Updates from Kristi

It's time to call in the troops!

It's Kristi reporting for Kathy.

Mom is hanging in there but is not feeling well at all...but, everything was predicted and she's moving along right on schedule.

She has absolutely no energy. None. Nada. Zilch. She can barely keep her eyes open. She also currently has no immune system. Her white blood cell count is .49 but that's where they want it to be. The doctors were predicting a rough weekend and they were right. 

Her nausea has been really bad. Her nurse this weekend is the Nurse of the Year which is awesome. She's been changing some meds to help with the nausea. They also have her on a saline drip to keep her hydrated. 

Starting on Monday, she'll be getting her neupogen shots. This will start to increase her white blood cells! She'll be on the upswing then, they say. 

Overall, she's doing the best she can. Kerri and I are calling and texting her every day and the grandkids are calling when they can. It's REALLY hard for Kerri and I to hear mom sounding so doped up. I mean, she's always been dopey but this is different. ;) Seriously though, it's something you never ever want to see or hear even when you know that it's for the best. 

Dad is also hanging in there. Not surprisingly, he has been an absolutely amazing support for mom throughout this whole ordeal. Every husband should take note. You couldn't find a better caregiver. He's been home twice now to check in with the house, give TomCat some Dad lovin' and to get some "good" sleep in their bed. I know it's hard for him to leave but mom makes him! 

So that's where we are. We all truly appreciate your thoughts, well wishes and prayers. 

xoxo Loves ya!

Side effects.

I have no energy the last two days.   Nausea has got to go.    They have me pretty well sedated with Adavan to help with the nausea.  Sleep I can do.  Today I am considered a fall risk because my blood pressure dropped under 100.  So have to get help to do snything out of the bed.  Doctors and nurses say I am on the way to where I need to be.   Hope I can soon get there.  Hate this groggy head, hate this tied to my bed.   Blood counts are all falling like they are supposed to.  Then I get Neuprogen shots to bring them back up again starting next week.   Then maybe energy.

Quote:

Maintain hope and faith!  

Amenities!

 November 13th
Not a lot of sleep last night because of feet and some nausea.  Chemo was over around 11:30 PM last night.  About 45 minute drip with two 15 minute fluid drips before and after.  Room hot then cold.  Bill and I set and talked from 4 AM till around 6:30 AM.  He went looking for breakfast.  I walked, had breakfast, showered, saw the PA and doctor.   Things look good for the transplant.  I then started to throw up after they all left.  Ugh.  Gave me Adavan.   And about an hour later, I throw up again.  Gave me more Adavan.   Makes me sleepy.  Been that way all day.  Bill said I was snoring  through the Pittsburgh Steelers game.

So my hospital has very nice amenities.  Large room with a bed for me and a double sleeper sofa for Bill.  Nice lounge chair.    Large screen tv with select free movies, HBO, internet, my health portal.  My own private shower and bathroom is very nice   Bill has to use those in the hall.  Want something to eat, just call room service.  Not waiting around for your food to arrive off the food cart. Haven't had much appetite to try a lot.  Closets are fairly nice size.  Could have brought more clothes 😜

Today is November 14th.  My day zero.  My day of putting my baby cells back in that I harvested.  Those 9.35 million.  Not sure how many I will be getting back of them yet.  Then I will be on the way to recovery.  A long recovery but well worth it with little goals to meet.  Goals to help me score against Multiple Myeloma.  I am not sure if I will be blogging tonight or not.  Remember, as Louise always says, no news is good news!  They started my 2 hour pre fluid drip. Next at 11, they bring my stem cells in.  Takes about an hour.  Then will be have another 2 hour fluid drip.  Busy, busy day.  And so many pills.  Even have patch behind my ear for nausea.  Got my Wish, Dream pants Kristi and l found at kohls.  Ready to get this started and over with.  Whoa, 5 people just was in my room.  PA, Davila, my nurse Leslie, two strangers.  Also, saw the physical therapist and case manager.
Now it's 3 PM and I slept through the last 4 hours.  Nurse gave me Benedryl and a few other meds for nausea.  Boom I am out.  Only wake up every 15 minutes to get vitals taken.  They put back
 3.6 million stem cells.  Took about 45 minutes.  Just waiting for my fluid drip to stop.  Bill and Nurse smell cream of corn.  I can't smell it.   Part of the transplant they say.  The way I like sauerkraut, should smell like that.   Still very sleeepy.

Let's pray for a peaceful night for all of us to sleep and not worry about Multiple Myeloma.


Quote:

The perfect day - going to bed with a dream and waking up with a purpose !

13 years and only 2!

Left the house around 9:15, got here at 11:30 only to find out my room wasn't ready until 1.  They told me by 12.  But anyway, all admitted as a patient.   Poked, prodded, signed papers, temperature taken several times, blood pressured several times, questions by the dozens.  So far everyone is great. Both my nurses today were named Michelle.  Now have Ann and Seanna.  PA was Jessica and doctor was Dr. Ayala.  I probably won't see Dr. Ocho, my transplant doctor. The transplant doctors take turns 2 weeks at a time to monitor patients.  This rotates, I think they said, every 4 weeks.

Dang feet are still killing me.  They seemed a little better at the beginning of the week too.  Nurse just came in with about 11 pills for me to take.  7 of those were steroids.  Yeah.  One for pain.  Yeah too.  Then she hooked me up to a bag of saline to get me ready for my chemo tonight.  Chemo is to start around 10 to 10:45 tonight and will drip for 45 minutes. Then I hope to sleep as I didn't get a lot of sleep last night.  Said side effects will show up in about 3 to 4 days.  Hair loss, 5 to 7.  Got my cute hats 🎩 with me and a few scarves.

Dr. Ayala was very upbeat about my transplant.  Said I was pretty healthy otherwise so feels it will go well. And he also mentioned the Multiple Myeloma that I have is the IGE, which is very rare.  Same as Dr. Ochoa had said.  Dr. Ayala said he had been here for 13 years and has only seen 2 other people that has had this type of Multiple Myeloma.  They did well with the transplant.  He also was amazed at the number of stem cells they collected from me.  Not sure how many they will put back yet.

Right now I am wrapped up in my prayer shawl Sandy sent me, covered up in my "autographed" quilt Nancy made me and my "World Kitchen" quilt made by Stephanie!   Bill is laying on his bed reading.  Would love to turn the lights out and say good night all.  Worse thing is the clock in this room has never been turned back.

Quote:

I have seen new sides of people who matter most to me in the world, wrap me in their love and lend me their strength when mine is running low!

See you smile again!

Waiting to get admitted to my room.  As several of you have asked, here is the address and room number of where I will be for a bit.

Moffitt Cancer Center
12902 USF Magnolia Dr
Tampa, FL 33612
Attn:  Kathy Snowberger
Room #3739

This morning as Bill and I was laying in bed talking at 6 AM about the weeks to come, he said to me "We got this babe.  In it together, you and I.  I just want to see you smile again!"

Quote:

None needed!!

Tomorrow.

If you are having trouble seeing Brace's letter from yesterday's post, please sign in first.  I can't see it either unless I am signed in to the blog.

Tomorrow starts my days of tomorrow's!!   I check in to the hospital around noon, have high dose chemotherapy, rest Sunday and my transplant on Monday.   Then on the road to recovery.  It will take some time but that time only brings me more time.  Time to appreciate my family.  Time to appreciate my friends.  Time to appreciate my and Bill's retirement.  Time to appreciate me!!

Quote:

Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway!

You can fight cancer!!!

Received this in the mail when I got home from Moffitt.  What a nice and caring letter from a special young man!!!

Thanks Brace!!!  xoxo