Loyal Readers,
Circumstances dictate that Your Faithful Correspondent must keep today's update brief. Please shed no tears as we will have a special expanded edition (filled with celebrity gossip, recipies and fashion tips galore) out on newsstands soon. Last week Mom had a lovely visit with her longtime friend from Florida, Maria. Together they toured the Garfield Park Conservatory and saw the Nikki in the Garden exhibit (YFC tagged along -- highly recommended http://www.garfield-conservatory.org/niki.htm), lunched on popovers at the Zodiac Room in Neiman Marcus and visited the Museum of Mexican Art. Maria was also the lucky recipient of two original paintings by Mom (I'm sure you were thinking lithos, but I assure you, they were the real McCoy). Mom and Maria spent many hours catching up and the time flew by. Two more friends from Florida (the mother-daughter team of Margot and Wendy) are expected for a visit the wekeend after next. So, now that we're done with the social news, on to the medical portion of this report...
I'm very happy to say that the news seems positive. Mom's bloodwork was excellent. Her bilirubin levels have been decreasing (by the way, try saying bilirubin 3 times fast...it's wickedly entertaining). Her numbers have decreased from .5 to .4 and now she's at a .3 (yes, that's POINT 3). Ideally, she'll get under a .1, but clearly the trend is positive. As I'm sure you all know (because in addition to loyalty, my readers are marked by their intelligence, to say nothing of their better than average looks -- more on that in the soon-to-be-released expanded edition, but I digress...) when bilirubin levels are high, jaundice occurs. Too much bilirubin may mean that too much is being produced (usually due to increased destruction of red blood cells (hemolysis) or that the liver is incapable of adequately removing bilirubin in a timely manner due to blockage of bile ducts, liver diseases (such as cirrhosis, accute hepatitis), or inherited problems with bilirubin handling.
But of course, you knew that already. More reading on bilirubin can be found via the following links http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilirubin and http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/bilirubin/test.html
Now where were we? Ah yes, tests. Mom's hemoglobin was also tested. At the time of her last test (2 weeks ago), her hemoglobin was 8.4 and now it's at 10.8. Normal results vary, but in general are:
Male: 13.8 to 17.2 gm/dL
Female: 12.1 to 15.1 gm/dL
Note: gm/dL = grams per deciliter
If Mom dropped below 8.0, she would have needed a blood transfusion. It's expected that her numbers may drop a bit because of today's treatment. To keep her hemoglobin levels up, Mom is incorporating more beef in her diet after many years of a significantly reduced intake.
More links (this time to hemoglobin, but you knew that already) can be found here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemoglobin and here http://sickle.bwh.harvard.edu/hemoglobin.html
Since we're on the subject of tests, here's a quick one -- Who is buried in Grant's tomb? (answer below)
While you rack your brains trying to come up with the answer, let's get back to Mom, shall we? Chemo went well. The port worked like a charm and she hardly felt the prick of the needle. Mom was joined at chemo by Cousin Tobi and they had a lovely chat. I was lucky enough to join them for lunch, than Me and Mum made a Costco run (it's becoming a bit of a pattern these days) and spent the evening together.
Which brings us to now. Thankfully Mom hasn't experienced any nausea from the chemo. However, Your Faithful Correspondent understands that the nausea might not kick-in for a while. The other bit of news that you should know is that Mom might lose her hair soon. However, she has been visualizing globs of thick glue on her scalp, which will not allow her hair to fall out. Mom asks that you not only keep her in your prayers, but that you try to visualize Mom with a glue-filled scalp and thick, luxurious tresses.
Well, dear readers, it seems our time is coming to an end. I want to close by sending you thanks for all of your cards, visits, calls and, most importantly, prayers.
Wishing you all the joys that life has to offer,
Your Faithful Correspondent
P.S.
Your Faithful Correspondent made the question deceptively easy (you had to know there was a trick). The answer to our quiz is Ulysses S. Grant...and his wife (Julia Dent Grant)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Grant_National_Memorial
I'm sure we're all happy that this is the final link of the night. We'll meet again soon, gentle reader. Good night.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
7/10 and Chemo Again
Dear Rabbi, Guru, Friends, and Family,
It's your faithful correspondent again. I'm writing to you from Mom's living room. It's been a very full day, but we'll get to recent events in just a moment.
I've been getting questions from loyal readers about these e-mail updates so let me explain...all of these e-mails are sent from Mom's e-mail, so when you respond to the e-mail you are responding to her. Mind you, I'm not complaining, but just wanted to clarify for the somewhat less computer savvy among my loyal readers.
Ok, now that wasn't too bad a digression was it? Anyhow, on to the day's events...today we all got up early because Mom had a port put into her chest. For those of you who don't know let me explain, because I do intend to make these e-mails as educational as possible...
An implantable port is a thin, soft, plastic tube that is put into a vein in the chest and has an opening (port) just under the skin. This allows medicines to be given into the vein or blood to be taken from the vein. This makes it possible for Mom to have treatment without having to have needles frequently put into her veins. Now for those of you who don't know, Mom has very delicate little veins and chemo constricts the veins, so the port will be a real help.
If you're really curious, here's a link that shows what a port looks like
http://www.breastcancer.org/port_chemotherapy.html the page has another link that tells you even more about ports for those of you who are really interested.
Ok, now where were we? Ah yes, early. So we (we meaning, Mom, Sis, Aunt Roberta and Your Faithful Correspondent) had to be there at 7:00 a.m. Mom was a wee bit tense, but she's a trooper. She ended up going into surgery about 8:15. Everything went smoothly, the only hiccup was that they put the port on Mom's left side instead of her right. Apparently, Mom was missing a vein as a result of an earlier (thyroid) surgery. Ah well, the port still went in fine and that's really all that matters. When Mom was in recovery, the nurse explained that she had twice as much anesthesia as the average person (I took that to mean that Mom was twice as powerful as your average person...way to go Mom!). Mom actually woke up during her procedure but they wouldn't give her any additional anesthetic and she was not happy.
They were able to move up Mom's chemo appointment. Mom got to try out her new port and she was tickled (ok, that's probably a bit of an overstatement) when they were able to draw blood through the port. Chemo was otherwise unexceptional, we were there for about two hours after all was said and done. Then we had a Costco and a Blick (art store) run...quite a long and productive day.
That pretty much brings us to now. Mom's doing ok. For the record, Your Faithful Correspondent is a bit fatigued (moreso than Mom), but if you had to wake-up for surgery at 7:00 a.m. you'd be fatigued too! Next week is an off week and then she begins her next cycle of chemo.
Not much else going on. Mom and Dad confirmed I was the favorite, but it's hardly earthshattering news is it? Hmm, maybe I could ask you to send some love to my little sis. After recently finding out her true origins (born to gypsies, raised by wolves...) she could use a little TLC.
On behalf of Mom, she sends her love thrice over.
Faithfully,
Corey***
*** This e-mail has been read and approved by Mom
It's your faithful correspondent again. I'm writing to you from Mom's living room. It's been a very full day, but we'll get to recent events in just a moment.
I've been getting questions from loyal readers about these e-mail updates so let me explain...all of these e-mails are sent from Mom's e-mail, so when you respond to the e-mail you are responding to her. Mind you, I'm not complaining, but just wanted to clarify for the somewhat less computer savvy among my loyal readers.
Ok, now that wasn't too bad a digression was it? Anyhow, on to the day's events...today we all got up early because Mom had a port put into her chest. For those of you who don't know let me explain, because I do intend to make these e-mails as educational as possible...
An implantable port is a thin, soft, plastic tube that is put into a vein in the chest and has an opening (port) just under the skin. This allows medicines to be given into the vein or blood to be taken from the vein. This makes it possible for Mom to have treatment without having to have needles frequently put into her veins. Now for those of you who don't know, Mom has very delicate little veins and chemo constricts the veins, so the port will be a real help.
If you're really curious, here's a link that shows what a port looks like
http://www.breastcancer.org/port_chemotherapy.html the page has another link that tells you even more about ports for those of you who are really interested.
Ok, now where were we? Ah yes, early. So we (we meaning, Mom, Sis, Aunt Roberta and Your Faithful Correspondent) had to be there at 7:00 a.m. Mom was a wee bit tense, but she's a trooper. She ended up going into surgery about 8:15. Everything went smoothly, the only hiccup was that they put the port on Mom's left side instead of her right. Apparently, Mom was missing a vein as a result of an earlier (thyroid) surgery. Ah well, the port still went in fine and that's really all that matters. When Mom was in recovery, the nurse explained that she had twice as much anesthesia as the average person (I took that to mean that Mom was twice as powerful as your average person...way to go Mom!). Mom actually woke up during her procedure but they wouldn't give her any additional anesthetic and she was not happy.
They were able to move up Mom's chemo appointment. Mom got to try out her new port and she was tickled (ok, that's probably a bit of an overstatement) when they were able to draw blood through the port. Chemo was otherwise unexceptional, we were there for about two hours after all was said and done. Then we had a Costco and a Blick (art store) run...quite a long and productive day.
That pretty much brings us to now. Mom's doing ok. For the record, Your Faithful Correspondent is a bit fatigued (moreso than Mom), but if you had to wake-up for surgery at 7:00 a.m. you'd be fatigued too! Next week is an off week and then she begins her next cycle of chemo.
Not much else going on. Mom and Dad confirmed I was the favorite, but it's hardly earthshattering news is it? Hmm, maybe I could ask you to send some love to my little sis. After recently finding out her true origins (born to gypsies, raised by wolves...) she could use a little TLC.
On behalf of Mom, she sends her love thrice over.
Faithfully,
Corey***
*** This e-mail has been read and approved by Mom
Sunday, July 1, 2007
July 1st Update
It's your favorite correspondent again (and, as always, my parent's favorite child) bringing you the latest and greatest news from my Mom's living room...
Mom is doing well and is in good spirits. I believe that Mom already gave you the basic rundown of her schedule, but here's a quick recap: Mom's going for chemotherapy on Tuesdays. Last week was her first treatment and she was given two drugs. Now, for the next two weeks, she's only going to get one drug and then she'll have a week off. After 2 full rounds of treatment (a round meaning the heavy treatment, followed by two light treatments) Mom will have a catscan so the doctors can determine how she's responding to treatment. We're fairly confident that Mom will make such good progress that she will astound her doctors, become an inspiration to cancer patients everywhere, and ultimately become part of the American lexicon as "pulling a Sharon" will be another way of saying "making a miraculous recovery."
Not much new to report otherwise. Please look out for a special "Chemo Edition" update that is sure to arrive soon. Until then, keep Mom in your prayers and in your hearts.
G-d bless,
Corey
Mom is doing well and is in good spirits. I believe that Mom already gave you the basic rundown of her schedule, but here's a quick recap: Mom's going for chemotherapy on Tuesdays. Last week was her first treatment and she was given two drugs. Now, for the next two weeks, she's only going to get one drug and then she'll have a week off. After 2 full rounds of treatment (a round meaning the heavy treatment, followed by two light treatments) Mom will have a catscan so the doctors can determine how she's responding to treatment. We're fairly confident that Mom will make such good progress that she will astound her doctors, become an inspiration to cancer patients everywhere, and ultimately become part of the American lexicon as "pulling a Sharon" will be another way of saying "making a miraculous recovery."
Not much new to report otherwise. Please look out for a special "Chemo Edition" update that is sure to arrive soon. Until then, keep Mom in your prayers and in your hearts.
G-d bless,
Corey
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