I'll be heading back to Jackson this weekend. Keep praying for Brianne that she'll handle the treatments well and remain strong. Also pray for her attitude, as she gets worried, nervous, and scared. Joshua Signing off.

Tough Times

Beez goes in the hospital for her surgery tomorrow morning for placement of Ommaya reservoir ,http://patienteducation.upmc.com/Pdf/OmmayaReservoir.pdf. She will in the hospital for a week of chemo treatments beginning her 2nd round. Joshua is home for Thanksgiving and will be staying with her at the hospital this week. We had a wonderful pre-Thanksgiving celebration this weekend with our family even though it was intertwined with Dr. visits and pre-op meetings. We have a clearer update to give everyone regarding our meeting with the bone marrow transplant specialist and will do so in a day or two. We had some really good news and some really sobering realities. We are coping, and being sustained by Gods grace and tender mercies. We all hurt for Beez having to go through this and we thank you for for the prayers and expressions of love. She is holding on but still hurts physically and emotionally at times. Please add our traveling prayers to your list as Christopher travels weekly back and forth from Birmingham, Joshua back to MS next week and of course Beez and I a couple times a week to Atlanta. A million thanks and blessings be returned to you all.
Brenda

A Real Update

First I want to say sorry for not keeping everyone up to date on what is going on over the past few days. Things have been insane traveling back and forth from Macon to Atlanta. When I was released from the hospital a couple of weeks ago I knew that the rest of this new course was going to be different. I found out quickly how hard. I have spent the last several days very sick, very tired, and very frustrated. My medications have been making me feel crazy and out of control. I don't quite feel like myself anymore. My mind seems just a little behind the rest of what is going on. I call it chemo-brain and hopefully it will pass. On Monday I have surgery. The doctors are putting a resevior in my head. This is so the doctors won't have to keep doing lumbar punctures. I will be in the hospital from the 19th through the next 5-6 days following. My surgery will be on Monday morning and my chemo will start that night. I am going tomorrow to Emory with my family to meet with the Bone Marrow Transplant team, Friday pre-op and then I'll be spending the weekend having Thanksgiving fun with the family. Will share more information after our meeting with the bone marrow transplant specialist.

Nothing to do with cancer.

There are some days that just make you want to write. The weather is set, the circumstance is presented, and then it comes- inspiration. Today was not that day. I mulled about doing this then that and nothing. I have this overpowering desire to write something beautiful, something full of meaning, but I just don't feel like I have anything of importance to say. How frustrating. Maybe I'm doomed to spend my days filling pages with paragraphs of nonsense and blah blahs with bits of poetry and cliches' stuck in-between. If you have any ideas for me to ponder and butcher or maybe to pontificate upon please send them my way. Muse speak to me. Some one please "a-muse" me. Teeheehee.

Hard Days

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a few days. When I came home on Saturday I wasn't feeling well at all. I had been totally wiped out from the new chemo. Sunday morning I spent very sick to my stomach and just feeling puny. By the afternoon though I began to feel much better. This morning mom took me out to the mall to walk around and get a change of scenery. Monday mornings are a great time to go to the mall by the way, no one is there. :) But just as I was paying for something I got a nosebleed. Never a good thing. I had been having some bleeding since last night, but then with the nosebleed we had to call the doctor. I was really upset because I know that if lab results came back saying my platelets were low I was going to have to be admitted again for another transfusion. I spent all afternoon sitting and waiting. The crazy thing is that this is going to be my new normal. The labs did come back okay so the doctor at Emory said I just may need to come back to the clinic a day early. I have an appointment on Wednesday, but they said they may want to see me tomorrow. I feel puny now, tired and just frustrated because I have absolutely no control over what my blood is doing. Oh , well. Keep praying please. Things are really hard right now. The new chemo is very hard and is making me very sick. I love you all. God bless.

Going Home Again

Well, after spending an exhausting week in the hospital I get to go home. I found out this week what my new chemo is going to look like. It's going to be hard. The beginning of the week was okay, but towards the end I began to feel sick often. I will be back in the hospital around turkey day. Woo hoo. Hospital Thanksgiving Food!!! I can't wait. :) Thanks for your prayers. I will probably post again today when I get home. When I can sit down and sort out my head. I'll give some more detailed information about what is going to be going on with the new treatment program. TTFN.

Just the Facts

Just a few fill ins for everyone. The Dr. called Brianne Thursday evening with the treatment teams recommendation. She begins the new treatment protocol this Monday at the hospital, Emory, and will be inpatient for a week depending on healthy she remains. The change in treatment protocol is due to a 1% level of leukemic cells remaining in her bone marrow. Although 1% sounds good, it is relative due to many other factors, most importantly it is not where she should or had expected for her to be at this point due to the type of previous aggressive treatment. The main factor that must be considered and is directing treatment has to do with her chromosome 11 abnormality which indicates her being at high risk for the leukemia replicating and returning. Therefore, the doctor/team says it is in her best interest to begin preparation for bone marrow transplant. This is a very lengthy and involved treatment and will involve several months preparing. We do not have details at this time and have many more questions than we have information to share. As we find out more during the weeks to come we will provide more information. We know we will have more frequent hospital stays and outpatient travelling through the weeks ahead. Again, will know more later and share what we know.

What we do know. Fact #1 "Brianne is His workmanship created for good things in Christ" Fact#2 the chromosome 11 abnormality is no surprise to the Creator and Redeemer and Healer of ALL things. (the pun very much intended) Fact#3 "Thus says the Lord who created you who formed you: Be not afraid, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I-AM the Lord your God…You are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you… Be not afraid, for I am with you… Isaiah 43

I have found comfort in many scriptures but ran across this truth yesterday and was brought again to a place of peace within. "Not grace to bar what is not bliss, Nor flight from all distress, but this, The grace that orders our trouble and pain and then in the darkness is there to sustain. Grace is secure. And no failure or suffering or struggle, darkness or trouble can keep us from God's secure grace. It remains. It endures. And by grace we are kept. By grace, and grace alone... (J. Piper)

Thank You seems such an inadequate word to convey our appreciation for the love and prayers shown to us but please know how grateful and thankful we are for all of you being a part of our lives.

With Sincere Thanks, Brenda and the Indians