Over half way done!!

Thursday August 15, 2013

I am happy to report that after today we only have 13 treatments left to go!!  We are more than halfway done, and we are all so relieved that the end is in sight!  The treatment dosage right now is the strongest and at the highest level right now, and we want it to be so strong that it kills that ugly tumor and it never dares to come back.  On the negative side, because the radiation is at the highest level, Kera has been extra tired and worn out this week.  She has also had an increase in her nausea, which we hope will not last for too long.  Last Friday Kera visited some friends from Kaysville and was even feeling well enough to stay and have a late movie night to celebrate it being Friday, no treatment for two days. She did really well and they had a lot of fun, but when Dave and I picked her up on our way back from the temple, I could tell she was pretty tired.  We got her in the car and not a minute later we had to pull over so she could run outside and vomit.  Sorry to the person's house that had an unfortunate gift waiting for them on their front lawn.  It wasn't anyone from our old ward, so at least we didn't know them! :)  She probably just overdid it a bit or whatever she ate didn't sit well.  She threw up a few more times the next morning, and she rested a lot on Saturday before going to my grandparents annual summer BBQ where she got to see a lot of her cousins and family.  Sunday she was exhausted from two late nights in a row, so she stayed home from church and rested most of the day.
Monday was an emotional day for me.  I don't know what it is about Mondays, but they are always hard days!  Maybe it's hard getting back into the daily routine of driving to Salt Lake every day and having to drag Kera up off the couch to go to treatments.  During her treatment that day I asked the nurse about Kera's hair.  When I brush her hair, lots of it has been coming out.  The nurse told me to expect it to be patchy, and that she may lose some on top where the radiation enters the head and in the back where it exits.  The doctor told me that I should expect some hair loss in the back by her neck and that it should be covered up by her hair mostly, but not that she would lose hair in front.  She told me that I should probably go get a hait that she can wear when she goes out.  I just wasn't expecting that.  I thought you only lost your hair when you went through chemo.  But I should've known I guess.  Radiation is very taxing on the body, and wherever it touches can cause the hair to fall out.  So far no really noticeable patches, and I'm crossing my fingers that it stays that way.  She won't lose all of it, and whatever she loses should grow back quickly and luckily she has a lot of hair, thanks mom :) I asked Kera if she wanted to go pick out a hat, and she said she doesn't want one.  Hopefully it won't be necessary.  On the positive note, since we have tapered down on the steroids she has lost 5 pounds!!
Along with the hair thing, she has also been feeling more nausea, and is more irritable when she doesn't feel good.  Tuesday she didn't feel up to much either.  We did shop at Costco after treatment that day which is always a good sign. :)  At the BBQ Saturday we made plans with my sister in law to have a sleepover with her cousin this week before she goes back to school next week.  We weren't sure if Kera would be up for it since Monday and Tuesday were pretty rough days.  Tuesday night Dave gave her a blessing, and Wednesday morning she still woke up feeling kind of nauseated, but she really wanted to go.  She got all of her stuff packed and we set off for treatment, and my sister in law was going to meet us at the hospital.  Right after her treatment while we were waiting for them to get there, she threw up.  I really wasn't sure about it after that. But Kera said she felt better and still wanted to go.  So they met us and off she went.  I went to the temple right after I dropped her off, and while I was there I prayed that she would do well at her cousin's house and that she would have fun and feel good.  I got a text later from my sister in law saying that she was doing great, smiling and even a few giggles.  They had played some games, went outside on the swings, and ate some lunch.  I was so relieved and happy that she was having a good time. :)  That night I went to the youth activity.  I am the 1st counselor for the young women's group in our ward, and that was the first time that  I was able to attend mutual since the diagnosis.
Thursday morning my sis in law texted me that she was feeling some nausea, so when I got there to pick her up I expected her to be laying on the couch or something, but she was downstairs playing games with her cousin, and she said she was feeling good and she wanted to stay another night.  :)  Unfortunately we had to face reality and drive to Salt Lake for the treatment.  After treatment I told Michael I would spend some time with him doing something fun, since Dave took Jacob to Seven Peaks today for some one on one time.  He wanted to go to the Classic Fun Center and play the arcades.  Kera wanted to come too, and I told Michael it was his decision if he let her come or not.  He chose to let her come along.  ;) We had a fun time and won a few games.  We stopped at Walmart afterwards and I let them get a little treat.  Then home it was.
I'm glad Kera has been feeling better and was well enough to have the sleepover.  It's these little miracles that make life seem a little easier to deal with.
Oh, I also wanted to mention that there's a sweet lady who's son in law goes to the hospital for radiation and his appointments are right before Kera's.  They have been really nice to us and always ask how Kera's doing that day.  She brought a gift to Kera on Tuesday.  They gave her lots of fun things like a word search book, a notebook and colored pencils, a miniature dream light, a fashion designer activity book and a few other little things and a sweet card.  She also had another gift bag with a novel and activity book in it that she told Kera she could give to someone else that may be feeling down and needed some cheering up.  I thought it was so thoughtful of her.  So many friends and family have sent gifts or cards and things to cheer Kera up, and ward members have been bringing dinner over twice a week, which I am so grateful for, and I know Kera is too.  :)  Of course I am extremely grateful to my mother in law who has moved in with us and is helping to keep us sane and take care of the kids, our garden, our home projects, our meals, cleaning the house, our animals, and I could go on and on.  She is one of our biggest tender mercies right now, and I honestly can't imagine being able to get through this without her. :)