22 July 2022

 We're going with "cautiously optimistic" to describe the visit from the doctor today. Mom jokes that she'll most likely be home by Christmas, because she was told when she came back in this time that she needed 30 treatments at 5 days on and two off.  So we had calculated that the end of August was a realistic release time. Today, doc said she will be released in about 10 days. She'll have another blood marrow biopsy as an outpatient at some point after she goes home. The trajectory of her results continues to be in the right direction, so when she goes home (possibly by August 1 now) she'll be on and off the oral chemo in a smaller dose. That will be two weeks on, two weeks off, with monthly office visits. 

Your prayers and visits and outpouring of love and support have meant so much to her stay here being tolerable. Thank you for keeping her in your thoughts and prayers. 

16 July 2022

 No news is good news, right guys? Pretty much no changes since the last update. 

Mom's had 7 treatments since her return to the hospital. All numbers/blood results/EKGs, etc. are very good. No concerns. One of the weekend doctors gave us different information than we got the other day about this phase of the treatment. We thought this type of maintenance, staying in the hospital for a month at a time, would not be a recurring need. However, this doctor said that the data is constantly evolving, and the latest trials show that two maintenance stays are more the norm. It sucks to be in here for so long, but the alternative sucks more. And it could be much much worse. Mom's just going to do what she needs to do to get this done, whatever it takes. 

12 July 22

 If you're still following along, you know Mom returned to the hospital for the maintenance phase of treatment on July 5th. This will be lower doses of the same treatment she had before, and possibly 5 days on, 2 days off, for three more weeks. This "maintenance" won't be something she'll have to do regularly after this, either.  This is the end of it. Because monitoring her heart is crucial, she has to be in the hospital, because it would be too complicated for her to stay home and go in for treatment every day. She was able to move into the suite that she had last time, so the sewing machine and quilt projects have returned, as well. After all, the projects must go on!