Since the last update, Mom has finished her ninth round of chemo, and the holidays have passed.
Her ninth chemo went pretty smoothly, but we have all been praying it will be her last. Chemo is so incredibly hard on the body and has an accumulative effect. Mom experienced severe neuropathy of her hands and feet. This included numbness in her fingers to the point of having difficulty holding on to objects, and severe nerve pain in her feet when standing for long periods of time. She also experienced change in her vision and, of course, “chemo brain”. She has difficulty remembering things, and her mind does not feel as sharp as before chemo. This was my first really “close to home” experience with chemotherapy, and after watching my mom, I truly believe that those who make it through these treatments have to be some of the strongest people. They are pumped full of medication that helps with one ailment while poisoning the rest of their body. They hope and pray that the medication is effective and that it is all worth it in the end. They endure a tremendous amount of both emotional and physical turmoil, but as in my mom’s case, inspire all those around them.
The holidays looked very different for our family this year. Mom had just finished her 8th round of chemo the week before Thanksgiving, and Dad was only a couple of weeks out from a total knee replacement. They were both very weak and tired. On top of that, another member of the family who should have been there was missing. I also couldn’t help but think about how I should have been holding a seven month old baby in my arms. On a day specifically set aside to focus on our blessings, it was somewhat difficult for me to feel thankful. I knew this was not the right attitude and forced myself to mentally make a list of all the things that were actually going right in my world. My sister, grandmother, and I were all able to prepare a large amount of yummy food and were honored to serve my parents. My mom was getting so close to finishing her treatments and was setting an amazing example with her positive attitude. I woke up in a warm, beautiful home and drove a reliable car over to my sisters house, which happens to only be 8 houses down the street. I love living so close to my family and am incredibly thankful for our bond. I have an amazing group of friends that have loved me, supported me, and played a large role in helping me survive this difficult season of my life. I have my health, which I have been harshly reminded we too often take for granted. I have a job I love with the best coworkers out there. Even with the many trials right now, God blessed us with a great day!
Christmas was also different. Just two days before Christmas, Dad was taken back into surgery to have his new knee joint washed out due to infection. His surgeon informed us that he would see if he could “get lucky” and avoid having to completely redo the knee replacement. Dad handled the surgery well, and the infection seemed to be more surface level instead of deep in the joint, but he was still ordered to begin six weeks of IV antibiotics at home. He was discharged from the hospital on Christmas Day. My family decided to celebrate Christmas the day after, but there were several interruptions due to home health nurses changing his dressing and teaching my mom how to administer the antibiotics. Other aspects of the day also made it a little different, but God still blessed us with a great time together as a family.
On January 2nd, Mom had her follow up with the oncologist. Her CT scan was completely clear, except for a ventral hernia as a result of surgery. Her CA-125 (tumor marker) had dropped to its lowest level yet, but it was still not in the ideal range. Overall, Mom was symptom free. We were all incredibly anxious to hear what her oncologist would decide, but he chose to give her a break from chemo. He said that he would not treat a number. We will follow up with him in three months and draw her levels again. If still elevated, he will then do a PET scan for further evaluation. He feels confident though that the number should continue to drop during this time. If not, Mom could just have a “higher than normal” normal.
Now we begin the waiting game, which to me is almost more scary than the active treatment, but I trust God, and I trust her physician. It has been eight months, one major surgery, and nine rounds of chemo (27 weeks) since she was diagnosed. Mom was overwhelmed with joy when she heard she was done with chemo and released long awaited tears. She has been so tough through all of this, but it has worn her down. Please continue to pray for her and my dad as they both recover and try to feel their best so they can get out and enjoy life. They both deserve it.
“Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” Romans 8:28
“But they who wait for the lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” Isaiah 40:31