Time Marches On

I just realized how long it has been since I last posted! Even in the midst of cancer, time marches on. That is one thing that is difficult to comprehend. I feel like time should stand still while Parrish's cancer battle continues. But, time doesn't stand still for much. So, while all the "business" of cancer has been going on (weekly blood work, check-ups, and more), life has also been going on. Campbell moved to a big boy bed and couldn't be more pleased with himself (although the migration doesn't seem to have improved his sleeping habits). Ivey and I took a quick "mommy/Ivey" overnight trip to Atlanta during his spring break. We went full speed ahead for 24 hours, and he hasn't quit talking about out special get-away. Now, Easter has somehow come and gone, and we are officially in spring. With more daylight, there are more hours in the day and more things to fill those hours. And, I'm having a hard time keeping up. The reality of life with cancer has started to sink in a lot more in the last couple of weeks, and to be honest, I'm just tired. The January adrenaline rush has long since faded, and now, we are all just trying to stay afloat in between Parrish's treatments (hence the lack of posts!). 

Thankfully, Parrish has done much better post-treatment this go 'round. He has felt better, his blood counts have been better, and he has been in a waaaaayyyy better mood (bonus for those of us who happen to live with him!). He also eats all.the.time. Seriously, it is like I'm living with a 15 year old boy or something. He can't get enough food. I guess it is good practice for what my life is going to be like with Ivey and Campbell in 12 years!

We did have a small blip earlier in the week. Parrish's platelets dropped by over 100,000 at his Wednesday blood work. All of his other counts looked great, but his platelets were at 20,000 (which would mean a transfusion). He was not happy...which is putting it mildly. But, they repeated his blood work Thursday afternoon, and his platelets had gone up. Incrementally, but up is up. So, he narrowly escaped a blood transfusion (again).

Tomorrow, Parrish has a PET scan and then bloodwork and a doctor's appointment on Wednesday. The plan is for him to go into the hospital Wednesday afternoon to begin the third round of treatment. Of course, I should probably put quotation marks around "plan" because we all know that is a relative term in the world of cancer treatment. 

We've had a perfect Easter weekend celebrating with family. Although time thus far has refused to stand still, I have worked on being still (as still as one can be with a 3 year old and 20 month old) and just enjoying the present...not looking too far into this week and what scans and treatment may bring...not thinking back to life pre-cancer and what might have been. Thankfully, I have had a weekend full of moments that remind me cancer or no cancer, we are truly blessed.

Happy Easter!

Love,
Molly

Just a few of the moments I managed to capture with my camera: 

You think he likes his bed??

  

Neighborhood Easter egg hunt!

Not so sure about egg hunting...

My Easter angels!

And, my Easter super hero (with a mouth full of chocolate).

Guess who found the golden egg!?

Post-Chemo Progress

Parrish came home Thursday night...my bad for not alerting the troops via the blog. Last week was a little crazy (to say the least) due to things inside and outside the walls of the hospital. This past hospital stay was our first, shall we say, sub-par experience. It didn't start off on the right foot, as previously discussed, and we couldn't seem to shake that vibe. In the end, Parrish received the second round of treatment (which is all that matters, I guess). But, he had to spend more time in the hospital than he should have due to a delay in ordering medicines from pharmacy, being assigned a nurse who couldn't hang chemo, and the chemo-certified nurse putting the meds on a slower drip than required. And yes, I made multiple attempts to correct all of these problems...and eventually got everyone straight. I am pretty sure there is a large note on Parrish's chart that says "Beware of the wife...appears sweet but don't be fooled. Enter with caution."

We are home, though, and even made it home for my birthday on Friday. (There was going to be something especially depressing about facing my thirty-fifth...I mean, twenty-fifth...birthday from a hospital room!) As a side note, if you want to get a glimpse of yourself ten years from now, just gaze in the mirror of a hospital bathroom; the pale walls and fluorescent lighting are shall-we-say, the opposite of anti-aging. But, despite feeling much, much older this year, I have to say that thanks to dear, sweet friends, I also felt more loved this birthday than ever before.

The best birthday gift is that Parrish seems to be handling the second round of treatment better than the last round. He has had more vomiting this time which is not fun, but overall, his energy level is better and he just seems stronger. It is probably due to the fact that he went into this treatment in a better state. Last time, he had just had the chest tube surgery, he had just come out of a ten day hospital stay, and he had just had the mediport placed. All of that took a toll on his already sick body. Throwing chemo on top of that was not ideal--necessary, yes, but not ideal. This time, he had more of a game face on going into the treatment, and I think that helped. Plus, the sunny skies and seventy-five degree weather post-treatment can't hurt. He can sit on the back porch and soak up some vitamin D!

In other news, Parrish has gained some weight...about six pounds, actually. I want my super smoothies to take all the credit, but it might have something to do with a divine chocolate chip pound cake that a sweet friend dropped off last week. Parrish can't quit talking about how good the cake is, and he definitely can't quit eating it. Whatever it takes to get him back to his fighting weight!

For now, we are working to manage the chemo side effects and waiting for this week's blood work visit (on Wednesday). On April 1st, Parrish will have a PET scan to help the doctors gauge how well the medicine is working. Then, on April 3rd, if his blood levels will allow it, Parrish will go back in the hospital for his third round of treatment. I will keep everyone posted until then, but lots of prayers for a PET scan that shows successful treatment and continued strength for Parrish.

Much love,
Molly

A Room with a View

Things always look better in daylight, and that is definitely true for us today. Yesterday turned into a rather frustrating comedy of errors. The oncology floor was completely full, and no one was checking out fast enough. This is the downside to being at a great research hospital...they see people with really complicated stuff (a medical term for sure), which means that they don't turn over beds all that quickly. Parrish and I were basically on stand-by all day long, with constant promises from the coordinator that a room was "almost ready." Finally, around 5:30 pm, the doctor's office called and said that a bed would be opening up that night and the bed charge nurse would call us, likely not until after shift change.

When the bed charge nurse finally called, she informed me that Parrish was being put in a different part of the hospital, a non-oncology floor. Not what I wanted to hear. (Parrish's doctor has told us on several occasions that he does not send his patients anywhere but the oncology floor because the nursing staff is specifically trained in cancer treatment.) So after a long, frustrating day, I didn't exactly take the relocation news all that well. In fact, my response to the bed charge nurse included a "bless your heart" which we all know is about the most damning phrase any good southern woman can use. I kindly, but firmly, said that Parrish would not be checking into the hospital that night if a bed was not available on the oncology floor. I also said that I would just give the doctor a buzz and let him know why. Miraculously, not 20 seconds later, a bed became available on the oncology floor. And not just any room, the oversized corner room with two full walls of windows overlooking downtown. Clearly it pays to be a little pushy!

Of course, Parrish didn't get in his room until 9:30 pm. And, by the time they did his admitting examination, pre-treatment tests, lab work, accessed his mediport, got his fluids running and more, it was the middle of the night. No doctor will start chemo in the middle of the night. So, the doctors rounded this morning and put in orders for his second round of chemo to begin at noon. This means that his last round of the chemo cocktail won't be completed until Thursday afternoon. Looks like we will have an extra night in this much sought-after ninth floor room...but hey, at least it is a room with a view.

Obviously, this is not exactly how we wanted to kick off round two....and despite all attempts not to lose our sense of humor (or our manners), we are both a little edgy. Lack of sleep and medical bureaucracy can do that to the best of us. So, today, I ask you to pray not only for healing and a smooth treatment, but for a renewed sense of spirit for me and Parrish.

Much love to everyone-
Molly

Quick Update

A very brief post to let everyone know that Parrish is (finally) in the hospital. It has been a long day of waiting for a room and an even longer evening of logistics. But, he is settled into his room and going through the pre-chemo routine. Hopefully, he will get to start his treatment tonight, but it might not be until tomorrow given all the pre-treatment items. I will keep everyone posted as round number two gets under way!

The Best Laid Plans...

You would think that if the last six weeks have taught me anything, it would be that I should just give up making plans. But, I am a planner by nature, and it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks. I think God really wants to teach me that I am not in control. (Okay, God, I get it!)

So, remember how I just posted on Wednesday that Parrish's next round of chemo would be March 20th? Well, in my head, I had planned out the next week or so. Parrish was looking forward to a week of feeling better. I had even dared to think that I could run up to Memphis for a dear family friend's wedding. Silly me...

The doctor called Wednesday night with the results of Parrish's blood work from that day. He was thrilled with the results, shocked in fact. He said that since the blood work looked so good, he had decided to schedule Parrish's second round of chemo a week early. Yep, you read that right. So, Parrish will go into the hospital sometime on Monday (this Monday) for Round Number 2. (Anyone getting tired of the medical marvel jokes yet?)

All of us have spent the last day and a half sort of getting our head around this change of plan. On the one hand, it is great news that Parrish's blood work looked so good, and even better news that the big 'ole tumor is going to get another dose of chemo thrown at it even sooner than expected. On the other hand, all of us--especially Parrish--could have used 10 more days to recover from the last round of treatment. Now that we've seen just what the aftermath of the ICE treatment can be, it is a little daunting to gear up for it again. But, gear up we will!

So, come Monday, Parrish will be back at UAB. Until then, we will all enjoy a beautiful early spring weekend...hallelujah for sunshine and warmer temps.

Happy weekend!

Love,
Molly

In the Trenches

There isn't too much to report. All of us are trudging along...enjoying days that are better than others and surviving those that aren't. A dear friend (who is going through her own ridiculously difficult ordeal) calls this "being in the trenches." We aren't in the hospital; there isn't any emergent situation. We are just living our new reality, a reality that involves a lot of hard, less-than-glamorous work.

Parrish's body is hard at work fighting the cancer, battling side effects of the treatment and just getting through the day. It is painful to watch how much it takes out of him just to function. And, those around Parrish are fighting in a different way. We are working to provide Parrish love, support and nourishment. We are researching the healthiest foods and the best remedies for side effects. We are working to be his medical advocates. We are trying to anticipate and plan for future needs. At the same time, we are desperate to give the boys all the love, attention and childhood fun that they need. Oh, and we are also trying to get to all the mundane tasks like laundry and cleaning toilets. Being in the trenches--for all of us--is at times excruciatingly exhausting.

But, there are also bright spots. For the first time in six weeks, Parrish sat in the den with the boys and watched while Ivey and Campbell played "construction site" (a typical pastime in our house). These days, just the chaos of two little ones sends Parrish to our room to rest. But, he joined in the fun as Ivey instructed everyone on how to build, what to build and where to build it (some things never change). I can't tell you what this small act did for the boys...and for Parrish. The boys loved having their Daddy by their sides, and Parrish loved engaging with his two favorite fellas. And, while I watched on from the kitchen, I had a glimpse of normalcy. I think it was therapeutic for all of us.

The good news from the trenches this week is that for the time being, Parrish seems to have escaped a blood transfusion . Thanks to the Neulasta shot, his blood levels went up. (You will recall that Parrish gets a shot the day after his chemotherapy is complete. This Neulasta shot is a growth factor that helps his body produce white blood cells.) A patient typically sees a "Neulasta boost" 10-14 days after the shot. The goal is to manage the low blood counts, sometimes through transfusion, until the Neulasta effect kicks in. Thankfully, based on Monday's blood work, it looks like Neulasta did the trick. It is a pretty awful shot with some really painful side effects, but even Parrish was singing Neulasta's praises on Monday. He had more blood work this morning, and he will go for more next week. If everything stays stable, he should be on track for his second round of chemotherapy on March 20th. 

Until then, we are working on keeping Parrish rested, hydrated and well fed. As the pictures below show, Parrish isn't the only one enjoying my "super smoothies." 

Little does he know that he is drinking wheat grass, chia seeds and kale!

Campbell does wear clothes--really cute ones, I promise--I just can't seem to capture it.

Thanks to all of you for being in the trenches right along with us. We feel your love, support and prayers more than you will ever know.*

Much love,

Molly

*As an aside, I am incredibly behind on all of my thank you notes (and for those of you who know me, you know I am a real stickler for timely thank yous!). Please know that I am so thankful for every ounce of kindness and generosity right now and that my inability to get thank you notes written is one of the many things keeping me up at night! Hang tight, though...proper thank yous are headed your way.

My Cancer-Free Kitchen...

The kitchen has always been the hub of our house...and now, we have a few new items in it. Among them, a Vitamix (my new best friend!) and several cancer-fighting cookbooks. This afternoon, we all enjoyed a Vitamix-version of chocolate "ice cream" complete with avocado, flax seed, protein powder and dark chocolate. Everyone gave it a thumbs up. Cancer doesn't know what it's up against in my kitchen!

No Transfusion Today

Parrish went for blood work this morning, and while his counts are continuing to drop, they are not yet at the point of transfusion. He will go back early Monday morning for more blood work and likely a transfusion that same day.

The doctor has ordered a very restful weekend for Parrish, so I am going to do my best to make sure that happens.

Hope all of you have a happy, restful weekend as well!

Much love,
Molly