Update at LDS

Erika's counts dropped yesterday, Monday, and she was given two bags of blood. Her body responded well. She did get a minor rash on her hands and chest but no pains. Doctors have concluded that her pain is caused by her being off of steroids and not the blood transfusion from last week Thursday (coincidence). Her next phase they will wing her off a more gradually. Regarding the blood test on the donated blood, it came back negative with no signs of pathogens nor contamination. Currently Erika's swelling have gotten worse. They have prescribed her a pharmaceutical diuretic to flush out her fluids. Today they are also taking her off of the pain pump to see if she can manage her pain using oral medications. If she can manage it, she can go home...hopefully tomorrow. Her strength level is better. She can walk to the bathroom and do her daily walks in the hallway using a walker.

Back at LDS

Erika was admitted to LDS lastnight for her pain was getting out of control. They have her on a pain pump now so she can get pain medication on demand every ten minutes at the push of a button.

This morning her pain level dropped from a scale of 1-10 to a 7 when standing. Her swelling appears to be getting slightly better.

Erika's Weekend

The swelling is getting worse as well as her leg pains. Her legs needed to be compressed and elevated. She is only able to walk briefly. Erika has a clinic visit Sunday at LDS.

You can see in her legs and face that she is swollen

Consolidation 2 Update and Blood Transfussion

Since the start of Consolidation 2, Erika has been responding well to all the chemo, with the exception of her experiencing ringing in her ears, which keeps her up at night. I try to play soft music in the background but it doesn't appear to be working. Doctors believe it may be related to the chemo, vincristine, which may be affecting the nerves near her ears, but more observation is needed.

Update on CNS phase, after all the spinal taps, blood work, echo-gram (heart exam), all looks good. There were no signs of malignant cells and her heart is still beating strong.

Thank you to all who donates to help save lives.

Yesterday, Erika was in high spirit and energy. She had an appointment to get more blood work done to check her blood levels since the start of Consolidation 2. She was very low on red cells. She received two bags of blood. The first went in fine. The second bag she began to feel an ache in her lower back. A half hour later she was feeling pain at her lower back throughout her legs. They stopped the transfusion half way through. Erika was unable to walk and was feeling weak. At this moment her leg pains are still there and her lower back pains are managed through medication. The LDS hospital is doing a blood exam on the donated blood to check for any possible pathogens or such. Erika was winging off steroids  This may also be the cause of her pain. Overall, Erika tries real hard to be happy and joyful. She was paid a visit from a close friend last night which put her in a happy state. She's extremely excited for the whether and is anxious to be outdoors. She keeps talking about camping while she's is shivering in bed as I sweat beside her.

Consolidation 2

Erika was scheduled to have Consolidation 2 begin last week on the 10th, but her blood counts were still low to begin. Today she went into the hospital and her counts are up. She begins tomorrow at 9:15 a.m., starting out with spending the whole day and afternoon receiving chemo.

How has she been since the end of the CNS phase? Well, to put it lightly, poopy. Due to the numerous spinal taps, injected with a chemo called Methotrexate, and two other chemos called Vincristine and PEG-Asparaginase, they all cause a long list of side-effects. The most prodominent ones that Erika has been experiencing are neuropathy, swelling, headaches and nausea. Her hands would randomly cramp up, stiffen, curled in a position as if she is ready to cast a spell on me. As I duck from her cast, Doctors are watching it closely for it could be a sign of nerve end damage.

Her whole body is swollen. A nurse commented when she walked into the clinic that she looked like the Michelin man (we both thought it was very funny).

Nausea and headaches has been a continuous battle throughout the entire treatment from all the medications and chemo. The radiation to the cranium has increased them both. I also have noticed Erika has gotten angry lately...very easily. I want to blame the radiation, for maybe the gamma rays tapped into a spot where it gently awoken the "Hulk," like it did for Bruce Banner with his gamma ray incident. In reality, I'm sure it's just her dealing with this whole stupid mess of a blood disease no one ask for. It sucks when it's nice and beautiful outside and she has to stay in from it.

The past few days, since I have been sick with the stomach bug (don't worry, she didn't get anything from me) Erika has been showing signs of improvement from all of the above symptoms. Although, her energy level is the same. She is still extremely weak and tired. Walking in the house is a chore. She sleeps most of the time. I try to push her to do physical therapy at home to build back strength, but there is only so much she can do before she's gassed. Now she begins her new phase of chemo tomorrow. Therefore the battle continues. 

Together With Nature

In Ogden Valley, North Fork. Getting a breath of fresh air.

Today Erika wanted to get out of the house to go for a nice scenic drive to prepare her for Consolidation II, which will begin Friday the 10th of May. Today is the best she has felt since the beginning of April. April was a rough month for her. She was admitted into the hospital for lower body pains and a fever for a week and two weeks of spinal taps and radiation for the CNS phase. Radiation is over, but spinals are not. She will be getting them every 18 weeks. At least she gets a long break in between.