Hi Everyone, it is Amy here. Mom asked me to post an update for Donna as I am sure many of you are wondering how she is going and some are worrying about whether she is stuck in Houston with the hurricane. Mom was with Donna in Houston so she has written the following update on Donna’s behalf.
Donna and I survived Hurricane Ike in
Houston!! We didn’t know exactly what to expect having never been in a hurricane before but the people at MD Anderson who rode out the hurricane with us (they are called the Ride Out Team) were simply the best. We were probably in the best place to be during a hurricane. Donna pretty much slept through most of the night but I was up several times trying to see what was happening outside. Donna’s room was on a somewhat protected side of the hospital so Ike didn’t seem as ferocious as it actually was. According to one of the nurses if we had been on the other wing of the leukemia floor we would have been a lot more nervous as were they. The hospital’s electricity stayed on through out the storm as their lines are buried and as far as we know they didn’t have to switch their generators on and if they did we sure didn’t know it. We were asked to conserve water with toilet flushing and of course no showers. Like I said we had it good compared to many other places in
Houston and surrounding areas.Donna finished her chemo on Sunday morning, Sept 7th but since she couldn’t get to Michael’s parents the hospital had to let us stay until they could arrange for a safe place for her to go or until the airlines started flying again so she could go back to Vegas. MD Anderson owns or is affiliated with a place across from the hospital called Rotary House. They arranged for us to have 2 nights free lodging there until the airports opened up. We were able to get flights out on late Tuesday afternoon. By that time Donna’s white count was going down and she wasn’t feeling well at all. Tom and Kay (Michael’s parents) were able to make it to the hospital to take us to the airport and they got their electricity back just shortly before coming to get us. When Donna arrived home she went directly to bed and was in bed all day Wednesday and on Thursday morning (16th) Michael took her to the hospital as her temp had spiked to over 103. They immediately began giving her IV fluids and mega antibiotics debating on whether to send her to ICU. She has been pretty sick every since with a blood infection and has barely escaped ICU several times. They can’t get her port to work and at first they put the IV in an uncomfortable part of her arm so they have now put in a picc line which is a little more comfortable. She is receiving blood which is pretty standard with this round of chemo as I understand it. She will be staying in the hospital until the infection is gone and she is on her feet again. She asked me to get her sister Amy to update this website so you will know why she isn’t answering her text messages, phone calls, etc until she is feeling better. She knows you all care and wish her the best. Please keep the prayers coming as she appreciates all of them and all of you.
Hello to everyone. What a busy couple of months. I had planned on writing a lengthy update with details of vacation but time just keeps slipping away from me. We had a great three weeks traveling and visiting family. We had stops in Colorado, Kansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma. I was feeling pretty strong and managed it all really well. I came home on Aug. 11th and started a new chemo regiman on the 12th. Let’s just say, it wasn’t what I expected. It really kicked my kester. I was sick a lot and had no energy. I had forgotton just how bad chemo can be. By week three, my counts were too low and they had to suspent treatment. Yeah, a break. Last Saturday, I flew to Houston and report into the hospital today. I had bone aspiration yesterday. This is the HyperCVAD and will cause me to lose my hair on day 14. It will cause me to go to nothing as far as whites are concerned and I will start taking the daily shots to recover. If all goes well, I will be recovered and on my home on the 28th. I will then resume my regular chemo regiman and begin to rebuild and gain strength again. Thanks to all of you who sent birthday cards, e-mails and left phone messages. My family took me camping up at Mt. Charleston for my birthday and I loved it. It’s just what I needed after suffering the setback from the new chemo. I spent a lot of time in the tent and was sick for part of it but it was still better than lying in bed at home and feeling sorry for myself. Thanks for your continued prayers. I will try to add some detail when I get home from the hospital. If all goes well, I will be back at my in-laws on Saturday, or Sunday at the latest. Sorry for the absence. Thanks again for your continued support.