(Joshua Reporting):
Brianne is not doing well - she's in a lot pain, very tired, and just plain not well. She's been having trouble breathing because of the pneumonia and is in a lot of pain. They took her to get x-rays yesterday for her lungs and chest. She's having a very sharp pain in her side that keeps her from sleeping and makes her very uncomfortable. The PA said the pain is probably in her lung and comes from a combination of the pneumonia and the lung biopsy they did on Monday (or Tuesday?).
They're going to up her pain medicine and try to get her feeling better, but in the meantime, she's very upset, hyperventilating, and just struggling. She also has a fever, and we don't know when they'll be letting her out. It's really hard seeing her like this - she's like a weak, drowsy, wheezing, zombie.
(Update)
They'll be putting a new tripled lumen IJ/EJ line line in for Brianne that'll feed right into the jugular. It's a relatively minor procedure that they'll do in her room this afternoon. The nurse said the old tunneled pick line could be causing the infection and quite often the pic lines cause infections for patients. The new line will also have three things (the old one had 2) - i don't know the official title for "things," but she has these lines that they've put into her chest so they can giver her blood and medicine and now she'll have 3 instead of 2 so they can give her more blood and medicines (this was a planned addition and is not b/c of the pneumonia). All of this can be a bit confusing - especially when you read about it instead of seeing it.
Also - the nurse said that she'll likely be in the hospital for 1-2 weeks, so she probably has another week, but could get out sooner - it all depends on how she reacts to the medicines and
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Monday, May 5, 2008
The One with the Test Results
Good Evening,
This is Brenda reporting.
We just found out that Bri has strep in her blood and pneumonia. She will be getting a lung biopsy tomorrow to determine if it is fungal. They will not be doing the scheduled bone marrow biopsy as her blood work stills shows leukemic cells and therefore is not needed. They said although she did show some response to the chemotherapy it is not as much as is needed to proceed with transplant. She will need another round of chemo next week. She feels very sick today.
She is getting more scared as am I. I am praying and crying out to God. I know He is present and will never leave or forsake us but, it still hurts. Occasionally fear tries to plague us and blocks out the light/life we know lives within us. We pray and hold on to God. We feel, sense and know the prayers of all our friends/family is sustaining, strengthening and comforting us. thank You so very very much. It is His love that truly sustains us and we are thankful to be recipients of that expression through His body of you, our dearest of friends/family.
Thank You to all who have visited, sent cards, notes and calls as it is encouraging to her. If you are in or going through Atlanta please come by for a minute if you can. You can call me to see if she is up for a visit. Bless you all, we will update again in a few days.
This is Brenda reporting.
We just found out that Bri has strep in her blood and pneumonia. She will be getting a lung biopsy tomorrow to determine if it is fungal. They will not be doing the scheduled bone marrow biopsy as her blood work stills shows leukemic cells and therefore is not needed. They said although she did show some response to the chemotherapy it is not as much as is needed to proceed with transplant. She will need another round of chemo next week. She feels very sick today.
She is getting more scared as am I. I am praying and crying out to God. I know He is present and will never leave or forsake us but, it still hurts. Occasionally fear tries to plague us and blocks out the light/life we know lives within us. We pray and hold on to God. We feel, sense and know the prayers of all our friends/family is sustaining, strengthening and comforting us. thank You so very very much. It is His love that truly sustains us and we are thankful to be recipients of that expression through His body of you, our dearest of friends/family.
Thank You to all who have visited, sent cards, notes and calls as it is encouraging to her. If you are in or going through Atlanta please come by for a minute if you can. You can call me to see if she is up for a visit. Bless you all, we will update again in a few days.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
The One From The Hospital...
So after waiting for hours in the ER I was finally admitted at 3:30 am this morning. I was sooo tired. I still am. Anyway, I'm here at Emory doing my sick thing. :) I kind of feel like I have the flu. All achy, sore, and fever-ish. I have a cold so I know I'm fighting that. The blood cultures haven't "grown" anything yet which is great news. That means so far no infection!!! I'm on IV antibiotics and fluids to help keep my fevers down. We aren't sure what's going on, so the doctor wants to keep me a few days for observation. I'm trying to stay positive. I am very tired these days. I don't know what has happened to all my energy. I think someone stole it... I'm pursuing what leads I have. Thanks for all your prayers. My brother has been so helpful with keeping this blog updated. I have a hard time with that b/c I get so tired so quickly. That is why my posts are so short. :) Ya'll take care. And enjoy the rest of the weekend.
E.R. Visit
(Joshua reporting):
Brianne is back in Atlanta for the weekend, and she decided to spice things up by running a fever. She has not been feeling well all day, and if she gets a fever she has to check into the hospital, so right now shes' getting checked in at the ER and will be whisked away to the E wing for observation, medicine, and being awakened every hour or so by the nurses.
Pray for her as she of course didn't want to be hospitalized again. Pray that the infection isn't serious, will not cause a major setback, and that she'll be back at the Hope Lodge soon.
Brianne is back in Atlanta for the weekend, and she decided to spice things up by running a fever. She has not been feeling well all day, and if she gets a fever she has to check into the hospital, so right now shes' getting checked in at the ER and will be whisked away to the E wing for observation, medicine, and being awakened every hour or so by the nurses.
Pray for her as she of course didn't want to be hospitalized again. Pray that the infection isn't serious, will not cause a major setback, and that she'll be back at the Hope Lodge soon.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Home for a Few Days
(Joshua Reporting):
Brianne came to Macon Wednesday and will be here until here appointment on Friday (tomorrow). She's been doing well as far as feeling sick and being sick, but this week she's just been very tired and not well but not sick. While not having fun, it's better than being sick.
We met with the doctor on Tuesday and discussed what's the plan and here it is: Brianne will have another bone marrow biopsy on Monday (the 5th). They will continue to monitor her counts to decide about chemo and the transplant, with Brianne likely getting chemo sometime the following week (the 12th-16th). The transplant is tentatively schedule in the 1-2 month window, again depending on her blood and what it tells them.
Again - be in prayer for her spirit, health, blood, and that they can do the transplant soon.
No real news or anything big, we're just waiting and will be doing that over the next few weeks.
Brianne came to Macon Wednesday and will be here until here appointment on Friday (tomorrow). She's been doing well as far as feeling sick and being sick, but this week she's just been very tired and not well but not sick. While not having fun, it's better than being sick.
We met with the doctor on Tuesday and discussed what's the plan and here it is: Brianne will have another bone marrow biopsy on Monday (the 5th). They will continue to monitor her counts to decide about chemo and the transplant, with Brianne likely getting chemo sometime the following week (the 12th-16th). The transplant is tentatively schedule in the 1-2 month window, again depending on her blood and what it tells them.
Again - be in prayer for her spirit, health, blood, and that they can do the transplant soon.
No real news or anything big, we're just waiting and will be doing that over the next few weeks.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
FREEDOM!!!!!!! (In my best Mel Gibson voice)
Brianne's getting out on Friday and will return to the Hope Lodge. She's disappointed because she wasn't let out today, but they wanted to observe her overnight and make sure everything's ok. She's responded well to this round of chemo, with fewer side effects than in the past. It's still wait and see till probably early next week to see what the plans are.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Update
(Joshua posting):
Sorry about the delay - no one really felt like doing this the past few days, so I've been drafted to update the online world.
Bad news - On Friday, the doctors told Brianne that her blood indicated the leukemia still remained and they'd have to give her more chemo and reassess her situation. She was quite upset and came home to Macon for Saturday and Sunday, and we hung out for the weekend and she visited with her friend Leeann. On Monday, they re-admitted her to the hospital and began chemo on Tuesday. She received chemo on Tuesday, Wednesday, and tomorrow (Thursday) will be the last day, with Brianne getting released on Thursday evening or Friday. This round has not been as bad on her as some of the past rounds and she's in better spirits and better physically. We'll have to wait and see till next week what the long/short term plan is; it mostly depends on what her bloodwork says.
The chemo she got this week is part of a clinical trial one of the Doctors here is heading up, and they'll have to check her blood and strength to decide the future: Basically, they have to get her leukemia levels to a very low level AND she has to be physically strong before they can do the transplant - this is almost a conundrum because after she gets chemo, she's very weak and by the time she gets her strength back, the leukemia has come back. During February, when she was on schedule to get her transplant, she was both strong and had very low leukemia levels, but they waited a bit too long to start the transplant and the leukemia came back. They should be able to get the levels low and head towards transplant, it's just that this time, they'll have to be more vigilant and watchful and pull the transplant trigger as soon as possible.
Today (Wednesday) was her Birthday and she was happy and sad. She had some visitors which helped her spirits, but she's still dealing with the anger/frustration and unknown. One thing I was thinking about today is how so much of this process is a trial-and-error ordeal. They put Brianne on one regiment for a while and it works, then it doesn't, so they do something else. Despite our advances in modern medicine, so much of it is limited in what it can accomplish - most importantly, they can't address the spiritual/emotional aspect of this whole ordeal, although Emory does have chaplains and counselors for patients. I'm also struck by the fact that so much is unknown such as: will she be in the hospital next week?, how long till the transplant?, how many more setbacks?, how much more "trial-and-error?", will she still be fighting this in a year, six months, 3 years, etc.?, and the list goes on.
- All of it just drives me to a sense of despair, helplessness, and utter uselessness. I'm nearly constantly reminded of God's sovereignty in all situations AND his immense love for His children: two critically important thing to remember. God is in control and He knows what He's doing, and that gives me comfort although I'm still fearful and scared. The words from the hymn "All must be well" have brought me some comfort over the past few days:
Free and changeless is His favor, All is well
Precious is the blood that healed us
Perfect is the grace that sealed us
Strong the hand stretched forth to shield us
All must be well
2. Though we pass through tribulation, All will be well
Ours is such a full salvation, All is well
Happy still in God confiding
Fruitful if in Christ abiding
Steadfast through the Spirit's guiding
All must be well
3. We expect a bright tomorrow; All will be well
Faith can sing through days of sorrow, All is well
On our Father's love relying
Jesus every need supplying
Yes in living or in dying
All must be well
Our situation of "being well" does not depend on how hard we believe or how much work we do, but in how much Christ believed and the work He did - two things which will never change and can never be erased. Our own belief and work collapse like a house of cards in the slightest of breezes, but we have a firm foundation that holds onto US even when we let go and flee, and the shepherd goes looking for the one lost sheep because His love is so deep for that one. We are not well because we have money, power, status, looks, or any other fleeting thing or even because we have uber-faith (or the outward appearance with which we convince others and ourselves of our sincerity), but are only happy when we are with Christ, and it's a happiness/wellness that can't be taken away b/c it's Christ that has done the work, not ourselves. You can listen to a clip of that hymn here (the link is actually to the site for a CD and if you click on song #10, you can hear the song (the rest of them are pretty good too, if you're interested)).
P.S. - Sorry if this blog is too long, but you don't have to read it :)
Sorry about the delay - no one really felt like doing this the past few days, so I've been drafted to update the online world.
Bad news - On Friday, the doctors told Brianne that her blood indicated the leukemia still remained and they'd have to give her more chemo and reassess her situation. She was quite upset and came home to Macon for Saturday and Sunday, and we hung out for the weekend and she visited with her friend Leeann. On Monday, they re-admitted her to the hospital and began chemo on Tuesday. She received chemo on Tuesday, Wednesday, and tomorrow (Thursday) will be the last day, with Brianne getting released on Thursday evening or Friday. This round has not been as bad on her as some of the past rounds and she's in better spirits and better physically. We'll have to wait and see till next week what the long/short term plan is; it mostly depends on what her bloodwork says.
The chemo she got this week is part of a clinical trial one of the Doctors here is heading up, and they'll have to check her blood and strength to decide the future: Basically, they have to get her leukemia levels to a very low level AND she has to be physically strong before they can do the transplant - this is almost a conundrum because after she gets chemo, she's very weak and by the time she gets her strength back, the leukemia has come back. During February, when she was on schedule to get her transplant, she was both strong and had very low leukemia levels, but they waited a bit too long to start the transplant and the leukemia came back. They should be able to get the levels low and head towards transplant, it's just that this time, they'll have to be more vigilant and watchful and pull the transplant trigger as soon as possible.
Today (Wednesday) was her Birthday and she was happy and sad. She had some visitors which helped her spirits, but she's still dealing with the anger/frustration and unknown. One thing I was thinking about today is how so much of this process is a trial-and-error ordeal. They put Brianne on one regiment for a while and it works, then it doesn't, so they do something else. Despite our advances in modern medicine, so much of it is limited in what it can accomplish - most importantly, they can't address the spiritual/emotional aspect of this whole ordeal, although Emory does have chaplains and counselors for patients. I'm also struck by the fact that so much is unknown such as: will she be in the hospital next week?, how long till the transplant?, how many more setbacks?, how much more "trial-and-error?", will she still be fighting this in a year, six months, 3 years, etc.?, and the list goes on.
- All of it just drives me to a sense of despair, helplessness, and utter uselessness. I'm nearly constantly reminded of God's sovereignty in all situations AND his immense love for His children: two critically important thing to remember. God is in control and He knows what He's doing, and that gives me comfort although I'm still fearful and scared. The words from the hymn "All must be well" have brought me some comfort over the past few days:
All Must Be Well
1. Through the love of God our Savior, All will be wellFree and changeless is His favor, All is well
Precious is the blood that healed us
Perfect is the grace that sealed us
Strong the hand stretched forth to shield us
All must be well
2. Though we pass through tribulation, All will be well
Ours is such a full salvation, All is well
Happy still in God confiding
Fruitful if in Christ abiding
Steadfast through the Spirit's guiding
All must be well
3. We expect a bright tomorrow; All will be well
Faith can sing through days of sorrow, All is well
On our Father's love relying
Jesus every need supplying
Yes in living or in dying
All must be well
Our situation of "being well" does not depend on how hard we believe or how much work we do, but in how much Christ believed and the work He did - two things which will never change and can never be erased. Our own belief and work collapse like a house of cards in the slightest of breezes, but we have a firm foundation that holds onto US even when we let go and flee, and the shepherd goes looking for the one lost sheep because His love is so deep for that one. We are not well because we have money, power, status, looks, or any other fleeting thing or even because we have uber-faith (or the outward appearance with which we convince others and ourselves of our sincerity), but are only happy when we are with Christ, and it's a happiness/wellness that can't be taken away b/c it's Christ that has done the work, not ourselves. You can listen to a clip of that hymn here (the link is actually to the site for a CD and if you click on song #10, you can hear the song (the rest of them are pretty good too, if you're interested)).
P.S. - Sorry if this blog is too long, but you don't have to read it :)
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