Daniel here, visiting for just a day right now. Hopefully longer next time.
Yesterday my mom started on a small dose of Methotrexate as an anti-rejection medication which can cause mouth sores and some other side effects. Half an hour before this began to 15 minutes after, she had to suck on ice (specially made by Cathy with cantaloupe and mint leaves) to help prevent the mouth sores and other maladies in the GI tract. Fortunately she did not notice any side effects so far apart from her interrupted sleep. Three more doses of the methotrexate will be administered within the next nine days. Meanwhile, her blood counts are expected to decline. So far, however, no transfusions have been needed. (Blood counts as of 5am this morning were White: 2.39, Hemoglobin 8.9, Platelets: 37)
The other anti-rejection medication that is being administered (tacrolimus, delivered by a personal pump that is attached 24/7 as long as my mom is staying at the hospital) causes magnesium levels in the body to be depleted. They are being replaced by IV 2 to 3 times a day, as needed.
Although chemotherapy should have wiped out my mom's counts, her donor's cells most likely brought some healthy blood which is keeping these counts higher.
After breakfast today, we started a game of Upwords. Part way through that, we were visited by the physical therapist (she comes for about an hour every day) so I had a break. Afterward, we were about to go for a walk around the wing when the Arts in Medicine artist-in-residence, also named Carol, stopped by to see if my mom wanted to do some artwork. We decided to let her teach us how to make Origami healing cranes. We made 2 pairs so we could each keep one with us :) They are supposed to produce relaxation and healing. We actually made one pair with Carol and then went for a half hour walk. We had lunch after that, then finished Upwords and then made the second pair of cranes on our own =] (well... we did have some instructions that Carol left for us). Next we finished our walk. We got back just in time for dinner.
My dad should be back soon to stay until my aunt Sherry arrives on Monday the 12th, to visit for 4 days which I know will be a lot of fun for Sherry and my mom! =]See you next time!
-Daniel
P.S. New toy for Mom! Thanks Dad!
Here's to every hour and every day that Carol shows her cells who's boss! (She always was a bossy big sister so maybe that's helped conditioned her, in addition to those nano-greens and other funky substances). All of us have healing cranes in our hearts if not suspended from our ceilings. Your new toy looks like fun...I look forward to trying it out -- if you let me -- next weekend :-)
ReplyDeleteWith all my love, Susan (sister)
So glad to see you on the elliptical machine! keep your spirits up!
ReplyDeleteWith love.
Jacob