JULY 8 UPDATE FROM METHOW VALLEY

This report comes to you LIVE from the grand town of Twisp, Washington; population 1,000 plus 6 lively young sisters! Our visit here is the twelfth time the six of us have girls (Annie, Theresa, Rose, Becky, Julie, Barb) have spent four days together each summer. We have to pick a DIFFERENT town each time because we create such lasting memories for the residents, especially the proprietors of the B & Bs we visit.

Mom's spirits are pretty good. The myeloma is attacking her skin, so she looks like a kid with chicken pox. She will be trying a round of chemo, pills four days in a row, then the rest of the month off. Unfortunately, she has to take prednisone along with that, and it has some uncomfortable effects on her. She is strong enough to walk pretty far with her walker, and has been attending Sunday mass pretty regularly. Becky and I decided to take Mom to the Tacoma Farmers' Market. The day was clear and hot, the fruits were luscious, the variety and colors of flowers were gorgeous, and the variety of ethnic foods was delightful. To get Mom to the market, Becky and I packed her into the wheelchair, turned the corner of the block, and realized that we were at the TOP of a hill in downtown Tacoma. If you've been in Tacoma, you will know that the hills are STEEP. We were just happy to find a parking spot, and didn't consider the hill. Too bad Candid Camera wasn't filming. Becky was wearing flip flops with heels; I was wearing sandals with no traction, and we were heading DOWN HILL!!!. We both had to hold on to the wheelchair to keep it from rolling down too quickly. Whenever the chair gained too much momentum, we turned it into the building to stop it. We would then start up again until the chair had too much momentum. People laughed at us; Mom was holding on for dear life; no one offered to help. We made it, having learned a valuable lesson. Needless to say, I drove the car DOWN the hill to pick her up after we had toured the market.

Please know that Mom LOVES your visits, phone calls, cards, flowers, and prayers. Please know that the family appreciates and values your support.

JUNE 18 UPDATE

Life has been going along pretty well for Mom for a couple months now, with a bump here and there. In the past few weeks she has been breaking out in lumps or bumps or whatever you want to call them, on her head, neck, shoulders, front, and back. A biopsy confirmed that they are the myeloma returning rather rapidly. Initally Mom was in no pain, but now they itch and are painful. Her abdomen is hurting again. Could be the malignant tumor growing again, or her stomach from all the meds!

The first round of chemo made mom seriously ill, and took her six weeks to recuperate. Then she tried a pill form for 21 days, during which she became more and more fatigued, and slept on and off all day.

The doctor has a third type of chemo she can try, not as strong as either of the first two. Mom's dilemma is to choose whether or not to try it. It would be one pill a day for four days, BUT she would also have to take prednisone - which sends her blood sugar on a roller coaster ride.

SO... we ask you to pray for discernment for her. She's tired of being sick, of being tested, of zillions of doctors appointments. At the same time, this pill would be for only four days, and might ease up her symptoms. A tough decision. We thank you soooo very much for your continued support.

JUNE 6, 2009 UPDATE

I didn't realize it had been so long since I gave you an update. Mom has had a really good run here. She's gone to the ocean, out to dinner, sat in the sun, went out to breakfast with her bible study group, and has even made it to church twice. Since going off the second type of chemo, she is stronger and more alert, and MUCH happier. She even giggles occasionally! She's been reading, knitting, and even got out her latest quilt!

She had a little bout with shingles, but they are now just about cleared up. This week she has developed lesions on her upper back and chest and head. The infectious disease doctor has sent her for biopsies next Tuesday with a dermatologist. They are either the myeloma now moving to the skin, OR a symptom of tb. The doctor asked if she had ever been exposed to tb, and most of you know that Dad had tb when Donnie and I were wee ones.

We're enjoying the sun, the blossoming flowers, and gorgeous views of Mt. Rainier.
I promise to keep this blog up better.

I am feeling so much better; still weak and still sleep a lot. I'm going to start exercising and get to walking again. I do feel so much better when I’m off the chemo.
Thank you every body for your prayers.

From Shirley: APRIL 26

APRIL 19 UPDATE

Cousin Carla said I needed to update the blog, so here is: Nothing is new since Mom got home from the hospital. She's had a visiting nurse every day for the past two weeks, but that will begin to become less frequent as mom is stable. She also gets pt several times a week. Some days she is pretty weak and tired, and other days she is more alert. She came to our house for Easter dinner for a couple hours: was great for her to spend time with us, including Aimee and Christy, their guys, and Mak n Jack. She's just finished her first round of the chemo pill, with no side effects. Sees her doctor this week for a check-up. Her new prism glasses help her to read and knit a little, which is a great joy to her. She's back to watching Survivor again, her favorite show. She also enjoys Dancing with the Stars when she has had an afternoon nap. Your visits, phone calls, and cards mean the world to Mom, Dad, and all of us kids. Thank you so much.

APRIL 4, 2009

We've had snow TWICE in the past week, but today is SUNNY, just in time for the Daffodil Parade. Mom is home, always the best place to be. Her infections are pretty much gone, although she uses a nebulizer throughout the day to control wheezing. She has a visiting nurse daily for a week or so, plus a pt/ot several days a week. Mom has been on the chemo pills for almost a week, and no reactions so far. The biggest challenge is getting her to walk a bit around the house. Standing up is hard for her, as well as being a tiring task. Visitors: feel free to encourage her to "take a trip around the park" as she calls her route around the house. Please know that your continual support through this long time is beneficial, appreciated, and supportive. Blessings to all of you!