2nd Chemo

Yesterday was mom's second big chemo. She had to be in by 9am and got home roughly around 3pm. It makes for a long day! Everything went really well. The doctor measures the tumor every big chemo (which is every 3 weeks) and the first time it was 10 centimeters. This time it was 7.5! YAY! That means the chemo is working and the SFC is LOSING! Today she was still feeling good. She's reading again (there was a period of a few weeks where she wasn't reading much anymore. Couldn't focus.) so that is good too. Overall this SFC is getting taken care of slowly but surely!

Hair no More!

Well...we did it...we cut off the hair! Matthew brought over his clippers and shaved off mom's hair! She looks really good with super short hair! No major bumps or weird shapes in her skull, so that's good. She played with a wig that she got for free from the American Cancer Society yesterday. It's really nice, and looks just like her old hair. You can't even tell it's a wig once she gets it on. She also has a selection of hats and bandannas. Since it is beyond hot here right now the wig will not be going on her head any time soon, but she has it if she wants to wear it. She went to JcPenney today with her coach baseball hat on. Even in the midst of chemo, my mom is stylish! There were a few tears for the lost hair, but we made it through and know that this is simply another step to feeling better.

The last picture of her hair!

Matthew was terrified to start. He was scared of touching her head, and of my dad I think! Haha. Mom was sitting there waiting and waiting for him to start. I finally had to tell her he was scared. He got over it though!

Above: Matthew finishing up mom's trim.

Above: Mom's new hair!!!
Below: Playing with scarves

Last picture...mom's new wig! We wanted to get one that was different, but it is really hard to pick out a wig. We finally decided that long is just too hot in TN in summer and this one looks like 'her'.

On a funny note...one of the side effects of chemo is what they call "chemo brain". Basically it makes you stupid. It makes you forget what you were saying, doing, going...you get the idea. She used to blame it on old age, and now can blame it on chemo brain. ~Kira

Week 2

I took mom to her appointment today. Today's was a herceptin treatment. It is given just like her normal chemo, but it isn't chemo. It is a drug to treat the Her2 protein that is found on her tumor cell. This particular protein would have been extremely bad a few years ago, but all it means now is that she has to go in every week for a special drug. The special drug is directed specifically at this protein, and she has to get it every week. Her appointment was at 10:00, which we decided is perfect. We can leave at 9:00 and miss rush hour, and get out by 2:00 which gets us home before the afternoon rush hour. Today the office was PACKED because of the holiday weekend. It is both encouraging and depressing to see so many people having cancer treatments. While she gets her treatment she can read, sleep, eat, play sudoku, basically whatever she'd like to do. Usually there is room to sit in the treatment room with her, but because of the number of people there wasn't room today so I stayed out in the waiting room. The treatment room is a rather large room with eight or nine large pink reclining style chairs (they remind me of pedicure chairs) lined up in a room. There are less comfortable waiting room chairs facing the treatment chairs for family to sit in. You're allowed to bring lunch and drinks in with you. Today I got us some Taco Bell while she was having her treatment.

After her treatment I dropped her off at home. She was feeling alright - mostly just tired. Jarryd (the 9 year old grandson) is going to stay the night at grandma's tonight so that she isn't home alone. Dad is at work in Knoxville so Jarryd is there "just in case". That way we know someone is in the house with her. She hasn't had any horrible reactions yet, but better safe than sorry!

Her next appointment is another Herceptin treatment and that will be next Wednesday at 10am again. Wednesday are now her treatment days - unless she needs to change it for some reason. So every Wednesday for the next few months Steph will have to go to Nashville. Finally somewhat of a schedule!

If you have any questions feel free to ask and we'll do our best to answer them! Love to each and every one of you!

Kira

Last weeks end

Stephanie's energy level this past week was better than to be expected. She was able to clean out the attic (with help of Bob and her favorite girls), sorting through this and that to sell in Timea's Yard Sale. It brought back lots of memories....a decade of her life, Michigan life.
Stephanie waters her garden and plants everyday, you should see her cucumbers, (the diameter is as big as a softball or bigger.....no joke.) Timea made pickles out of them and they fit a hamburger nicely.
By the end of the week though energy levels are low. No sickness from the white blood cell shot. And no sickness from the chemo. I would say she has just a feeling of blah, a feeling of not herself. She did go swimming yesterday.....(disobeying Dr's orders). Well, she just waded. Stephanie loves that swimming pool, it was calling her name.

-Timea

Want to help?

I know that a lot of you who are reading this are not in Tennessee and thus feel pretty helpless. After discussing it we've come up with a few things that would be very helpful! Stephanie's doctors are in Nashville, which is roughly 30 miles from her house. Gas cards to Mapco, Kangaroo, Citgo, or BP would be great to help with her gas costs. When at chemo she's allowed to eat, if you would like to buy gift cards to Taco Bell, Subway, Jimmy Johns, or Five Guys Burger and Fries they are all in walking distance of her doctor. If you are more local they would appreciate anyone who would like to cut their grass or bring over dinner! If you know Steph you know that any meal she doesn't have to cook is a good one! (Although Bob does hate peas...)

Prayers are always extremely helpful and greatly appreciated as well. Thank you so much for being such wonderful friends and family. We love you all!