Update #8: slow progress is still progress.

We’re here getting Amie’s third chemo treatment for this new round.  She couldn’t get treatment last week because her numbers were so low when they tested her blood, so that was disheartening.  She had to get a pint of blood instead.  On a positive note, we tried draining her left lung twice in the last couple of weeks and got 5ml and then zero two days ago.  That’s a good sign.  They did have to drain a bunch off of her abdomen and right lung during a procedure a few weeks back, but the left lung was the worst at the start and it’s now empty.  After she gets her fourth treatment in two weeks, the plan is to scan her to see if that catheter can be removed or if it needs moved to the other lung.  We’re hoping she can just get it removed.  Then, depending on the cancer numbers and any other findings, we’ll know if this treatment plan is working or if we’ll have to pivot to a different one.  Prayers for good news there, please.  

She’s lost a lot of weight since that surgery,
close to forty pounds, and nausea has made trying to make strides there difficult.  We did see her gain 3 pounds since last week, though, and she ate better last week even with the late night coughing and throwing up.  It’s been a tightrope walk between getting food in her and getting it to stay down.  They are going to try a new nausea medicine starting today that will hopefully help especially at night.  That would be great.  She’s up a lot which means I’m up a lot to make sure she’s ok.  It’s been exhausting.

I think we’ve made the decision to go on long term disability for a while just so Amie can focus on getting better and not trying to rush back to work.  This sucks not only because of the money factor but she misses her coworkers.  She’s got a great many friends out there and Amie’s at her best around people.  She’s been so down lately since things have been depressingly difficult and she’s so weak that she can barely take ten steps, so we got some medicine that’ll hopefully help there too.  She’s beating herself up because she couldn’t help shop for Mya’s homecoming dress and hasn’t been able to go to a single one of Zac’s football games and she thinks she’s letting them down, but I try and be the voice of reason and perspective: if she does what she has to do with treatments now and beats this, there will be ample opportunities for more dances and many more games, then graduation, and beyond.  😄

Anyway, I wanted to give an update about how she’s doing.  It’s a tough road to climb with a long way to go, and progress is slow, but I’ve been seeing some positive signs.  She’s doing her best.  Thank you all again for everything.  All of the help and prayers means the world to us!  Much love!  💛💙