Update from Elaine
STEM CELL RESCUE #2 AND IMPORTANT NEW PRAYER FOCUS
Kate's first words this morning were, "I think the chemo has caught up with me." "I feel nauseous, tired and I've got the chemo grouchies." "I hate feeling like this." It's always hard after feeling great to feel like your going backwards when the chemo effects zap your energy and make you feel bad. Despite it all, she managed to keep up with her 3 baths for the day, knock out a history paper, catch a few naps and maintain her sweet spirit.
We learned late this afternoon that the second stem cell transplant will occur tomorrow (Friday) morning at 10:30 am. Would you please cover this hour in concentrated prayer. They will again infuse six bags of stem cells. Please ask that this procedure will go as smoothly as it did during round one.
~The preservative that the stem cells are packed in has a very strong odor that easily triggers nausea. With the infusion of the first bag of cells in round one Kate immediately became nauseous and was medicated with anti-nausea medication to keep her from throwing up. Please pray that she will not throw up during round two.
~Please again ask for a peace for both Kate and me throughout the procedure.
~Praise for a fantastic medical team. Please ask for wisdom and direction upon those
involved in the stem cell rescue and all involved in Kate's care.
IMPORTANT PRAYER FOCUS:
Tonight we revisited the issue of the hearing loss, which was discovered on last Friday's audio gram, with Kate's neuro-oncologist. She had received that audio gram report via email while she was out of town. Since returning she has had a chance to re-examine that data more and the loss is a major concern as it factors into the bigger picture treatment plan. The verdict is not clear as to was the primary contributor that caused the hearing loss. The carbo platin chemo or one of the antibiotics used to treat Kate's bacterial infection in round one, or a combination of the two. Because of Kate's allergic reaction to the antibiotic of choice, this other antibiotic was used for a short window of time, until a better course of effective antibiotics could be determined, as Kate's bacterial infection was serious and could have quickly worsened if not treated aggressively.
The bottom line is if the hearing loss increases, it may warrant strongly reconsidering whether to not to do the third round of treatment. Kate's doctor said that there is no firm data to support that it must be three treatments versus two to be effective.
Further complicated is the plan to follow this treatment with a series of brain and spine radiation treatments which have their own level of toxicity to the hearing. In concluding our lengthy discussion she said if you're sharing requests the top one would be regarding hearing loss.
So we ask that you would please come along side of us and approach God boldly and persistently with these specific requests:
~PLEASE PRAY WITH US FOR A HEDGE OF PROTECTION AROUND KATE'S HEARING THAT AT A MINIMUM NO FURTHER HEARING LOSS WILL OCCUR AND PRAY BEYOND THAT WE WOULD REALIZE A MIRACLE AND THAT THIS SENSORY NEURAL HEARING LOSS WOULD ACTUALLY IMPROVE.
~SECONDLY, PLEASE ASK THAT AS KATE PROGRESSES THROUGH THIS PERIOD OF TREATMENT AND HER COUNTS DROP IN THE COMING DAYS THAT SHE WILL BE PROTECTED FROM BACTERIAL INFECTION. IF SHE DEVELOPS AN INFECTION, THEN THE DOCTORS ARE FACED WITH THE DILEMMA OF WHICH ANTIBIOTIC TO USE GIVEN THE LIMITED NUMBER OF ANTIBIOTICS THAT KATE BE TREATED WITH, DUE TO HER ALLERGIES. IF A BACTERIAL INFECTION DEVELOPS THAT IS SEVERE THERE MAY BE NO RECOURSE BUT TO USE THE ANTIBIOTIC THAT IS TOXIC TO HEARING. THE DOCTORS ARE CHECKING WITH INFECTIOUS DISEASE DEPARTMENT TO SEE IF THEY CAN COME UP WITH ANOTHER EFFECTIVE COURSE OF ANTIBIOTICS (NOT IN THE IMMUNOGLYCOCIDE FAMILY THAT WOULD BE TOXIC TO THE HEARING) SHOULD KATE FACE THE PSEUDOMONAS BACTERIA STRAIN AGAIN.
We are thankful that we can bring these requests before you and that you, our faithful prayer warriors, will once again do battle on your knees for Kate's special needs. Thank you for carrying us in prayer.
Dependent on grace,
Elaine
Kate's first words this morning were, "I think the chemo has caught up with me." "I feel nauseous, tired and I've got the chemo grouchies." "I hate feeling like this." It's always hard after feeling great to feel like your going backwards when the chemo effects zap your energy and make you feel bad. Despite it all, she managed to keep up with her 3 baths for the day, knock out a history paper, catch a few naps and maintain her sweet spirit.
We learned late this afternoon that the second stem cell transplant will occur tomorrow (Friday) morning at 10:30 am. Would you please cover this hour in concentrated prayer. They will again infuse six bags of stem cells. Please ask that this procedure will go as smoothly as it did during round one.
~The preservative that the stem cells are packed in has a very strong odor that easily triggers nausea. With the infusion of the first bag of cells in round one Kate immediately became nauseous and was medicated with anti-nausea medication to keep her from throwing up. Please pray that she will not throw up during round two.
~Please again ask for a peace for both Kate and me throughout the procedure.
~Praise for a fantastic medical team. Please ask for wisdom and direction upon those
involved in the stem cell rescue and all involved in Kate's care.
IMPORTANT PRAYER FOCUS:
Tonight we revisited the issue of the hearing loss, which was discovered on last Friday's audio gram, with Kate's neuro-oncologist. She had received that audio gram report via email while she was out of town. Since returning she has had a chance to re-examine that data more and the loss is a major concern as it factors into the bigger picture treatment plan. The verdict is not clear as to was the primary contributor that caused the hearing loss. The carbo platin chemo or one of the antibiotics used to treat Kate's bacterial infection in round one, or a combination of the two. Because of Kate's allergic reaction to the antibiotic of choice, this other antibiotic was used for a short window of time, until a better course of effective antibiotics could be determined, as Kate's bacterial infection was serious and could have quickly worsened if not treated aggressively.
The bottom line is if the hearing loss increases, it may warrant strongly reconsidering whether to not to do the third round of treatment. Kate's doctor said that there is no firm data to support that it must be three treatments versus two to be effective.
Further complicated is the plan to follow this treatment with a series of brain and spine radiation treatments which have their own level of toxicity to the hearing. In concluding our lengthy discussion she said if you're sharing requests the top one would be regarding hearing loss.
So we ask that you would please come along side of us and approach God boldly and persistently with these specific requests:
~PLEASE PRAY WITH US FOR A HEDGE OF PROTECTION AROUND KATE'S HEARING THAT AT A MINIMUM NO FURTHER HEARING LOSS WILL OCCUR AND PRAY BEYOND THAT WE WOULD REALIZE A MIRACLE AND THAT THIS SENSORY NEURAL HEARING LOSS WOULD ACTUALLY IMPROVE.
~SECONDLY, PLEASE ASK THAT AS KATE PROGRESSES THROUGH THIS PERIOD OF TREATMENT AND HER COUNTS DROP IN THE COMING DAYS THAT SHE WILL BE PROTECTED FROM BACTERIAL INFECTION. IF SHE DEVELOPS AN INFECTION, THEN THE DOCTORS ARE FACED WITH THE DILEMMA OF WHICH ANTIBIOTIC TO USE GIVEN THE LIMITED NUMBER OF ANTIBIOTICS THAT KATE BE TREATED WITH, DUE TO HER ALLERGIES. IF A BACTERIAL INFECTION DEVELOPS THAT IS SEVERE THERE MAY BE NO RECOURSE BUT TO USE THE ANTIBIOTIC THAT IS TOXIC TO HEARING. THE DOCTORS ARE CHECKING WITH INFECTIOUS DISEASE DEPARTMENT TO SEE IF THEY CAN COME UP WITH ANOTHER EFFECTIVE COURSE OF ANTIBIOTICS (NOT IN THE IMMUNOGLYCOCIDE FAMILY THAT WOULD BE TOXIC TO THE HEARING) SHOULD KATE FACE THE PSEUDOMONAS BACTERIA STRAIN AGAIN.
We are thankful that we can bring these requests before you and that you, our faithful prayer warriors, will once again do battle on your knees for Kate's special needs. Thank you for carrying us in prayer.
Dependent on grace,
Elaine
posted by Tracy @ 11:02 PM
1 Comments:
At 9:45 PM,
Anonymous said…
Thanks for taking the time to update your blog -- it's wonderful to be able to keep up with your journey. It's encouraging to see your faithfulness -- I hope all our prayers can be an encouragement to you. -Delaine
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