Aloha! It's been about 3 months, so I guess it's time for an Aloha Update! I feel like I say this every time, but it seems to me I've had mostly bad news to report. But then, hey, here I still am! THAT'S definitely good. Lovin' life is what it's all about.
We went through 3 different types of IV chemotherapy drugs over the spring and summer, and none of them were working to shrink or reduce my existing tumours or keep new ones from forming. At the moment, I'm doing an oral chemo agent, Cytoxan, which was VERY toxic to me when I was using it before my 2nd Bone Marrow Transplant, but that was about 30 times the dose I'm getting now...We've just started it the week of Thanksgiving, so I don't know yet if it's doing the job or not. One of the chemos this summer did the job of taking my hair, so I don't have to worry about how much doing my hair slows me down in the morning during my very busy schedule. (HA!)
I don't really have much of a sked...I was in the hospital for about 2 weeks in October...I was having trouble breathing, and Dr. Zonder discovered that I had a big pocked of fluid on the outside of the lining of my lung. That led to them putting in a drainage tube, which was in until yesterday. The good news is that it's out...The bad news, that they'll probably have to put another one in...It's impossible to really take a shower with it, but it's camouflageable (Is that a word?) most of the time...I'm obviously really hoping that whatever is causing this excess fluid is done with and we won't have to put another in.
Mostly I'm feeling very tired, quite sick a lot of the time, and hating the fact that it's winter. That certainly doesn't help. Especially with 8 feet of snow on the ground.
One thing to be very happy about: My brother Tony the Marine made it home from Fallujah safe and sound, and we got to see him a few weeks back.
I would NEVER have made it this far without the love of my life, Black. If everybody was as lucky to have a caregiver like him, the world would be a better place. I hope you have a wonderful family to surround you with love this holiday season.
Happy Holidays!
peace & love,
Sabrina