Chemo 2 (Round 2)

Hi all. I had my chemo round 2 treatment today. Only 2 of the 3 drugs, so the time spent there was a little shorter today. It was only just over 4 hours today. These drugs are really knocking me on my butt. My white blood count was pretty low today, but it was enough to get the chemo. I just need to be really careful about infections now. Tomorrow, I am having a shot (injection) to help improve the white blood cell count. I am also seeing someone tomorrow that will hopefully help me with my mental state. As you can tell, I have not been feeling to great these past few days.

Mike drove me to chemo today and he stayed for about an hour and a half. Then, Phil arrived from New York to be with me for a couple of days. To say that I owe my family the debt of gratitude would be the understatement of a lifetime. Please bear with me. I will endeavor to speak to as many of you as I can or at least be in touch by email. I just don't have the energy to speak.

Today is Max's (our dog's) birthday. He is 11 years young and still very handsome and in great shape (I wish the same could be said for me). He got a special birthday dinner with some droewors (South African dried sausage). I think he enjoyed it. Happy birthday to our little gentleman (a reference to Anchorman with Will Ferrell).

(Dictated but not written. Written by Robyn.)

Weekend Update

Hi everyone. Sorry I have been so lax in keeping up with the blog but I have had a lousy couple of days. Wednesday and Thursday were particularly low days for me mentally and physically, I seem to have a lot of fatigue and different aches and pains. We are not sure if this is all a result of the chemotherapy but we are looking into it more at my next session.

Friday, Phil arrived from Boca Raton. She was there with her family visiting our mom and decided to come and spend a couple of days with us. It was really good to have her here. I'll be brutally honest with you, I'm not sure what I would do if it wasn't for Diana, Phil and Russ. It seems like one of the important things is for me to try and keep busy, even with the fatigue I am experiencing. So Friday afternoon, we all went to see WALL-E (the movie). It's another one of those Pixar animated movies and it was really cute. Since it was July 4th. we had a special Friday night dinner, complete with food from Chicken Out, Mike's former place of employment. Then later, we watched Rush Hour 3 on HBO, followed by the Macy's July 4th Fireworks display on TV, which took place in New York City. It was raining outside so we didn't get to see any of our own. Happy July 4th to all you "Mericans."

Saturday, we had another outing. This time, we went downtown to the aquarium. If you don't know this, the Baltimore aquarium is quite famous and really nice. Once again, Phil's generosity came through. We weren't able to get regular tickets, so she bought our family membership and we were able to walk right in. Little did we know that July 4th weekend, the Harbor would be completely insane. Should have known. At the infusion center, they have a really nice fish tank and it reminds me of the aquarium. We will visit the aquarium many times when it's not so buys. We will have lots of pictures to take (and dolphin shows to see). Saturday evening, the kids had lots of friends over and they went swimming. I had a really nice bath with lots and lots of nice bath salts and candles. This really seems to help relax me because the aches and fatigue are really shit!

Sunday morning, we watched the Wimbledon men's final. It's truly amazing. we don't the result yet, but its some amazing tennis. I would like to see Roger Federer win. At lunch time, Phil left back to New York on the train. I think she is coming back Tuesday for the next chemo session.

We have lots to discuss with the doctor on Tuesday, as the fatigue and aches and my mental state are really taking a toll. I'm sorry if I haven't talked to some of you on the phone. I promise when I'm able, we will talk. In the mean time, thanks for reading the blog. Love you all.

(Dictate but not written. Written by Robyn.)

Wednesday and lots going on

I woke up at about 4am. Not the greatest of sleeps but I am feeling pretty good so far.

We have the plumbers coming in today to instal an additional hot water electiric heater. That way we will run the exiting gas and new electric heaters in series all the time. But we will have the ability to isolate either heater if there is a problem. Sounds cool - hope it works!

Chemo 1 (Round 2)

Today was the Round 2 of my next chemo course. A six week course. Carboplatin on week one and week 4. I've had this before. Gemzar weeks 1, 2, 4 and 5. New drug. Erbitux weekly. New drug. I should be able to tolerate these drugs quite well. Erbitux causes a rash which looks like acne. Oh joy to the world. I'll just have to deal with it! Like all of you have never had acne!!!

I will be brutally honest with you all. The one thing I have feared most through this whole ordeal is that I do not look sickly. Yes I have lost weight and I am at 140lbs now. The swallowing is ok and my appetite for the most part is good. So hopefully I will be putting the weight back on as we progress forward. It is so pleasant to have people tell you that you look good. Not that anyone needs to lie but hearing something like " you look bloody awful " would be a bit of a blow.

The infusion itself was really long. About 7 hours. Cheryl was my nurse as Mary was away on holiday. Robyn and Mike accompanied me to this session and it was a huge boost for me. After a quick lunch I asked them to leave as it had been a couple of hours and I did not want to overload them. Diana picked me up. I was feeling really tired and achy when I got home. Bad fatigue. After a bath, light meal and some meds I tried to go to sleep but because of the achyness I could not fall asleep. Must have finally dozed off at midnight.

Monday and homeward bound

Well here I am on the flight back to Baltimore after a very refreshing and soul rejuvenating couple of days in Boca with my mom and sister Russy. Yes it is me writing again in the blog. It looks like I have lost my secretary/nurse/therapist/big sister. Oh well.

I find it difficult to put into words just how supportive my immediate family has been throughout my ordeal. That's not to take anything away from my extended family and friends who have been unbelievable as well.

On a very personal note. To Diana, Robyn, Michael, Mom, Russ and Phil. I cannot adequately express my true love and admiration for you all. I know that this war/battle would have been infinitely more difficult to endure had it not been for your support and undying love. You have put up with so much and have all been so generous with your time. There are still lots of days when I think of all the difficulties that lie ahead but you all seem to pull me back to a better place. When I'm having a lousy day you sense and feel it and somehow you always seem to drag me out of the darkness. Let me say again that I don't think I will ever be able to repay the love and kindness you all have shown me. Not in this life time or the next! The only way I know is to win this war and survive these battles. No matter how long it takes. I love you all.

Sunday

I'm still writing for him!!!

and then Sunday....

Today was Yom Basa. Let me explain....there is a great expression in Arabic.Yom Asa,Yom Basa. Basically one day A grade the other B grade.
Ade knows the minute he wakes which it is and the trick is to learn some techniques to prevent the physical 'not great feeling' making his mind contribute so much to the overwhelming downer!
We had a less than successful breakfast and he was able to sleep a little and we did do our beach walk which was as normal so beautiful!
Sleep was really the order of the day and Ade's good friend Howard Palte and his lovely wife Michelle came round at 5. We chatted and went off with them to a seafood place...so far so good....came home and even a bath(Ade's total repair mechanism) didn't help so off to bed and let's see what tomorrow brings!!!!?

Saturday

And here we are at Saturday and Ade is not as well as yesterday....perhaps it's the pain meds,perhaps it's eating a little too much(we did eat a huge amount yesterday),perhaps it's a little anxiety but whatever it is we're dealing with it and he's resting and napping as I type away...The change of venue has been amazing for him and I suppose we have to deal with the ups and downs ...it's hard for us to not be able to help more and everyone knows that if we could share any of the pain we would in a heartbeat!I'm sure today will get better so we'll add more later. In the meanwhile I'll enjoy the ocean view and have breakfast ready when he wakes up.

Well! It was better and we had a great day! After the usual excellent breakfast at our Mom we went for our walk on the beach and watched the fisherman...actually one guy caught a barracuda and it was really exciting to see him reel it in! We have a little heavy,what is the meaning of life discussion but for the most part Ade and I just enjoy the beauty of this place and being together and miss Phil and the rest of the gang!!
We had the two lovelies return groomed and looking so gorgeous! My Mum and Aunt Yetta and off we went for the daily Jumba Juice. Ade was yearning for a Hot and Sour soup from PF Chang so we picked some up for what was to turn out to be an amazing picnic meal indoors...all the left overs and bits that we love!

Cousin Martin brought us yet another awesome 'skit and donner' movie.(blood and guts). Great day......

Friday

Friday was such a great day!!! We all had an enormous breakfast,spoke to Phil(little sister) loads,and missed her more....Mum had to get her dose of Wimbledon and Ade and I did the beach walk and a swim. The weather is wonderful especially coming from London. Ade felt so good that he decided we should go for a Jumba Juice and so we did! Swallowing it he was a little nervous but all was well and we enjoyed every last drop planning to go back!

The rest of the day was amazing and my brother felt and looked great. We are all so incredibly proud of his amazing strength and courage and we know that he is just pulling out everything he has to beat this!
Shabbat dinner was great and we ended the day with another good movie!
How cool is that? Two out of two!

My getaway

Here I am in somewhat sunny Boca Raton........and as you can all see I haven't come near the keyboard since that last sentence! I'll let my big(note not 'older')sister become my secretary because there is so much I want to add and I have been up and down mood and feeling wise!

So here I am (Russy,Rochelle depending on when and where we met!)....I couldn't wait to meet Ade in Boca to be with him and my Mum. Phil coming would have made it perfect but she will be here next week and then in a couple of weeks with our bro!

Arriving earlier than Ade,my Mum and I were able to pick him up and I'm so glad we did! He really wasn't well after the plane trip and actually the experience was awful! But bring him home we did and after he had his medication and a much needed sleep he felt so much better!

We spent the rest of the day relaxing here in this gorgeous place,watching him gently gain back colour and strength. We went for a lovely walk on the beach and he felt so great that we even went out for dinner with cousin Martin and Aunt Yetta, all of whom were so pleased to see him!

My Mum and I were so thrilled that he was up to going out and we all had a lovely evening enjoying each other and the magnificent view from the restaurant at the top of the tower at the Boca Beach Club.

Don't go see it!

With the radiation recover on going I am trying to get things back to some semblance of normalcy. Yesterday Mike and I went to an afternoon showing of Indiana Jones and the kingdom of the crystal skull. Save your money. Much the same as all the other episodes. I will say this. Harrison Ford looks like he did in those episodes. Hasn't aged much. What the hell gives? Around about the same time Diana, Robyn and a friend went to see Get Smart. Kids liked it but the adult was not overly impressed. Oh well. At least we some quality time with the kids.

After the movies we went to Qdoba (sort of fast food Mexican). I actually ate there. So as you can see, I am feeling better. The swallowing issue is almost back to normal and the pain from the ER visit has gone. Lets hope the improvement keeps going because I need to be in good shape (ha ha) for the start of the next round of chemo July 1st.

This Thursday I am going down to Boca Raton to spend a couple of days with my mom. Russy from London will be joining us. I am really looking forward to this as I have not been away from Baltimore for over three months. While I am away Diana and the kids will go to Toronto to see Diana's family. This will be a much deserved break for Diana as you can well imagine. To safe travels.