(Written by Sara)
A quick update. My parents are back in Salt Lake City. They arrived yesterday with Maebie and my Uncle Hugh in tow. My mom had her first CT since starting chemotherapy yesterday evening, and she received the results today. We are happy to report some good news. It appears the chemo is doing its job. The SOBs are starting to shrink.
She is settled in to the Hunstman Center again. We had a great dinner at the little hospital diner. They have a killer salmon salad that's served only on Wednesdays. I joked about coming to the hospital diner on Wednesdays even when my mom isn't here. It's really a good salad. We even sneaked in some wine and had a little celebration.
She's really looking great. I saw her wig for the first time the other night and thought she did a great job picking it out. She also has some cute little hats. During her first round of chemo a nurse told her that she should expect to feel pretty crappy when she gets home after chemo, but just as she starts to feel normal again after 2 weeks, it starts all over again. It turns out that is true.
Patrick and Aunt Claire, and possibly Aunt Kathy are flying in to visit this weekend. We are looking forward to seeing them. I hope to play some banana grams and doing some knitting with my mom.
More later!
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Friday, March 15, 2013
A Weekend at Mercy Hospital
Dear Family and Friends,
I returned from Salt Lake about 2 weeks ago. During my stay in Durango was very tired. My blood count became low and I had a fever. I ended up in Mercy Hospital in Durango for 3 days. I was not very happy about spending my time in the hospital rather than at home. The staff at Mercy was very professional and helpful even if I wasn't the happiest patient.
We leave for the Huntsman Cancer Institute for round 3 of chemo this Tuesday. The type of cancer that I have is called a LeioMyoSarcoma, which is a soft tissue cancer that are from a soft tissue part of the body. The soft tissues of the body include fat blood vessels, nerves, muscles, skin and cartilage.
My brother Hugh is coming to visit us in Durango tomorrow. Hugh lives in Sacramento, and has two teenage sons (Sean and Michael) with red hair, a red golden retriever, and a red headed wife names Anne. Alas Hugh is not a redhead.
Thank you to my friends in Durango who have made delicious food for us, and also had us to their house for dinner. I am overwhelmed with the your generosity. Also, thank you for the many cards, telephone calls, and other kindnesses such as walking with me, wig consulting, knitting help, and sharing books.
Thank you also to my family. I also thank David and Lorrie Gaffney and my daughter for opening up their homes to my large family and providing many wonderful meals. I also thank all of my family that have flown in wintertime to visit me at the Huntsman Cancer Center.
On to Round 3.
Love,
Terry
I returned from Salt Lake about 2 weeks ago. During my stay in Durango was very tired. My blood count became low and I had a fever. I ended up in Mercy Hospital in Durango for 3 days. I was not very happy about spending my time in the hospital rather than at home. The staff at Mercy was very professional and helpful even if I wasn't the happiest patient.
We leave for the Huntsman Cancer Institute for round 3 of chemo this Tuesday. The type of cancer that I have is called a LeioMyoSarcoma, which is a soft tissue cancer that are from a soft tissue part of the body. The soft tissues of the body include fat blood vessels, nerves, muscles, skin and cartilage.
My brother Hugh is coming to visit us in Durango tomorrow. Hugh lives in Sacramento, and has two teenage sons (Sean and Michael) with red hair, a red golden retriever, and a red headed wife names Anne. Alas Hugh is not a redhead.
Thank you to my friends in Durango who have made delicious food for us, and also had us to their house for dinner. I am overwhelmed with the your generosity. Also, thank you for the many cards, telephone calls, and other kindnesses such as walking with me, wig consulting, knitting help, and sharing books.
Thank you also to my family. I also thank David and Lorrie Gaffney and my daughter for opening up their homes to my large family and providing many wonderful meals. I also thank all of my family that have flown in wintertime to visit me at the Huntsman Cancer Center.
On to Round 3.
Love,
Terry
Good morning to family and friends. I have completed the second round of chemotherapy at the Huntsman Cancer Center. I returned to Durango about 2 weeks ago. Unfortunately, I had some trouble with low white cell count and fever. I was pretty tired the last 2 weeks. I ended up in Mercy Hospital for a 3 day stint to revive my blood count. I must say that the staff at Mercy was excellent....even though that was the last place I wanted to be!
I am so appreciative of all the warm wishes, yummy food, cards and your loving thoughts and prayers. I am blessed with such wonderful family and friends. My Durango friends have been awesome with visits, dinner invites, knitting lessons, walking buddies, (did I mention delicious food), and even wig consulting.
The type of cancer I have is called LeioMyoSarcoma. It is a rare form of cancer of smooth muscle cells. Smooth muscle cells make up the involuntary muscle, you cannot make these muscles move by thinking about them.
Tim, Maebiedog, my brother Hugh and I will be off to the Huntsman Cancer Center on on Tuesday, March 19th for another 5 day stint. My brother Hugh lives in Sacramento and is coming for a short visit to Durango and then Salt Lake. Hugh has 2 red headed teenage boys and a redish golden retriever and his wife also has lovely red hair. Hugh is the odd guy out.....no red hair:(
I am so appreciative of all the warm wishes, yummy food, cards and your loving thoughts and prayers. I am blessed with such wonderful family and friends. My Durango friends have been awesome with visits, dinner invites, knitting lessons, walking buddies, (did I mention delicious food), and even wig consulting.
The type of cancer I have is called LeioMyoSarcoma. It is a rare form of cancer of smooth muscle cells. Smooth muscle cells make up the involuntary muscle, you cannot make these muscles move by thinking about them.
Tim, Maebiedog, my brother Hugh and I will be off to the Huntsman Cancer Center on on Tuesday, March 19th for another 5 day stint. My brother Hugh lives in Sacramento and is coming for a short visit to Durango and then Salt Lake. Hugh has 2 red headed teenage boys and a redish golden retriever and his wife also has lovely red hair. Hugh is the odd guy out.....no red hair:(
Sunday, March 3, 2013
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Rainy day in SLC by Sara
I am writing an update for my mom. We are sitting in her suite. She has great views of Salt Lake City. I'll try to include a picture, but today all you can really see are clouds. Unfortunately it is cold and raining today, but that is perfect weather to watch movies, drink tea, and knit. My mom got a very thoughtful package from her cousin Sara Ransford-- a box full of yarns. I am hoping she will eventually be able to use them! She is a perfectionist and has yet to finish her first scarf, but it will be perfect when she does. I can't give her too hard of a time though as I haven't made much progress on my own project. I have been spending more time un-knitting than knitting.
Maebie is hanging out with us in the hospital today. Besides a few barking episodes she has been very good. She tries hard every day to be a good girl. :) It's hard when you come all that way from the baby dog world (a favorite saying of my mom's).
My mom has had an eventful time during this round. My Uncle Tom is visiting her from Oakland, CA. Almost every night has been a dinner party. The food here is actually very good, and it is nice that my mom has an adjoining room where we can sit and eat, and it doesn't feel like a hospital. Last night Uncle Dave and Aunt Lorrie made Coq Au Vin for dinner and brought it here for all of us. It was delicious. It is the recipe from whole foods if anyone is interested. You can find it on the internet. Uncle Dave and Aunt Lorrie continue to be very hospitable and caring. It has been a joy to spend more time with them.
The second round of chemo was completed today. The nurse is here changing it out as I write this. My mom did great this round. She was up walking around the hospital a lot, and she even went outside for a little in the beautiful 50 degree weather yesterday. Today is the first day she has been feeling a bit more tired.
My parent's and the Maebie dog are excited to go back to Durango tomorrow. Zane and I wish of course that they were coming to Salt Lake City for other reasons, but it has been really nice seeing them more and spending more time with them.
Maebie is hanging out with us in the hospital today. Besides a few barking episodes she has been very good. She tries hard every day to be a good girl. :) It's hard when you come all that way from the baby dog world (a favorite saying of my mom's).
My mom has had an eventful time during this round. My Uncle Tom is visiting her from Oakland, CA. Almost every night has been a dinner party. The food here is actually very good, and it is nice that my mom has an adjoining room where we can sit and eat, and it doesn't feel like a hospital. Last night Uncle Dave and Aunt Lorrie made Coq Au Vin for dinner and brought it here for all of us. It was delicious. It is the recipe from whole foods if anyone is interested. You can find it on the internet. Uncle Dave and Aunt Lorrie continue to be very hospitable and caring. It has been a joy to spend more time with them.
The second round of chemo was completed today. The nurse is here changing it out as I write this. My mom did great this round. She was up walking around the hospital a lot, and she even went outside for a little in the beautiful 50 degree weather yesterday. Today is the first day she has been feeling a bit more tired.
My parent's and the Maebie dog are excited to go back to Durango tomorrow. Zane and I wish of course that they were coming to Salt Lake City for other reasons, but it has been really nice seeing them more and spending more time with them.
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