Up then down

Up then down

Written Jul 5, 2012 1:32pm by Heather Dalik

We had an early clinic appointment this morning.  Nancy and I talked at length about Cora's liver numbers.  I got to see them graphed by date.  Standing over Nancy's shoulder, I couldn't help but to think of Duane and Lynn (former principal and reading specialist).  The voice in my head said "I wish Duane was here.  He would know just what these numbers mean, be able to see what the rest of us can't and he would know how to fix it."  He and Lynn would look at the trends and try to determine why the numbers are going up, when they should be going down.  So, I put my emotions aside and looked at the data.  I asked the questions my friends would have asked.  

Why are the numbers going up instead of down?  Bugs and drugs is the answer.  Look at medicines that would be making the numbers go up - none.  Look at bacteria/virus' that can make the numbers go up - nothing to report but maybe an after effect of the strep.  After looking in detail at the three sets of numbers, Nancy convinced me this is just something to watch but not to worry.  It does not appear the liver is connected to the rash (which is almost gone)  It could be gvhd in her liver but the levels aren't high enough to do anything.  So, again we wait.  Remember, I am not good at waiting and waiting breeds worry.  

The numbers from today showed a slight (so slight it isn't worth mentioning) decline but the good news is the numbers didn't go up.  So, we wait. 

My dear Sarah is in bad shape.  God (and cancer) brought Sarah back into my life after 16 years.  I believe that we were brought back together again for a reason and maybe it was so I could have a role model for how to fight the unimaginable.  This is the message I got today - 

Sarah is back at Hopkins. Unfortunately, her treatments in Memphis were unsuccessful. Now she is undergoing multiple rounds of very intense chemo for a couple days to get her bone marrow test and, hopefully, the transplant. Earlier this week Sarah was given two options: keep fighting and endure the intense chemo or give up and "enjoy" the rest of her "healthy" life. Thankfully (but not to our surprise), Sarah chose to stay strong and endure. Keep her in all of your prayers. It's the least we can do.

Things move quickly in the oncology world and Sarah has already endured the first of 5 chemo treatments.  This chemo is the top dog, the highest dose, there is nothing stronger.  Her liver is already suffering after day 1.  Please pray that she makes it through the chemo and her body does not suffer irreversible damage from this super drug.  

Be CORAgeous!