Life in the world of cancer is turning out to be quite the roller coaster. Good days, bad days and no warning of what to expect. Jenny Reed (Hilary and Jenny have known each other since 2nd grade at Springside) was here from Vermont for the first Chemo treatment. It was tough to listen to Dr. Fain’s Physician’s Assistant explain all the possible side effects of the drugs, but the 3 of us (Jen, Becca and Hills) headed to the infusion room with MANY bags, such newbies, and Hills settled into her chemo lounge chair. I could write an entire chapter on the infusion experience, but to sum it up it went smoothly and Hills sailed through like a champ. Janet, another “angel”, the nurse who administered the chemo cocktail was wonderful. Ashley Ellison greeted us at TX Oncology with a bag of “chemo cheer” from many friends. Thanks to all of you it was a wonderful surprise. Knowing Jenny and Hilary, there were laughs, my mom stopped in which was great and 7 hours later Hilary was at home to welcome the kids.
Saturday was a good day. Hilary felt good physically and she was able to attend Ballet Austin’s Nutcracker with my Mom and Charlotte. Many thanks to Christi Cueller Lotz for making this happen. It was magical, truly magical.
Sunday was harder. We are still learning the pattern of drug side effects and how best to keep ahead of the pain. The Dobberfuhls and Saltzmans went for the annual horse drawn carriage ride through Hilary and Charles’ neighborhood to see the holiday lights. Even though Hills was in pain, she rallied and we were together all bundled up feeling a bit of holiday cheer.
This week Hilary jumped on the roller coaster of pain. I have to say I was prepared for her to be nauseous and flu-like but pain was not on my radar. Monday night she ended up in the ER due to extreme lower back pain, and Tuesday she was admitted to Seton hospital. Tuesday was rough. Really a kick in the ass. Hilary and I went to the infusion center at TX Oncology at 2pm and the nurses gave her all they had but the drugs were not strong enough. Dr. Fain gave her the option to go to the hospital to get the pain under control and off she went. The pain med, Dilaudid, finally did the trick. The cause of the pain is not exactly known but most likely a combination of the tumor, effects from the chemo drug Cisplatin, and the fact that all the drugs she has to take are constipating. Today her pain was much better. She went home from the hospital this evening and has a pain “patch” that lasts 3-5 days to keep the pain at bay.
Tomorrow she starts yoga with a woman that Clia found and I have a really good feeling about. We also have an appointment with a nutritionist that we hope will work in conjunction with what we are learning from Dr. Luepnitz. Besides the pain, lack of appetite and knowing what to eat is one of the biggest challenges.
Dana Valentine and Paige Reynolds (old friends from Springside) arrive from Vermont to be here for Hilary for the next chemo round on Friday. This next round is only the drug Gemzar (last round was Gemzar + Cisplatin) so we are hoping the side effects are more tolerable.
All of you that continue to help with juggling kid pick-ups and prescription runs and all the last minute help I cannot thank you enough. Your time, generosity, and willingness to help is truly a blessing.
I leave you with a visual, Hilary doing lunges in her “hospital socks” and IV trailing, up and down the halls of the 7th floor of Seton Hospital last night.
– becca