Monday and Tuesday are the worst days for Brace after chemo. As you probably remember this was third round of three days Thursday, Friday, Saturday chemo.
Monday: This morning while I was on my bike, radiology called to say the machine was still down and this would be the THIRD consecutive treatment he would miss. (Thursday, Friday, Monday). After finishing on my bike, I took Savannah to her flight back to Colorado in my exercise clothes. (We loved having her here) Upon driving home, Mission Imaging called Brace, rather than me, to confirm his appointment today, but they got the day wrong. I told Brace that I would call them back and tell them we were on for Tuesday, but he was ready to go to get the test done TODAY. This call from him came right after I agreed to substitute teach voice at the house for Monday voice students since my substitute was sick. Jane Larsen had been texting me for help the night before so I called and texted her to ask if she could help take Brace to his two MRI tests in Laguna Beach. She called me back and said Erik would be happy to help. I called and asked Corey Procuniar, who was originally on the list for driving to the cancelled radiation, to see if he could pick up. Erik wanted to stay the whole time so he called Corey and said he would handle the whole thing. Thank you to both Erik and Corey for your help.
Brace felt so weak today. He said his weakest day yet. Erik said he was cracking political jokes the whole time down there to Laguna Beach, but I did give him a lot of pain meds to get him there. :) The admin staff was pretty lame and very slow. He finally got in there to do the two tests. Typically they take an hour each but I think they started 1/2 hour late so Erik was there for a long time. Brace is not claustrophobic, but during the second MRI he was sure he was going throw up right in the machine. He pleaded in a prayer that he could throw up later and somehow get through it. Thank goodness his prayer was answered quickly.
Tuesday: This morning he said he felt so much better than yesterday, but still very weak. He threw up in the shower, but was ready for food in his gtube right after and then drank half of a gourmet rootbeer by mouth. He tried to take a lot of naps today in hopes that would help him. During my bike ride, radiation called to say that the machine was still down and we would miss our FOURTH consecutive treatment today. Dr. Chou called tonight and said if it wasn't fixed in the morning they would rescan and remask at the New Cancer Center across the street from his clinic. Only the patients that started radiation in November are in the old facility, everyone else is in the new cancer center. If the machine is working tomorrow they want to scan Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat, and Sun. Now that sounds fun right? It just makes me tired thinking about it.
We did walk to the mailbox today as part of his exercise, but that is all he could pull off. One kind family is doing the twelve days of Christmas for us anonymously. Today's gift was the gift of music and it came with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert DVD with Kristin Chenoweth. This is the same concert that Brace and I attended with the girls and the Penrod family. Carey and Fawn saw it the same night we did. Brace and I watched the whole thing tonight and while we were watching it Bonnie Andre, Julia Harpes and the wonderful young women class came to carol at our door. They brought a basket filled with fruit and healthy stuff. My favorite!
Kjarstin and James came to say hello before he went to bed and he had a pretty bad throw up episode. Oh how that breaks my heart. I'm told it is common with chemo, but still devastating. We gave him some of the orange electrolyte stuff to help him. He threw up more this week than all the weeks before. We were thinking maybe we could skip this part of chemo, but no go.
Thank you's
Brace felt so weak today. He said his weakest day yet. Erik said he was cracking political jokes the whole time down there to Laguna Beach, but I did give him a lot of pain meds to get him there. :) The admin staff was pretty lame and very slow. He finally got in there to do the two tests. Typically they take an hour each but I think they started 1/2 hour late so Erik was there for a long time. Brace is not claustrophobic, but during the second MRI he was sure he was going throw up right in the machine. He pleaded in a prayer that he could throw up later and somehow get through it. Thank goodness his prayer was answered quickly.
Tuesday: This morning he said he felt so much better than yesterday, but still very weak. He threw up in the shower, but was ready for food in his gtube right after and then drank half of a gourmet rootbeer by mouth. He tried to take a lot of naps today in hopes that would help him. During my bike ride, radiation called to say that the machine was still down and we would miss our FOURTH consecutive treatment today. Dr. Chou called tonight and said if it wasn't fixed in the morning they would rescan and remask at the New Cancer Center across the street from his clinic. Only the patients that started radiation in November are in the old facility, everyone else is in the new cancer center. If the machine is working tomorrow they want to scan Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat, and Sun. Now that sounds fun right? It just makes me tired thinking about it.
We did walk to the mailbox today as part of his exercise, but that is all he could pull off. One kind family is doing the twelve days of Christmas for us anonymously. Today's gift was the gift of music and it came with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert DVD with Kristin Chenoweth. This is the same concert that Brace and I attended with the girls and the Penrod family. Carey and Fawn saw it the same night we did. Brace and I watched the whole thing tonight and while we were watching it Bonnie Andre, Julia Harpes and the wonderful young women class came to carol at our door. They brought a basket filled with fruit and healthy stuff. My favorite!
Kjarstin and James came to say hello before he went to bed and he had a pretty bad throw up episode. Oh how that breaks my heart. I'm told it is common with chemo, but still devastating. We gave him some of the orange electrolyte stuff to help him. He threw up more this week than all the weeks before. We were thinking maybe we could skip this part of chemo, but no go.
Thank you's
- Christmas cards - we love seeing your cards especially the pictures
- Erik Larsen, Ed Mauss and Corey Procuniar for driving.
- Beverlee Leung, Elena Nelson and Ali Zor for sending packages to Penelope for Christmas.
- Marantec for trying to include him in the Illinois meetings this week. We'll see how it goes tomorrow.
- Ruben for helping my family with their garage door installation.
- Thank you for posting the pictures of churches and temples that have Brace on their prayer roll. Brace was excited to see the pictures and I, of course, just cried. (happy tears) We are so blessed to live near so many good people.
- Melissa Fulton for bringing me dinner tonight.
- Mike Silverberg for being willing to drive if they don't cancel tomorrow.
- Young Women class and the Foothill Ranch for the fun basket and caroling.
- Jeff Grotewold for trying to help us get our carpet in even though your life is complicated with your father is struggling with cancer.
- Cyndi Robbins, a recent cancer survivor, for being my texting buddy.
- Linda Crandall for her beautiful card and cake
- The Haselhuhn's for the beautiful blanket and candle.
- The Holyoak family for their funny witty entertainment bag for Brace.
- The Germaine family for their generous gift that included the crazy orange Rocket doll. (I'm not going to say it Darin. )
- Beverlee Leung for being willing to take back some notes and dishes even when you were in pain and going to physical therapy
- Julie Balhorn for getting meds at Walmart and picking up some fruit at Sprouts.
- The Winkler's for their fun present they left on the porch with all the good stuff. I tried to tell Brace that I was going to give the chocolate to Kjarstin and James and he was having none of it. He told me, "I'm going to recover and the chocolate will be there when I do." Your letter touched Brace and I more than anything. Thank you for your love.
- A great big shout out to Claudine Barnett and Martin Llegro for making things happen during the remodel in Arrowhead even though we have been only once in November and December.
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