Day 10

When the nurse took the whiteboard marker and wrote “10” on my board, I had a hard time believing it. Just yesterday (or so I thought), I was told I had cancer. And Day 10 is actually the 10th day after starting chemotherapy. It’s amazing what God can lead us through, even when we think there is no way.

I remember the doctors telling me to get to Day 7. Then Day 14. Then Day 21. Then Day 28. Day 7 was when I’d start to feel side effects. Day 14, I would be labeled at my “lowest”. Day 21 they would talk about doing a bone marrow biopsy. And Day 28, we would talk about life at home. I’ve made it this far and there is no turning back!

Side effects from chemo are definitely hour by hour. Two days ago, I received my last chemo treatment for my stay here (there will still be PLENTY more in the future), and I was celebrating that feat. A few hours later though, after Mazy and Dan had gone to their hotel, I started to shake uncontrollably. I thought it would go away on its own, but after 30 minutes, my body was tired and I finally told the nurse. No fever, but the shakes were only getting worse and my heart rate slowly crept up.

The next 4 hours are a bit of a blur, but I ended up spiking a 103 fever, shook for 2 hours straight, heart rate about 100, and I was on FIRE (though I thought I was freezing). The doctors did everything they immediately could do to try and decrease the craziness – ice packs, antibiotics, fluids, anti-nausea meds, you name it, I took it. My body was so tired from shaking that they gave me a med that would calm my body down and sure enough, it was the ticket. I finally fell asleep for about 30 minutes until I woke up to the fever again. They gave me another dose of the good stuff and I fell asleep for about 2 1/2 hours. It was a LONG night, but we made it. They believe it was a side effect from the chemo, so needless to say, I think we will be on alert the next time I have to take that round!

The next day we learned that I needed 2 bags of red blood cells, which probably wasn’t helping. After receiving lots of fluids yesterday, I thought I was on the golden road. Then I woke up this morning wheezing and so short of breath. They weighed me and I had retained (not passed), all the fluid I was given, thanks to my heart failure. After 2 rounds of diuretics, I ended up passing 4 liters of fluid (yes that, is correct). I was a tad fluid overloaded! My nurse tech came in and said my face looked different – I passed that much (wait, I think she meant that in a good way…)

I am learning that anti-nausea meds are my dearest friend and not being on them, makes everything around me smell and sound absolutely nasty. Says the girl who LOVES food and can handle pretty much any smell!

Did you hear what Confucius said? Man who fart in church, sit in his own pew.

Sorry, I just had to…we work with kids :).

I am slowly learning to just stay on the anti-nausea meds, no need to try and test the air :).

The goal now is to administer transfusions (red blood cells and platelets) as needed, along with supplements and antibiotics. Pretty much living off the IV pole, but I can literally feel the difference it is making!

So Day 10. Each little side effect reminds me of what the chemo is doing in my body. That stuff sure is potent and powerful! We keep praying that God will use it as an instrument to kill not just some, but ALL of the leukemia in my body! So here’s to Day 10 and counting…