19 May 2004

Off and running...

Good evening from the author of yet another mass email. I can't believe it's already Weds night and I can't believe it's only Weds night. All in all things are going pretty good this week so we're keeping our fingers crossed that trend will continue....

Monday we met with our surgeon in the morning and then had Jade's line placed in about noon. It's a double -implanted port so it's totally under his skin and will only need to be accessed with lumens sticking out during the week of chemo. After chemo week is done the needles and tubing are removed and he can shower/swim and have a normal life otherwise. They access it by sticking a needle (after numbing the skin) into the port that's just under his skin. We had to have the large catheters on the outside of his body last time because of the stem cell harvesting and transplant. The procedure went well and we were off to chemo after he recovered, about 2:30 to 3:00.

Once we were at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) we ended up going around the mulberry bush a few times with our insurance company about what drugs they would or wouldn't pay for. After too many doe-see-doe's [sic - since I didn't want to look it up; tired and want to go to bed soon] with them, our nurse said it was too late in the day (4:00) to start chemo and we'd now be going Tues through Sat. How I didn't just stroke out right then is amazing. I was so frustrated. Jade was tired and ok with it since he could go home right then to rest and sleep. I guess I need to expect more bumps and pot holes in the road than I do so I don't set myself up for more frustration. Jade was pretty tired, bruised and sore from the line placement but he slept good Monday night.

Chemo started early Tues morning at 9 am and he was home by 3:30 or so. Jade was quite tired Tues night and dozed most of the afternoon and evening. If he wasn't moving to get a drink or something, he was alseep. Even slept at the table while trying to eat some dinner. He is receiving fluids for hydration and mesna to protect his bladder against the cytoxan at home. The IVs go 10 hours so last night I set the alarm for 1:30 to get up and disconnect him.

Jade slept pretty good last night and was back at HCI at 9 am this morning for Day 2. Once home we got him hooked up to the IV and he seems to be doing much better tonite than yesterday. His coloring looked better and even his energy levels have been higher. Since HCI is only open M-F, Jade will have to go the the U of U hospital for chemo on Sat.

So, there we go. Doing ok all in all. Jade's aunt, who is a cancer survivor herself, said it best a year ago when she told Jade, "Chemo is its own disease." Just not much fun but hopefully does the trick. At least for a while.

Thanks for the support, faith and love. I think cancer affects everyone individually or in their family or close circle of friends. You know what this battle is and we are grateful for your compassion. Take care and thank you again for your enduring friendship and hope.

With gratitude............................Tanya and co.