I'll Be Home For Christmas...

After a week of uncertainty and a emotional roller coaster we are home for Christmas! Dad was discharged today at around 2:00 pm, we are so thankful for his quick recovery and that we are able to spend Christmas as a family together at home. The cause of Dad's episode is still undetermined by the doctors, there are several theories, but based on the tests Dad has been through there is not a conclusive diagnosis. However, we are hopeful and optimistic that it is not related to the spread of the cancer and is an adverse reaction related to the toxicity levels in the biochemotheraphy treatment.  Dad will follow up with his doctors after the holidays. Now is time to be thankful for the blessing God has given us and spend much need time with family and friends. Hopefully in coming days Dad will continue to get rest, love, and support for friends and family so he will heal faster. 

Our family can't thank you enough for all your love and support over the last 9 months. God Bless you and Merry Christmas to you and your family. 

Emily

Update from Fleming Rd.

We are still in the hospital.  Things are a bit better.  He is no longer on the ventilator, he pulled it out himself on Tuesday morning.  Had enough of that I guess.  Luckily he does not need the breathing assistance.  He has been talking to us a little and he seems to be aware of his surroundings and lucid.  He is still very weak, has not really eaten since beginning chemo a week ago and is still rather sick to his stomach.

This past week has been an emotional roller coaster to say the least.  The girls have been here all week and we are keeping a vigil.  The neurologists and critical care Docs have released him which is a good sign I guess. We're waiting on Bill to get stronger so we can take him home, hopefully by Christmas.  Thanks for your prayers and support as always.  Holly

Setback

I cannot believe I am writing this today.  I feel like I have been in a long nightmare.  Bill is back in the hospital after having been home less than 24 hours from the chemo treatment.  He had another seizure like episode on Sunday morning and I had to call EMS.  He is on a ventilator and heavily sedated, unresponsive.  The Drs. are not sure what is causing these episodes and like before they are treating him for everything they think if might be.  

We are keeping a vigil, I have not really left the hospital since Sunday morning.  Please continue to keep us in your prayers, and I will try and keep the blog updated.  Holly

Going Home

Today completes round 4 of Bill's chemotherapy.  The plan is to head home tomorrow.  We are thrilled and definitely ready!  Hopefully we will be able to spend some long term quality time at home where Bill can rest and work on gaining some weight.  

He has taken about all of the abuse his body can stand, and amazingly he's still hanging in there with determination.  The Drs, Nurses and staff at University Hospital 8 South have been so good to us.  We are extremely grateful to all of them for their kindness and quality of care.  

 

Our plan for the next few weeks is to rest up, relax and enjoy the holidays with our family and friends.  We may not get out to all the usual holiday parties, but we will be there in spirit.  Hopefully, we'll be ready to get out and about soon.  The next step in this battle is another PET scan in Jan. followed by a visit to the Docs at the Brown Cancer Center.  

Please continue to keep in touch, I may not update this blog again until after Christmas.  Just know that no news is good news in this case.  We wish everyone a peaceful and healthy holiday surrounded by family and friends.   Holly

Round Four

Tomorrow Bill is scheduled for the 4th and hopefully final round of biochemo therapy.  If all goes as planned we will enter University Hospital on Monday and come home either Friday night or Saturday morning.  He has had a more difficult time bouncing back this past time, but I guess that is to be expected.  Each time wears him down a little more, and he loses more weight so it takes a little longer to recover each time.  Hopefully, he will be feeling well enough by Christmas to enjoy the family and festivities.    

We had a nice Thanksgiving and it was fun visiting with family and friends over these past few weeks.  It's pretty mind blowing how quickly the holidays are upon us.  We tried to make the AOH Christmas celebration at Molly Malone's but that just didn't work out.  I know Bill misses being a part of all the Irish fun.  Maybe we'll make it to ring in the New Year.  

We wish all of our friends and family members a very warm and loving holiday season.  Thanks for your continued support, prayers and love.   Hopefully we will be home next weekend and Bill's recovery will be a quick one.  Happy Holidays  Holly

Home Once Again, Yeah!!

Bill was discharged from the hospital this morning having finished round 3 of the Biochemo therapy.  As before, he is tired and experiencing a little nausea, but otherwise doing okay.  He will more than likely sleep most of the next two to three days and then hopefully begin to gain his appetite back and gradually his strength.  So far, no additional drama thankfully.  

We will spend the next few weeks working to get him stronger and put on a few pounds if possible.  This is certainly a good time of the year to gain weight, as most of us usually work hard around the holidays not to gain.  Unfortunately, he cannot eat all those sugary goodies that come with Thanksgiving and Christmas, but I'm sure we'll find something for him.  

If all goes according to plan, we will go back to the hospital for the 4th and final round of treatment the second week of Dec.  That should give him time to recover before Christmas.  We definitely have much to be thankful for this holiday season.  We are continuing to stay focused on the positives and as always appreciate your prayers and support.  We wish for you all a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with those you love.   Holly

Cycle Three Begins Again

Today begins day 2 of Cycle 3 in Bill's chemotherapy treatment.  The labs showed a decrease in his liver enzymes yesterday so the Docs think it was indeed the medication that caused an increase in the enzyme levels.  We have now eliminated two more medications that had been prescribed as a result of the air embolism incident.  The drama lives on.

Already he is feeling pretty bad, the same symptoms, but each time they come on a little sooner in the process.  I guess that's due to the fact the his body is already in a weakened state and the residuals of the last chemo treatment are still there.  We are finding the best way to deal with these cycles is sleeping as much as possible (he sleeps, I keep watch).  

We are in a private room again, which means I am staying overnight with him.  Who could have predicted that a Coleman camping cot would see so much action? It's sure is nice to have it, thanks Mom and Dad!

If all goes as planned (and we know that is not a given) we should be able to come home by Tuesday.  Even though this is such a horrible ordeal for Bill, he is keeping a very positive attitude,  especially since we now have evidence that the process is working against the cancer.  

I know you will continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers and I know those prayers are working.  Thanks so much for your continued support.  Holly