Number Ten

Just when we are getting this chemo business down pat, we are running out of sessions. Don't get me wrong, I am happy to be close to the end of this business, but there are a bunch of really cool people we have crossed paths with on this journey. (MISSED YOU TODAY, MAY!!!)

Number one concern for this cycle was Johnny's blood pressure. Dr. Ansari doubled his blood pressure medicine, so hopefully we will see this improve quickly. I'm taking his BP daily now, and am getting anxious to see results. Today's pressure in the office was approximately 170/126. Yuck. He slept most of the time at chemo, and he attributes it to his blood pressure. When the heart is working that hard to pump, it stands to reason that you'll tire easily.

Second concern for this visit with Dr. Ansari was Johnny's weight gain. Since July 8th he has gained a total of 16 pounds. Dr. Ansari was relentless in his teasing today and even told the new nurse practitioner, Brandi, to stay away from Johnny or he might eat her! Most people have such a hard time with chemo that weight gain usually isn't even a consideration. We all know that Johnny isn't "most people". To quote Dr. Ansari, "You are thriving on chemo."

His feet and hands really bother him the most of anything. His hands are so sensitive and are peeling layers and layers of skin daily. The pads of his fingertips are like baby skin -- so soft! The skin peels so quickly that there really isn't even a fingerprint on the tips of his index fingers. The neuropathy is moving to his feet as well. They feel "swollen" even though they aren't and have started to turn the dark color that his hands are. He says that there is a lot of burning, too. I gave him a long foot rub tonight when I tucked him in and used warm foot lotion (one of my favorites!) from Lush. He said they felt better after that which really made me happy. It is so hard to find something that I can do to help him feel better. Even something little like a foot rub makes me feel like I have helped out a little.

Dr. Ansari also said today that we will be going to Indianapolis for surgery. IU Med Center has a surgical oncology program that is currently ranked second in the country. It is second to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore (one of the early considerations for surgery). The doctors responsible for heading this program had their training at Johns Hopkins and Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York. It is quickly becoming the "go to" spot for this region of the country. We are completely confident with this and are looking forward to completing some more details in the upcoming weeks. With the next step in the plan on the horizon it is really easy to get excited about being in COMPLETE REMISSION very soon.

Additional good news today came from Johnny's CEA level. At last report is was 3.7, and today it was 3.6. It continues to show its demise, and I love it.

Please continue to pray for Johnny and our family. I really want his blood pressure to come down this week, so that is my frontline prayer.

And remember in this season of Thanksgiving to count your blessings each and every day. Life is good, people. Life is good. And love. Love is really good.