Chemo V

Our lab appoint was for 8:40.  We arrived in the pouring rain.  Steve dropped Grandma and me off at the front door since I couldn't really hustle in the rain.  He took the umbrella and made it inside only a little wet.  After labs, we had an appointment with Dr. Hoos about 9:40.  He came in and told us that all Steve's blood work looked good.  He also thought Steve looked good.  We found the results of his scan.  The chemo is doing its job.  His lymph nodes are getting smaller and the cancer is shrinking.  Steve will take 2 more treatments:  chemo 6 and chemo 7 using the same medicines.  We must have misunderstood that there was a limit on how many of these types of treatments you can take.  We thought the limit was 6 so we were surprised when he told us he would at least have 7.  He said that since the medicine was doing the job, we would be foolish to change.  He said there was another medicine that they use but it is not as effective and more toxic.  We agreed that saying on the course we are on would be best.  Dr. Hoos seemed very happy with Steve's progress.  This was great new!  You really can't imagine what has been going through our minds since the scan was taken.  After chemo 7, he will have another scan and we will evaluate his progress.  Steve had a great attitude about this.  I know he was disappointed that he would have to do at least two more treatments, but was very proud of the fact that he is getting better.  It sure was a relief for him to hear the good news.

Today's chemo seemed so long.  We didn't get into the Infusion Lab until 11.  We did not finish until 4.  Grandma and I went to the Whiteside Building for lunch in their cafeteria.  Grandma pushed me in a wheelchair.  It was all inside through a secret tunnel.  We had chicken strips and potatoes.   Steven was not hungry so he ate some grapes, and orange, and some pineapple.  He was disappointed that they did not have his favorite apples in a bag.  He really loves those little things.  This is two times in a row that they have been out.  Steven slept most of the day while Grandma and I read and looked up an artist that we saw in a magazine.

I did fine with the knee.  It is a little sore from not being propped up all day, but I will live.

Steve is now resting while dinner is cooking.  The treatment really wears him out, plus they give him some allergy medicine that makes him tired.  This keeps him from having a reaction to the chemo drugs.

We want to thank everyone for keeping us in their hearts and praying for us.  God worked a miracle with Steve's healing.  We are thankful for our friends and family.  We could not ask for better blessings!