Day + 18

Terry's white blood cell count came down to .52 today and he had to have a bag of Platelets because his count had dropped again. The doctors were not alarmed and the nurses said this is normal. He was still feeling some better and did lots of walking. He tried some ice cream and drank more juice and water although the sores in his mouth are still really bad. He is trying so hard to get better in hopes of going home sooner. (You all know he lives on a little lake in Pinson and is just dreaming of casting that line.)We are not discouraged because we believe in the POWER of prayer. My tooth is better!! They have me taking a strong dosage of antibiotic and steroids too. Those steroids really make you feel better but they really make you hungry too. I think I'll go have a bowl of Bluebell Homemade Vanilla!! Thanks for hanging in there with us. Love you, Karen

Day + 16 & 17 GOOD NEWS!

Well, Monday was a little better day. White blood cell count was at .30 and he walked 17 laps around the unit (almost a mile). He had a great night and was not sick at all. He has been being sickest at night but I think they have finally got a routine on what time to give him the nausea and pain meds to help alleviate the sickness and restlessness. Alyce called me this morning (Tuesday)with GREAT news. His white blood cell count had finally come up to .63!!! That is still VERY low but at least the doctors were pleased because it has started up on it's on. Terry has asked the doctors EVERY DAY when he could go home. Today when he asked, the doctor told him maybe another week if he keeps improving. He may not be ready in a week, but at least this gives him something to look forward to. He did eat 1/2 of a canned pear today which was the first food in quite awhile. He also kept down some grape juice and water. He also walked more laps today. Cross your fingers and say your prayers that he will keep getting better each day. God is good---All the time. I had to have a root canal in the tooth that abscessed last week. This tooth had already had a root canal before the bridge was done several years ago, but had to be completely redone. The feeling is coming back and the pain is beginning but so far not nearly as bad as last week. Some of you do not know about our mom who is 83. She has dementia that is continuing to get worse and she also has a large ulcer (open wound) on her leg that has to be cleaned and bandaged daily. She is in terrible pain and I am afraid that her leg will have to be amputated. She is getting so bad mentally and physically that it is not safe for her to continue to live by herself. She is very stubborn and does not want to go to assisted living or a nursing home so I have just been trying to cope the best I can for the past year and a half. She lives about 2 blocks from me. I have taken her to several doctors and nothing has helped her leg. It has only gotten worse. I am taking her to the doctor again this Thursday. I work full time and she has fired the last 3 people I had hired to stay with her (accusing them of stealing.) Kristina is now helping out 4 hours on Monday and on Fridays but she really needs someone all the time. Please pray for her and for me. My brothers and I will have to make some decisions about Mom very soon. Love you all, Karen

Day + 15

Today is Sunday and not much change today. Terry slept a lot. He did get up and walk around in the room a little this evening and was sitting up watching a movie with John and trying to get down an Ensure. If his white cell count is not up more by tomorrow, the doctors may give him a Neupogen shot to force them back up. More tomorrow.++++Karen

Day + 13 and 14

Friday was another really bad day for Terry. They did give him more platelets but not blood. The sores in his mouth continue to hurt and he cannot eat. Early Saturday morning he was vomiting and feeling terrible. During the day he felt a little better but was only up to go to the bathroom and shower. His platelets were up to 32 and his white cell count was up to .46. He did keep down 1/2 of a grape Popsicle. Let's just continue to have faith that he will get a little better each day and let God do His work. Have a great Sunday! Love, Karen

Day + 11 and 12

Wednesday was not a good day. Terry did get his last chemo and his white cell count was .29 and platelets were 15. Yesterday was a bad day, but today (Thursday) was even worse. His white cell count stayed the same but platelets dropped to 10.9. The hair that had started back in is coming out. He has sore places on his legs and the doctor had a dermatologist come by to biopsy to see if infected. They did give him a bag of blood this morning and then a bag of platelets and at 6pm were about to give him another bag of blood. He was too weak to get out of bed today except to shower. He has been nauseated and has not eaten anything. They gave him the drug again that is supposed to lessen the effects of the chemo and also gave him potassium and magnesium again. I told Alyce that I was hoping for better news and I know she was hoping to give me better news too. They are monitoring him closely. PLEASE, Please pray for Terry to start getting better quickly. We know that God has not closed his ears to our prayers. Thank you for your continued support. Love, Karen

Day + 10

Today was not a good day. Terry was feeling Very weak and tired. His white cell count was .25 but his platelets had come up to 26, which was good. They have not given him blood or platelets in 2 days. The tests on his kidneys and liver turned out OK. We were praying extra hard that this would turn out good. Praise God!! His creatinen levels were back to almost normal. He is not retaining as much fluid as he had been. He ate a couple of bites of sherbet and a couple of slices of peaches and kept it down. He drank some grape juice, but mostly water. They did have to give him magnesium and potassium today. The doctors seem to think he is reacting normally to the chemo and Transplant. They tell us that by this Saturday he should be on the upward trail. We appreciate all your prayers. God bless, Karen

Day + 9

Sorry I could not post last night. We could not pick up a signal.----During the night Sunday, Terry's line came out and he said it looked like a scary horror movie with blood spurting everywhere. I am sure Kristina was scared to death! The nurses had to shower him down and clean up the room. They did take him off his blood thinner. Monday afternoon, they took him down to do an MRI on his kidneys and a Cat scan on his liver. The doctor's did not like the levels they were seeing. I hope we hear today that everything is OK. His white cell count is down to .3 and platelets to 15. They did place a line for IV Nutrition Monday because he has still not been able to eat anything due to mouth sores and nausea. His last day to get a chemo treatment will be Wednesday so we are hoping for things to get MUCH better after that time. Please continue to pray for Terry during this time that God will ease his pain and nausea and give him strength to get through this terrible time. As for me, I am still in a lot of pain with this abcess. I am changing to a stronger antibiotic today and hope that will help. I will try to post tonight about Terry's day today. Love to all, Karen