Weekend Update - August 31

Hard to believe tomorrow is September, isn't it?  It was just spring a little while ago!

This weekend has been good, all in all.  After treatment on Friday, we headed south from Emory - Beverly, Chirp and me (Kristen).  Beverly was able to get a little nap in since we had strategically packed her pillows and blanket within easy reach in the car.  We had an uneventful ride home, made a quick stop in Kingsland, GA to see the river place where Chris and Kristen spend a fair amount of time (my parents have a cabin there that we've told Beverly about for years and years --kw.), and then we arrived safely in Jacksonville Beach, FL.

On Saturday morning, we all slept late, hung out late in our jammies, and barely had grown up clothes on when Pat and Aunt Dot got here for a quick visit.  For those of you who do not know Pat and Aunt Dot - Pat is Beverly's cousin and Aunt Dot is Beverly's mom's sister - and she just happens to be 94 years old.  (And she's no shrinking violet 94 year old either - she's got earrings that match her shoes, clothes that all look amazing on her, and  a sense of humor to beat all - so now we know where Beverly, Susan, and Pat get their Joie de vivre from!)  It was a fun, but quick [by necessity] visit - and Beverly was just thrilled that they came!  After they left, we commenced with the serious business of being extremely lazy.

This weekend, we've watched lots of tennis, floated in the pool just a little, eaten LOTS (doctor's orders, after all!!), and rested quite a bit too.  There have been some moments of anxiety but we've worked through those, and for the most part, Bev has been fairly relaxed.  She's worked several Sodukos and felt very good about that.  She has helped with food prep, bathed Chirp, and gone on one trip to Publix.  Other than that, we've been very, very low key.  Oh, and she knocked out two more doses of chemo!  Woohoo!!

Tomorrow (Monday) morning at 8, Chris and Beverly will head home and they have a very fun lunch date and visit planned with one of Beverly's dearest friends, Delaine, on the way.  Beverly is very excited to see Delaine and then is looking forward to getting home.  This week it will be Jill and Chris running man-on-man coverage until Friday when Beverly will go to Seth and Kelly's.

For those many of you who have offered to come by and bring food, or help take her back and forth to Emory, or to stay with her, or for the many many other very kind offers of assistance - please know that each and every offer is very appreciated, and that Beverly and the family are very touched by all of your kindnesses.  Please also know that the focus right this minute is on the next six (well 5 now) weeks, and that we are feeling our way through how to manage this whole situation.  We're learning as we go.  This is going to be a long haul effort with Beverly, and once the intense six weeks of daily trips to Emory are over, there's a lot of help that will be needed in terms of little visits, trips to Publix, little outings and so on.  It is very likely that she will not be driving for a very long time, so we would ask you to please be there for those moments when her kids can't be.  We'll work on figuring out how to manage that too, but we didn't want to not respond to all of you who have been so very, very kind.  So please bear with us as we figure out how to do this.

And with that, we'll post more tomorrow!

Day Three - DONE! August 28

Sorry for the late post today, I got sidetracked on other things after we got home and just realized I hadn't let Beverly's adoring public know how she is today.  She had her third radiation treatment and chemo today and did fine.  After that, we got to see our favorite doctor and his resident.  The resident saw us first and that was a bit overwhelming for Beverly because there were many rapid fire questions, but she survived it.  After that, Dr. McFavorite saw her and answered several questions for us:

1. Yes, she can go to Florida this weekend.  Yippee!!
2. She can eat ANYTHING she wants...and get this - he wants her to try to have at least one milkshake a day made with the highest calorie ingredients possible (that is a dream diet for some of us!) because she's lost a little weight over the last month or so.
3. The on-again, off-again confusion is part of the process and is likely to linger for a while...and she's doing a great job of managing it.

So, another day down!  39 chemos and 27 radiations to go!!!

Tomorrow we are leaving for Florida directly from Emory so there will probably not be a post until Saturday.

Day two DONE! August 27

It was off to Emory this morning, to the Winship for radiation.  A 90 minute drive followed by 10 minutes of treatment - so she's now down to 28 radiation treatments and 40 chemotherapy doses!!  Progress, progress!!

We then went out for a nice lunch and ate WAY too much chips and salsa and guacamole so we split an entree for lunch.  Then we waddled out to the car (well someone did and it wasn't Beverly!).  Then it was off to Costco and then home for naptime!

Today she's been more confused than yesterday, and it is really frustrating her because she knows she's confused.  We just keep talking through things and she seems reassured.  She was really much better after lunch and our little outing - more confident in things.  The nurse we talked to today indicated that this is to be expected - up and down days.

We see our favorite physician tomorrow so we'll see what he thinks about all this as well.  Her spirit is good, and her attitude is really positive - she's just annoyed that she's confused.

More tomorrow!

Day one DONE! - August 26

One down!  After a very restless night, Bev and Kristen got on the road even earlier than recommended by locals - and were an hour early for the first appointment.  Fortunately, there was a great parking lot with lots of trees, so we reclined our seats, opened the sunroof, and listened to the wildlife wake up and watched it get light.  Not a bad way to start the day, all in all.

After a really involved questionnaire, Bev did her Guinea Pig scan and then headed over to Winship for her other appointments.  She met with our favorite doctor, confirmed timing and dosage of her chemo meds, then she got to do a cognitive neurology exam which was pretty involved, apparently, since she thought everyone ought to have to try to complete it!  Fortunately there wasn't time.  Then she took her first dose of chemo (41 to go!) and then she had two more really involved questionnaires to complete (these researchers get kinda personal!) and then it was time to go into Radiation.  While in the waiting room, a show came on HGTV that had a cute host and we decided to move spots so we could see better - and on our way, Bev tried to faceplant into a chair but caught herself just in time, thank God.  So then she got to go get checked out and they also called our favorite doctor, who personally wheeled Bev into her treatment room where she donned her custom mask (the one with her name on it!) and completed her first radiation treatment (29 to go!).

Meanwhile, the efficient folks at Emory stamped our valet parking ticket, scheduled the next six weeks of Radiation treatments - and we got the time slot Beverly really wanted - 11 a.m.!  That means avoiding traffic without having to leave at midnight!  Hooray!!!

So, after a reward trip to Trader Joe's and then Which Wich, we're home and it is seriously nap time!

Keep those prayers and good thoughts going!  Today went about as perfectly as we could have hoped - and that's no accident.  Please also keep the entire clan in mind so we can guard against stress causing very unneeded family issues.

More to come!

All systems go for treatment!

Our favorite doctor called today to check on Beverly (this is the one who "can't wait to get his hands on her") and confirmed everything for tomorrow morning.  She begins bright and early with her Guinea Pig scans and then goes for her pre-treatment final check and then she'll do her very first chemo dose and radiation treatment.

You know the drill - lots of prayers and good thoughts, please!

We'll update when we get home tomorrow night.

On the move! August 25

Beverly's on the move!  Yesterday (Sunday) evening, she came home with Kristen - after a stop at Publix, of course!  She was very glad to get home, ate a good supper, and went to bed and slept for 7.5 hours uninterrupted!

She got up this morning and was quite cheery - and the weather helped that outlook a bunch since it is in the 60s and sunny!  A bit of confusion after her meds but we think that might be related to taking them on an empty stomach - so we're going to try food first tomorrow.  Who knows?

Anyway, she's out in the garden chopping stuff down happily now and enjoying this beautiful day!  

More to come!

A good night! - August 23

Reports are in that Beverly had a really good night last night, slept very well (one imagines how tired she must have been after a few nights in the hospital!), and was in wonderful spirits when she woke up today!  Hoping for a wonderful day at Seth and Kelly's with the girls and Jill!

She's going home! - August 22

Our favorite doctor came by today and said that he thinks the confusion, etc., is something called "Steroid Induced Psychosis".  They have started tapering her dosage down to try to help with this.  She had a good nap this afternoon and is feeling some better.  She is being discharged and is excited to be going home, let's hope that holds!

The plan for starting treatment on Tuesday remains on track, so as long as nothing changes she'll start the day bright and early with scans for the clinical trial, and then radiation.

Here's hoping for a restful weekend for the entire crew!

We'll update if anything interesting happens.  

Update - August 21

Today's been a bit of a roller coaster.  The morning started well with Beverly asking Seth to bring her glasses, a book, some lotion, etc.   Very clear and not confused.  However, later in the day she was still worrying about things that aren't real, echoing some of her behavior from the emergency room night.

The doctor today thinks that the confusion, etc., might be caused by a combination of the various medications that she's on more than the UTI.  So he's trying some different meds to see how things go...

She will stay again tonight and we'll see if she can come home tomorrow.

Keep those good thought and prayers going, please!

More to come.

Update on hospital stay - August 20

Beverly, aka "Pincushion", is on the mend!  She had a good nap this afternoon and between that and a full dose of IV antibiotics, she's already feeling better!  Sounds tired, but like herself.  Lucent, has a sense of humor, knows exactly what is going on, asking about future plans, and so on!  She'll probably stay in the hospital through tomorrow just so they can be sure to well and truly zap this infection, and she said she's ok with that.  So, that's what we know for now.  Hoping for a very good night's rest for Beverly and Kelly especially, and for lots of healing prayers, thoughts, and so on to continue heading Beverly's way.

The comments that many of you have taken the time to write are very much appreciated!  I doubt we'll respond to them - it is about all we can do to keep the wheels on this bus, but please know we do read them and really, really appreciate them!

More tomorrow!   

Back in the hospital - August 20

Last night, Beverly and Kelly had the longest night ever.  Bev was really struggling with confusion and was worrying very much about things both real and imagined.  Kelly called the on-call folks at Emory and they encouraged her to take Beverly to the ED at Emory, which she did.

So after a long night of two CT scans, a chest xray, and Lord only knows how many lab tests, they have determined that this is all related to a Urinary Tract Infection and have admitted Beverly and have started her on IV antibiotics.  Kelly finally went home at about noon to try to get a shower and a nap before the girls get out of school, and Seth was at the hospital with Beverly trying to let her sleep.

Hopefully the antibiotics will kick in rapidly and start helping Beverly feel better very, very soon.  As frustrating as this is, we are very thankful that it wasn't something worse or something that required another surgery to fix...so in the scheme of things, we're thankful that it appears to 'only' be a UTI.

As an aside, the doctor did mention that some of this could be related to anxiety and stress too.  Please keep Beverly's whole family in your prayers so that we can try to manage the very natural stress related to all of this without making it worse for each other - and most especially Beverly.

More to come as we get updates.

Another Bunch of Emory Appointments - August 18

Seth, Kelly, Jill and Beverly got to take another trek to Emory today - lots of stuff happening! 

Beverly got the staples out of her head and the nurse said the incision looks great, so that's wonderful!  The nurse also gave them things to watch for to ensure continued healing.  Bev got her "mask" made today too - this will help stabilize her head during radiation to help focus the radiation to exactly the right place.

Bev starts radiation and chemo on TUESDAY, AUGUST 26!  Mark your calendars for praying, meditation, good strong positive thoughts, etc. for then!  That was the very earliest date that the doctors thought she might be able to begin after surgery and that would be based on her healing, so we are thrilled that it's a go for next Tuesday!!!  That means she's healing very well.  The Radiation Oncologist reportedly "can't wait to get his hands on her"...we'll chalk that up to clinical enthusiasm!

In addition, Beverly has agreed to participate in a clinical trial to try to help with better imaging for this type of treatment.  So, she's gonna be our very own Guinea Pig as part of her treatment and have a few additional scans going through this to try to help the doctors figure out better treatment for patients in the future.  We (the family) are pretty tickled that she's doing that - as usual, thinking of others first.  [Ed. note: it is not lost on me that I just called my mother-in-law a Guinea Pig.  Think about it though, my other option was Lab Rat.]

She'll have routine labs throughout the next six weeks, and a weekly appointment with the Radiation Oncologist.  Her mid-treatment and end-of-treatment appointments with the Neuro-Oncologist are on the books, so things are moving right along!

And - we'll keep you posted!

Emory Appointment - August 14

Beverly, Susan, and Kelly made the trek today and met with the Radiation Oncologist (our favorite doctor!).  No real change from the last time they met with him, so that's good.  The plan will still be radiation 5 days a week for six weeks, and chemo every single day for 6 weeks.  Radiation and chemo will start sometime around August 27 - possibly even the week of Labor Day, we'll know more about the exact timing next week.

Next up - visit with Neuro Oncologist and staple removal on Monday afternoon.  That's something to look forward to for sure!

Meanwhile the plan remains to try to help Beverly rest and heal until treatment can start.  In the "It is hard to keep a good woman down" division, she's been spotted cleaning out kitchen cabinets at wee hours of the morning...so we think she's feeling pretty ok!

More to come as we know it!

Brief Update - August 13

We are so so sorry for not posting any updates lately - there hasn't been much to say, but we know many of you are wondering how things are...We'll do better in the future!

Beverly stayed with Seth and Kelly and the girls until Sunday, and they took her home when sister Susan got to town.  Since then, Susan and Bev have been spending good time together, Bev has painted some, walked for exercise some, and if we have to guess - probably not resting as much as she should be...hard to go from 90 miles an hour to lots of rest, we suppose...

Appointment with Radiation Oncologist on Thursday the 14th to make the new plan for radiation.  Then on Monday the 18th, appointment with the Neuro-Oncologist, as well as an appointment to get those staples out of her head!  So that's good progress.  We're still not sure exactly when radiation and chemo will begin, but we should know that in the next handful of days.

And we'll keep you posted!

She's been sprung!

Much to our delight and surprise, Beverly was discharged today!  She's really doing very well and will be convalescing with Seth, Kelly and the girls (and Chirp, of course) until Sunday when her sister Susan arrives to spend a week with her.  Kelly has already started working on the follow up appointments to get the radiation and chemo planning started!  Moving right along! 

We'd appreciate your continued prayers and good thoughts for Beverly.  The weeks of healing and treatment are going to be long ones, for sure.

More tomorrow!

First day post surgery

Reports are in from Emory.  Beverly is doing really well - eating well (salmon for dinner last night, an omelette for breakfast, a good salad for lunch)...she was up walking today and did great, even did some stairs!  She has been moved out of ICU to a regular room.  So, all in all a very good day!  The nurses did warn them that tomorrow she might not be quite as bouncy, but that's normal.  She had another MRI today so we are hoping that will give us an indication of what percentage of the tumor they were able to remove and that sort of information...

So, we'll know more tomorrow.  Thanks again for all the words of support!  You're all part of Team Beverly, and we appreciate all the prayers, encouragement, offers of help and so on!

We'll keep you posted!

Talking and wiggling her fingers and toes!

So after a little bit of a game of "Where's Waldo?" with Beverly starring in the role of Waldo, Jill and Chris finally found her safely tucked in her bed in her ICU room.  She is talking fine and wiggling all her fingers and toes, able to do the finger tapping tests, all that good stuff!  Those functions were the most likely to have been impacted by this surgery, so it is really wonderful - and the answer to lots of people's prayers - THANK YOU ALL!!!

Last post for today unless something really interesting happens.

Thanks everybody!

Awake, but groggy, and going to her room

Jill has been able to see her mom and reports that Beverly is awake and aware but woozy and tired.  She'll be in a room in just a little while (ICU, which was the plan all along so do not be alarmed) so we're not sure how much her family will get to visit with her today but that's ok, she probably just needs to sleep.  Jill and Chris probably could use a nap right about now too, but as we were just chatting - today is a very good day!

More later.

She's out of surgery!

Just heard that the surgery is over and she's in recovery now!  The surgeon said everything went well.  They started at 8:15 and just got done, so about two hours start to finish!  She'll be in recovery for 1 1/2 to 2 hours before she goes to a room.

They got to Emory before 5:30 this morning and she was in good spirits - said for her "light meal  before surgery" last night, she had a steak!  Thatta girl!  

We'll keep you posted!

Surgery on Monday!

Alright everyone, Monday is the day!

Bev goes for surgery bright and early at Emory on Monday morning.  She'll be in the hospital for several days after, and then she'll go home to begin her convalescence before starting radiation and chemo in about 3 to 4 weeks.

So please, please say lots of prayers, send lots of good thoughts to Atlanta, and keep Beverly close in your heart during this time.  We want great outcomes!

 We'll keep you posted.