Nurse Kaitlin at home and then on to Round #6

The anitbiotics did their thing and I was able to go home on Tuesday, July 19th.  However, I did need to take antibiotics at home for the next 3 days.  Because I had a blood infection, the antibiotics had to be thru my port and not in pill form.  The hospital arranged for "home care" (did not even know this existed) and a big box of supplies was delivered that day.  A nurse came by after I was home to set me up and train us on changing out bags of liquid antibiotics for the next 3 days.  This entailed me having a "fanny pack" on me continuously.  Glad it was only 3 days.  All went well and nurse came back Saturday morning to remove my port needle.  Freedom felt good...  But I did love playing Nurse (and no I don't want to be one).

My sister Maddie had a softball tournament in Lake Tahoe over the weekend, so my dad took her and Timmy up for a long weekend.  Papa and Nana rented a house for the week and the cousins (with parents) spent lots of time hanging out together.  They also got to see cousin Chris, Aiden, and Audrey...  lot's of fun...  we will all have to do this again next year.  But it did mean a quiet house, so I was able to get lots of rest and my blood counts climbed back up.

Blood counts in check meant I could go on to Round #6.  This officially begins the Maintenance phase of my treatment plan.  My PET scan and bone marrow tests, from last week, came back all cancer free!  Only 4 Rounds to go and they should be somewhat lighter.  However, because chemo has now built up in my body, it is taking longer to recover.

Lastly ~ Happy Birthday to my mom, Debbie (Alexis' mom) and Teresa (Cody's mom)!

More pictures to come....

Sooooo much better today :)

I woke up feeling soooo much better today.  I am still on antibiotics, but am down to 2 from 4 earlier in the week.  I am no longer on heartrate, oxygen, and respitory monitoring - all have been within the normal range for the last day or so.  I even got a shower for the first time in a week.  On Monday I should find out more about when I will be able to go home and whether I will need to continue my meds there...  yes, thru the tubes.

Nothing much else going on, lots of TV and scrabble on the IPad with my mom.  Timmy played in a soccer tournament, for charity, in Dublin today and my dad got to coach his team.

I have turned the corner

Today is definitely better than yesterday.  I still have a way to go to be completely healthy, but have turned the corner.  Today they have me on some oxygen and I had a CT scan done of my chest.  Yes, I am wearing an "old grandpa" tube up my nose for the oxygen.  The doctors wanted to rule out a secondary infection.  No additional infection, but I did have a small case of pneumonia.  Because my white blood cells are climbing back to normal at the same time, they too want to attack bacteria in my body.  But it makes the "pneumonia" inflammation look worse that it is.  Oxygen does wonders.  My heartrate and blood pressure are getting back to normal.  I still have a little cough, but that too is better.  Well on the road to recovery.

"Time to pretend I am dead..."  Ok, I can't be that bad.  My nurse comes in and says they are testing their pagers.  She asked if I could help and hold my breath (not until I pass out) until my monitor begins beeping and is supposed to page her.  Couldn't make it happen, so we just unattached a couple of the wires from my body and bingo, it worked, monitor went crazy.



More updates tomorrow...

Ambulance Ride #2

The weekend was great and Monday started out pretty good also.  Although my counts were still low, I felt really good.  Made a "Welcome Home" sign for Alexis and family with Cody and Raymond and then went and laid in the pool at Papa & Nana's.  Went home and took a nap while my mom took Maddie and Timmy to see Mr. Popper's Penguins (it was really good).  And then it was all over.  I woke up to a 101.8 temp.  That meant immediate trip to the ER for some fluids, antibiotics and a trip to UCSF by ambulance.  Valley Care did pull a blood sample to test for bacterial culture.  The last time this happened the cultures were all negative and after a couple days of antibiotics at UCSF I went home.  However, this time the cultures came back positive and I officially had a blood infection.  Since Monday, I have been on heavy doses of 3 different antibiotics and lots of fluids.  This has been much more difficult than just getting chemo.  You truly begin to appreciate all the protection your body naturally has for infection and different bacterias.  My temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and respitory breathing goes up and down.  I am on constant watch by the nurses and the doctors.  Their true spirit really shows during these challanging times.  Today has been better.  My temperature has stabilized.  I received 2 units of blood and 1 of platletts, so by tomorrow I should be much better... updates to come later in the week.

If you are looking for a way to give back,  GIVE BLOOD, at your local Red Cross.  I have received about 12 units/pints of blood.  A single person would have to donate for 2 years for that much blood as you can only donate every 8 weeks.


BTW - The port once again did not cooperate either at the ER or at UCSF.  It took 2 nurses and 4 tries on Tuesday for it to finally work...  And forget the ER, never again will they be trying to access it.  It doesn't hurt, but the more poking and trying they do, the more bruised it becomes and then it hurts.

Lucky Mia Bingo Sunday!

On Sunday the 10th, the SDES Portuguese Hall hosted a Bingo as a fundraiser for me.  It was a great day! My parents told me all about it.  I was not able to attend as my blood counts were low and you have to be 18 in order to play or even being on the floor once the event begins.  The event included a bbq chicken lunch and serious bingo playing all afternoon with many great prizes.  Fun was had by all.  Many thanks to all who made this happen for me, but especially Frank & Amelia Martins and Gil & Mary Lima.  I love you all!

Thank you also to everyone who attended!

Happy Birthday America!!

I came home July 3rd.  It was great to be home.  4th of July was lots of fun.  Morning at Nana & Papa's and swimming with Cody, Gracie, Alexis & Timmy (pix to come)..  Then went with Cody's family to a family friends' house for a bbq, fireworks and all.

Tuesday went to John Muir in Walnut Creek for my Nuelesta shot (helps my white blood count recover).  These shots cost up to $7,000 each... YIKES!!  Thank God for insurance, as my mom would say.

The rest of the week was uneventful, expect for Friday after having my blood work done.  My dad who usually doesn't let me do anything or go anywhere, decided it would be ok to take me to Kohl's for some shopping early before the store became crowded.  As we were checking out, I once again fainted.  Luckily my dad was right behind me and caught me.  Had it been 10 minutes earlier I would have been somewhere between the rack of summer dresses and tshirts in the juniors dept.  This time it was Kohl's that called the ambulance and fire dept...  Lots of excitement that early.  I thought the store staff were going to faint also...  I was fine, no hospital visit.  My dad signed the ambulance waiver and took me home...  

More blood work on Saturday morning...  got a call that my platletts were too low and it was back to UCSF for more.  Platletts take about 30 minutes to transfuse, so I was expecting a 2 hour visit max... No such luck, 5 hours later and I finally got to go home.  Oh well, as my mom said there were obviously children that needed more attention than I that night.

Round #5 - Not quite as smooth as the others...

So I am in the middle of the 5th round of chemo.  The first 4 went beautifully, with very little side effects during treatment.  This one is going well also.  However, yesterday my body finally gave in, temporarily.  All was well... had a great Subway sandwich for lunch.  Slept most of the afternoon and was beginning to talk about dinner with my mom when all the sudden I didn't feel so good.  Went and threw up the red Gatorade I had been drinking during the afternoon.  It was down hill from there.  The nurses were awesome.  Although I was on 2 anti-nausea medicines round the clock, there are 2 more I can take "as needed".  Since yesterday evening I am now on all 4 round the clock.  But my tummy recovered by midnight and has been good since.  Ate very little till about 3pm today, then all was good.  Some buttered pasta, french fries, and a salad.  4hours later and it is still in tact and am watching The Soloist (a little slow but interesting).

Update 7/2 - I am doing much better with the nausea and am now back to my regular doses of 2 meds.  Not sure what happened ??