Saturday, September 29, 2007
Let the games begin
Chemo finally started last night around 9 pm. I waited around all day for the cardiologist to tell me my heart is strong and ready for chemo. I got the anti nausea meds and the bag was hung. I got a small bag of bright orange liquid that lasted 30 minutes. After that was finished the next bag was hung and that will last me 24 hours. So far no effects from the chemo other than the metallic taste. All the physical effects will come next week. Can wait!
Friday, September 28, 2007
Day One
Hello friends and family. I hope to keep everyone posted on what is going on with me thru this blog. I will have LOTS of free time so I hope to update this daily.
Here is the background story in case you haven't heard:
I had my first Dr. appointment since moving back to Ft. Worth on Friday Sept. 21st. Like every other appointment they do blood work and ask how I am feeling. I had been very tired, but I thought it was because I had just started back to school and I was worn out like every other teacher that I know. When I walked into the office I did not have a clue what was lurking in my body. I am lucky to have the same doctor that treated me at Scott & White. He moved to Ft. Worth the same time that I did. My lab results were ready by the time I got to the exam room. I looked at the paper and a few numbers were circled, but still I had no clue. Not until he looked at me and said there were some red flags that have shown up that I thought I had relapsed. He said the next step was a bone marrow biopsy. That would tell us everything we needed to know. Monday the biopsy took place and I was to come back on Thursday for the results. Before the biopsy he prepared me for the hospital and what was possible to come next. I had 3 days to think about my fate and try to live a normal life. It was the hardest 3 days. I continue to work and do things normally while packing my bags and buying the things I knew I would need for the long stay in the hospital. Dad and I went to get the results. The nurse walked me back to the exam room and asked if I was ready to go to the hospital. She told me all I needed to hear. When Dr. Crim confirmed my leukemia was back I felt relieved. Finally I had an answer. I had 76% blast cells in my bone marrow.
So last night I was admitted to Harris Downtown room 738. I had a port that last time, but it was removed because I did not imagine ever needing to use it again, and plus it felt weird in my chest. Call me crazy, but as many times as I have been poked with needles, I still hate them. I have learned to put on my "big girl panties" and deal with it. Last night they put in a PICC line. It is a line that runs thru a vein in my upper right arm to my superior vena cava. The procedure was done in my room while I watched Forrest Gump.
Right now I am waiting for chemo to start. I had a echo cardiogram this morning and we are waiting for the cardiologist to tell us that my ticker is strong enough for chemo. Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes. I appreciate everyone thinking about me. I am very lucky to have so many friends pulling for me. I promise to fight this with all I have. I am too stubborn to let leukemia beat me. I beat this once and I will sure beat it again.
Thanks for checking in on me and I will hopefully have some more interesting things to talk about once chemo starts.
Here's my contact information:
Harris Methodist Hospital Downtown
Room 738
817-250-2738
Love,
Sam
Here is the background story in case you haven't heard:
I had my first Dr. appointment since moving back to Ft. Worth on Friday Sept. 21st. Like every other appointment they do blood work and ask how I am feeling. I had been very tired, but I thought it was because I had just started back to school and I was worn out like every other teacher that I know. When I walked into the office I did not have a clue what was lurking in my body. I am lucky to have the same doctor that treated me at Scott & White. He moved to Ft. Worth the same time that I did. My lab results were ready by the time I got to the exam room. I looked at the paper and a few numbers were circled, but still I had no clue. Not until he looked at me and said there were some red flags that have shown up that I thought I had relapsed. He said the next step was a bone marrow biopsy. That would tell us everything we needed to know. Monday the biopsy took place and I was to come back on Thursday for the results. Before the biopsy he prepared me for the hospital and what was possible to come next. I had 3 days to think about my fate and try to live a normal life. It was the hardest 3 days. I continue to work and do things normally while packing my bags and buying the things I knew I would need for the long stay in the hospital. Dad and I went to get the results. The nurse walked me back to the exam room and asked if I was ready to go to the hospital. She told me all I needed to hear. When Dr. Crim confirmed my leukemia was back I felt relieved. Finally I had an answer. I had 76% blast cells in my bone marrow.
So last night I was admitted to Harris Downtown room 738. I had a port that last time, but it was removed because I did not imagine ever needing to use it again, and plus it felt weird in my chest. Call me crazy, but as many times as I have been poked with needles, I still hate them. I have learned to put on my "big girl panties" and deal with it. Last night they put in a PICC line. It is a line that runs thru a vein in my upper right arm to my superior vena cava. The procedure was done in my room while I watched Forrest Gump.
Right now I am waiting for chemo to start. I had a echo cardiogram this morning and we are waiting for the cardiologist to tell us that my ticker is strong enough for chemo. Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes. I appreciate everyone thinking about me. I am very lucky to have so many friends pulling for me. I promise to fight this with all I have. I am too stubborn to let leukemia beat me. I beat this once and I will sure beat it again.
Thanks for checking in on me and I will hopefully have some more interesting things to talk about once chemo starts.
Here's my contact information:
Harris Methodist Hospital Downtown
Room 738
817-250-2738
Love,
Sam
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