The second chemo infusion event

I'll give you all a brief about Mom's second chemo infusion yesterday, Monday the 24th. Peg has a lot more detailed information, though, so she may want to add or correct some of my comments.

Mom had been told by her oncologist, Dr. Chaundhry, that the results of a MUGA test showed that the "squeeze" power of her heart was less than it should be; it was 40% when it should be 60%. He recommended that she go back to her cardiologist. So yesterday she did, seeing another doctor in the Spokane office of her Lewiston-based cardiology doctor. This doctor ordered a echocardiogram, which is a more modern and more exact test than the MUGA. The results of this test showed that Mom's output is more like 50%, which is more than satisfactory for a woman of her age. With that result, the doctor cut back on the dosage of the medicine meant to help her heart.

So that was good news for Mom, who is looking forward to another Bloomsday in May, the Pacific Northwest's version of the Boston marathon (only shorter).

The intravenous chemo infusion begins with a blood panel, and the results actually showed improvement in red and white blood cell counts over last week's. That's also good news. Finally, as the doctor examined her, he noted that the groin lymph node that was no longer swollen. Generally speaking, he said, she is responding very, very well to the treatment.

Mom so far hasn't experienced the typical side effects of chemo--nausea and hair loss. She is perhaps just beginning to feel a bit hyped up from the Predisone, for she reported that she had a difficult time falling asleep last night. That's not at all like her. She made up for it by sleeping late this morning, though.

Peg and I talked this evening and agreed that this week has been less stressful than last week, when we were all being introduced to new procedures and such. Let's hope that Mom's good health continues as she enjoys a 20-day interval until her next intravenous infusion at the beginning of the next 28 day cycle. She is thinking that she might be able to go back to Asotin and enjoy her own home for a while, but we'll see how the week develops.

Thanks to everyone who is sending emails. I'm passing them on to Peg and she's reading them to Mom.

Love to you all.

Busy Easter weekend, wasn't it?

Well, Mom had a great week, it seems, and a great Easter weekend. Peg always likes to do the Easter egg thing with Michelle and Chelsea, so egg decorating was on the schedule for Saturday. I understand that Mom got kind of tired out and crashed when Peg and she got back to Peg's house. But what great-grandmother wouldn't feel that way after being a part of all that hubbub?

Sunday began with Mass with Peg and Chelsea, then the egg hunt in Peg's front yard. By the time I got to Spokane (I had been in the Valley moving Mom's stuff out of Evergreen Estates), all of that was over and everyone was chilling out in anticipation of a great dinner.

Peg served a wonderful ham that she had injected with a honey praline marinade. Yum! We feasted until we were full and then adjourned to easy chairs for conversation. I had to drive back to Pullman that evening to go to work the next morning.

So it was, all in all, a great family time. Happy Easter!