Taxol helping

Continued Taxol series 7 (7b) yesterday and new CA125 dropped 9.4 points to 28.8, the lowest its been since 2/2007. Yeah! Nurse Allison accessed both lumens but the magnesium (4 grams) I needed didn't get processed until I was done with my pre-meds and Taxol on the lateral lumen so just used the one line. I had had flu/diarrhea/chills from 2-7:30 a.m. prior to Lloyd's 11 a.m. memorial service 2/21. Crashed under the covers the balance of the weekend until the chills went away but left me with a uninary tract infection (or UTI). A urinalysis prior to chemo IDed it. Two tabs of antibiotic prescription from Dr. Im has already provided me much relief as of today. Am hoping this weekend I'll feel good enough to see Tyler and the progress of Megan and Alex's kitchen remodel. Granite countertops need to be installed in the next week or so before backsplash and final connections can be completed.

Chemo during stress

Started treatment #7 of Taxol 2/19/09 at Weinberg. Nurse Joanne, who transferred from Mercy's 7th floor chemo ward to the outpatient treatment center in December, got my case. Both lumens in my port didn't draw blood so she put in TPA, which is supposed to break up the blood which probably coagulated, and let it sit in each line. After the 30 minutes, she got blood from the medial (inside) lumen so sent my blood down for lab work. After an hour, the lateral (outside) lumen also cleared. So I had my two lines because, as usual, my magnesium was low, and I needed 2 hours' worth of magnesium (4 grams). Added stress is Saturday morning's upcoming memorial service for Lloyd.

Rosenshein appointment

The day after Lloyd died, Megan went with me to my afternnon appointment with Dr. Neil Rosenshein. He was pleased with the results of the PET scan, which said the radiologist could not detect any malignancy. Dr. R. told me to come back in four months (June 24) and continue chemo (Taxol) treatments (3 Thursdays on and one off). I'm to get another PET scan before the next appointment. He'll reevaluate my treatment then.

Farewell my love

O. Lloyd Jones, 73, beloved by those who knew him, passed away Feb. 10 around 3 p.m. in his home. He will be missed. May God bless and keep him in His hands.

Completed series 6 Taxol

Had chemo yesterday (2/5/09) with nurse Donna. She put in lines to both the medial and lateral lumens of my port as I anticipated also needing magnesium again. Sure enough, I needed 4 grams of magnesium which takes at least 2 hours by itself. Took my scrapbook from the kids' surprise birthday party for me 1/31/09 and both Teri and Donna took a few minutes in their busy schedule (the outpatient chemo ward was full!!) to peruse it. Teri, whose husband is retired Army now working in the Pentagon, had asked him to get me an Army mug for my office at USNA. We have fun teasing each other around Army-Navy game time.

Had another CA125 taken to have up-to-date info for Dr. Rosenshein when Megan and I see him next Wednesday (2/11/09). It went back down 7.1 points since 1/22/09 (when it went up 8.4 pts) to bring the number to 32.6. The normal range is 0-35.

My legs started showed edema on Wednesday so Teri put me back on the diruectic Spironolactone (1 100-mg tab/day).

Layers of my life

Long ago Megan phoned to reserve my birthday night (1/31/09) as she said she wanted to get tickets for a surprise she wanted to take me to. I thought it might be something at the Kennedy Center or in Baltimore as she was adamant that I reserve the night. And she wouldn't tell me what it was only that I knew Alex was having two buddies over for DVDs and the 3 guys would babysit Tyler.

I had volunteered to visit Lloyd to allow Jeanne time for errands but he told me it "wasn't a good weekend." He said to come visit next weekend instead.

Megan called mid-day Saturday to verify I wasn't coming in sweats but "dressed up." She was coughing so I said, "Do you want to bag it?" She averred because she had "already bought the tickets." And I was to park in front of Alex's Pilot so we could "take her car."

Late afternoon Dylan and Christine arrived at my house with a vase of tulips and some delicous preserves as my birthday present. They were headed for a party with friends in Towson.

When I arrived in Columbia, Megan came out to make sure I didn't fall on ice. She was barefoot in flip flops. I told her she couldn't go anywhere without shoes. As I followed her into the house, flashes went off from the darkened LR. The lights went on and people who have been layers of my life waved wearing wigs and/or teal, the color of ovarian cancer.

Dylan and Christine were there; Christine helping JoAnne, who had catered the entire event, and Dylan creating signature drinks (the teal Chemopolitan and the amaretto & Starbucks coffee liquor, the Jo Joe) and tending bar. Megan had put together a scrapbook of photos and memories collected from those attending and those who couldn't.

Cousins from Illinois; daughter Deb, SIL Hugh and son Andrew from Boston; my niece & nephew from NJ; my other son from Annapolis; Joy came from an Eastern shore funeral, and myriad friends from my life and USNA were there. Grandson Andrew entertained Tyler downstairs checked on by SIL Alex except when Tyler came up to hug Mama and Oma (me).

The food was outstanding. Everyone looked great in teal. Tersheia and Diana sent flowers. Larry and Dylan wore mops as wigs; there were multi-colored clown wigs, Ellen wore a hot pink one, Martha a Hannah Montana one. It was a hoot!

I was shell-shocked. And extremely blessed.