During the two week break...

Hello Everyone!

We are now on day eight of our fourteen day break between the chemotherapy cycles. As expected our friend nausea came and left swiftly and the medications worked beautifully.  For nausea the Sancuso Patch was a HUGE life saver, but when insurance hadn't approved the 7 day patch we were relying on Compazine and Zofran. The Zofran is stronger and worked so much better than the Compazine, but what the doctor told us, was to use them intermittently and it worked fabulously... once they kicked in! :-) Now mom is able to eat almost everything, but her old favorite comfort foods from when she was younger seem to be hitting the spot.

When we started the chemotherapy Dr. Chawla said, “There are two things I can guarantee:  1. You will lose your hair in two weeks and 2. It will all come back… Now what color would you like?” Right on schedule, exactly two weeks from when we started chemotherapy Mamas hair started to fall out in tiny bunches, not on day thirteen but exactly on day fourteen.

We have had a busy start to our “break” week. It started with us going to get a blood transfusion on Monday. Then we met and saw a Urologist to see if the stent that was placed by Dr. Varney is still working properly and it is working successfully.  So we went down the following day and mom was able to get her nephrostromy tube removed. Huzzah!! Now we are down to just the wound vac which is still being changed three times a week. The opening the wound vac is closing seems to be healing nicely we have a specialist group coming in on Friday to take a look, we will see then how much longer we will need the vac for.

It was the weekend before we knew it, and a good time is what we had. Everyone came pouring through the door and we had a massive ‘Phamily’ slumber party. Even little Joelson was there to enjoy the festivities, he even stayed up later than Aunty Megan, but that’s expected of everyone, she’s the weakest link. :-). We watched Chef and Tammy both movies were great; however don’t watch Chef on an empty stomach! But seeing the joy the Chef had from cooking made us all miss the Mekong and all those unique creations we would come up with in the kitchen.  Mom laughed so hard in Tammy it hurt, so she left early and we called it a night. The next morning the ice bucket challenge was circling around the house. Megan was nominated and she nominated Dad. Dad challenged Uncle Chris my moms little brother, our adopted uncle Ray, and adopted sister Francesca. Everyone being great sports participated and added awareness for Undifferentiated Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma, our favorite organization the Children Skin Disease Foundation (www.csdf.org), National Down Syndrome Society (http://www.ndss.org/Buddy-Walk/).  If you haven’t seen the videos they are on Mom and Dad’s facebook page take a look here ( https://www.facebook.com/mattnkimpham  ). All of these organizations are very worthy causes, and equally deserving of attention and awareness. 

This week there are no doctor appointments, just mom focusing on healing and boosting her white blood cell (WBC ) count. After her chemo cycle, the WBC drops and that’s how they know the chemo is in her system. They give her a Neulasta shot to take home and take the day after you stop chemo  which helps mom create new WBC. The way you know your Neulasta shot is working, all of your bones ache and feel like zaps, and all of it is normal because your WBC are being produced in your marrow.  Last week mom had a very low low count of just 1.0. We just had blood drawn yesterday, so we are waiting for the results to come back. The doctor’s office told us to expect her levels be low for up to seven to ten days after her last day of chemo, than it jumps right back up just in time for us to do the whole routine of fourteen days continuous chemo again.

Right now diet is restricted to no raw fruits and vegetables.  Until the numbers climb back up, we are still limiting visitors in case of risk of infection. But we are continually counting our blessings of all of the support all of our family and friends are sending and showing us. We love you and thank you so much for keeping us in your prayers and thoughts. Until real face to face meetings are plausible Google Hangouts and Facetime are happily welcomed! :-)

HUGS-

From Mama Pham: I just wanted to say I love and misses everyone so much. I hope to see everyone once I'm strong enough to and Stephanie says it's OK for visitors. I am fighting this, I have the Holy Spirit in me and it has given me the strength to give my all. Thank you for all of your prayers, love, support, and thoughts you are giving me. Love you, Mama Pham