SUNNY IN OAKLAND

So here we are again. Do I dare say that this almost feels normal? That is a creepy thought as I cannot think that there is anything normal about chemo-therapy. Once again Kristin had a lumbar puncture with chemo (chemo injected into the spinal fluid) under anesthesia. After 6 hours of hydration with sodium bicarb, she was started on high dose methotrexate via her broviac catheter. This will take 24 hours and then they give the rescue drug so that it clears from her body. methotrexate actually mimics folic acid and trick the cancer into absorbing it. It then kills these absorbed cells. But, when left into the body for too long it causes serious damage. Thus, the rescue drug leucovorin. Amazing isn't it! Once this clears from her, we are free to go! Yipee! She is tolerating the drugs well, but is emotionally struggling. This is a tough time and the treatment looks to go long and hard through the summer and into the fall. This is devastating for her. My heart hurts for the price she is paying.

Thank you for your continued prayers and faith.
Leslie

Comments

Amy Girl said…
Loved seeing you all at church on Sunday. Kristin you look fabulous. My little Connor said, "She has blonde hair!?" some what suprised. I replied, "Isn't that cool? She can have black, blonde, brown, and red hair any day. She can also have it long or short!"

I hope your time in Oakland speeds by and you get home quickly. Our prayers continue to reach heavenward for you.
May 6, 2008 at 5:13 PM
Forrest said…
Kristin i know i dont write on this much but do know that i am still reading everyone of these posts and my thoughts are still there with you and your happiness. It is very upsetting that you will probably have a bit of a chaotic summer but I'm sure you will make it through and ill be sure to make up for any fun lost sometime later as long as your up for it :). I'm happy you got to go to prom and i hope that it was all you wanted it to be.

keep strong and happy
Puckie
May 6, 2008 at 8:51 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Beginning

Image
Hello to all from Children's Hospital Oakland, California To it still difficult to grasp that we are actually here...hearing this news...living in this new world. Kristin's official diagnosis is ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA precursor b. This is very treatable form of cancer. She is enrolled in a cutting edge program for treating A.L.L.. All of us here are very optimistic. She is under the care of amazing Doctors and the recipient of the miracles of modern medicine. It will be a very rough 2 years or so, but she will survive. Thus far, we have been on the fast track. This is an amazing institution and we are very, very fortunate to be here. Nothing short of kindness and compassion have been shown to us from the very beginning. Upon our arrival on Monday, she has undergone a bone marrow biopsy, 2 lunbar punctures, echo cardiogram, chest x-ray, broviac cath . placement, and numerous pokes and prods. She received her first chemo treatment; injected into the spinal fluid, Wednes
Read more

UPDATE

Kristin is currenly in room 5330 getting two units of PRBC's. Her counts are on the way down and I am hoping that this is all the drama we will see. It has been a long, difficult...two months.....seems like forever.... especially as we approach the one year mark. Our daily excursions to Berkley have been uneventful. (I decided that if I had another life, I would like it to be in Berkley. I love this area!) We are going to Alta Bates Hospital. I am taken by the compassion, charity, and warmth that the patients are treated with here. It is the same spirit you feel when you walk onto the 5th floor here at CHO. Wonderful people who truly and compassionately love what they do. Back to her radiation.....Her radiation takes all of two minutes. I call it a "lick." Thankfully she is getting a very low dose so the side effects are pretty much nil. Kristin really looks forward to returning to school on a more regular basis. I cannot begin to tell you of the hardships Kristin has
Read more

GO GO SPECIAL K!

Our last bone marrow biopsy went great! It showed no leukemia cells. This shows that she is having a positive early response to the chemo which is a very, very good thing! All of her labs are coming back "smashing!" We are dealing with secondary complications such as situational diabetes. This is only tempoary and should resolve once we are off the strong steroids. Consequently she has to have blood sugars checked often, insulin injections, and follow a carb controlled diet. not fun! In trying to be supportive, I am counting carbs along with her. It is hard when someone has a birthday up here every other day and wants to share their cake. Keep the dang cake to yourselves! Kristin is getting very tired more often and is noticing that she can pull out clumps of hair....I am sad. Although I knew this was coming, I was taken back by the situation and caught off guard. Baldness goes hand in hand with leukemia and every parent up here would rather have a beautifully healthy, shini
Read more