Mama's 5th & 6th Treatments

 Thought it was time to catch you all up on Mom's treatments.  

She had treatment #5 four weeks ago.  Her friend, Tracy, went with her and my Aunt Becky.

 She has been having the same side effects that she has had since the beginning.  The Neuropathy seems to worsen each time.  Her finger nails and toe nails have been threatening to come off for about two months now.  They are painful and loose from the nail beds, so she keeps them short to prevent bumping them as much.

 She was supposed to get her 6th treatment last week,but her platelet levels were too low.  They were only 66,000 and Dr. Huh likes for them to be over 100,000 for a treatment.  She ate lots of pineapples to increase her levels and thankfully this week they were 144,000. 

 In the beginning Dr. Huh told us she would have for sure 6 treatments, and after the 6th one he would do a scan to determine the next step.  We'll do the scan in 4 weeks to make sure her body is fully healed from the chemo in case she needs more surgery.  She may have to have surgery, or additional chemo......  Or NOTHING more if the Great Physician healed her. 

Since it could possibly be her last treatment, she got to ring the bell :)!!! All patients that finish their "last treatment" get to ring it.  It was pretty neat :)!!

 I can't help but watch everyone in the waiting room while Mom is getting her treatment.....

- Some are there for their first visit.  Their scared face tells all.
- Some are there for their last visit.  I can tell by the smiles on their faces.
- There are some children there with grandparents as their Mom is back with the doctors.
- There was a husband and wife beside me that was there for the first time and discussing how easy it was to find the women's center.
- There are usually several elderly couples there.  I love watching how they are still together and "battling" this together.
- See the elderly lady in the chair?  That's her son beside her with his head in his arms.  I could tell he was a nervous wreck.  He would do that, get on his phone, move seats, and then do it all back over. 

By watching these people, I can relate to them.  The scaredness, the emptiness, the un-known, the feeling of comfort and almost homey-ness because you know all the nurses and the center like the back of your hand.

This journey has been one that none of us will ever forget or take for granted.  It is hard to comprehend that she has already completed her 6th treatment.  When he first told us she would have 6-10 treatments, that seemed like an eternity.  She made it and is stronger than ever.  God is good! And I believe in His ultimate healing.