and the winner is...

After lots of prayer. And a few discussions...



And after talking her her oncologist...



We think that the best decision is to...



Keep her on the same trial that she has been on. Big, huge, very tough decision. But after it was all said and done...


We feel as though we made the right choice. She has responded so well to it, we hate to chance her coming off. She will start back with the same chemo routine next week. (One treatment per week, for three consecutive weeks, and the fourth week off.) Please be in prayer that her arm does not flare back up when she starts back with chemo. Worst case scenario and it does, she will have to come off of the trial. This time, no questions asked.

Thank you for praying with us today. Your prayers helped ease our worries.

xoxo,
c

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fork in the road...

Big day tomorrow! We have reached a fork in the road with Mom's treatment, and tomorrow is decision day.

You know all of the complications with her arms. The swelling. The redness. The pain. The discomfort. Her oncologist can't be a 100% at this point, but he now thinks that this is being caused from the chemo drugs she is on. During her last hospital stay, they did lots of tests and ruled out many things that it couldn't be caused from. So, now after being on the trial for many cycles, it's the only other explanation as to why her arm won't get any better, and only seems to get worse.

So, the big decision. Two choices really. 1.) Stay on the trial that she is on. 2.) Go on another clinical trial, this one used for the prevention of cancer, instead of attack. If she comes off the trial she is on now, she can never go back on it. She has responded so well to these two drugs, it's very scary to opt to come off of it. But, then there is the arm pain.

She has an appointment tomorrow at the clinic, where a decision will have to be made. Please pray that we would be led in whatever way that is best for her. Such a big decision that so much is riding on. Pray for clarity and peace that comes along with having to make such a huge decision.
Will post tomorrow about her day. Love y'all.

xoxo,
c




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the best medicine...

Mom was finally able to come home from the hospital last week.  The hospital visits seem to become more and more frequent.  Her arms and pain seem to be doing better.  She goes back to Birmingham on Wednesday for a CT Scan to check the clot and hopefully to resume with chemo. 

This little fella has been the best medicine for her...

Update later in the week!

It is what it is...

MRI confirmed what we already knew about the blood clot it her left arm. That's the only one she has, praise God!!! Such an answered prayer. The blood clot in her left arm may or may not be causing her right arm to flare up. Doctors really aren't sure. It could even be some of the side effects from her radiation treatments. After all, she did have an extra high dose. None of the doctors are really sure at this point. Talk about frustrating!!

They want her to start lymphodema therapy again, but we don't know if the therapist in Dothan will or not. It's pretty risky considering she has a blood clot. Which, we totally understand, and do not not want to put her at even more risk for developing another one or causing the one she has to break off.

Doctors have all but ruled out surgery to remove the blood clot. They say it's not worth the risk. Their advice is that it is better to live with the pain and discomfort for now. Easier said than done!

Tomorrow all of her hospital doctors are meeting with Dr. Forero (oncologist) to discuss whether or not she can resume with her chemo treatments. Hopefully, they will discuss this first thing in the morning so we can get out of here and head home. She is past ready!!!

It is what it is. Life is not always glamorous, but we will fight on.

Here are a few pics from today. You can still see how red and swollen her arms are. Sometimes the pain medicine makes her a little hot...you will see a fan.

Love you all. Thanks for all of the special visitors. You have brightened our day so much!!!










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