Sunday was a good day, Monday not so much. It was a tough day yesterday. We see Dr. Chen this afternoon and hopefully get some answers to important questions. I hope to have more encouraging words tomorrow.
God bless you and thank you for your support and prayers,
Frank and Harriet
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Monday, September 29, 2014
Happy Hair
Yesterday was a big day, first day that Harriet wore a wig. To be perfectly frank with you, it was kind of difficult to put on and then adjust properly. I'm sure that with time and practice, it will go better.
Harriet was able to go to church yesterday morning and I must tell you that everybody was very gracious and thoughtful with positive comments concerning the wig and how she looked. Our son Joseph and Hilda and boys were at church. It was very nice to be surrounded by so many loving friends.
A week from today Harriet goes in for her second chemo therapy. I was thinking about it on the way into work. It's going to be tough because now you know how bad these treatments make you feel. Yet on the other hand you know that if you persevere for a week, then you start feeling better.
Tomorrow is chemotherapy class and then an appointment with Dr. Chen the oncologist at 12:20 PM. If I remember correctly then on Wednesday there is an appointment with the hematologist. One thing that I will say that has held true, that people told us, once you see the oncologist, everything else starts happening in a very timely manner. It was just waiting three weeks to see him that was tough. So, if you or any of your loved ones ever get diagnosed with some type of cancer and they put you off for three weeks or so, go to Member Services right away and complain. That's the only way you're going to get your appointment moved up. Every time I went to member services, things happen in a more timely fashion. Of course this applies to Kaiser health care. I'm not sure how you would handle it at another facility.
Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support.
With love,
Frank and Harriet
Harriet was able to go to church yesterday morning and I must tell you that everybody was very gracious and thoughtful with positive comments concerning the wig and how she looked. Our son Joseph and Hilda and boys were at church. It was very nice to be surrounded by so many loving friends.
A week from today Harriet goes in for her second chemo therapy. I was thinking about it on the way into work. It's going to be tough because now you know how bad these treatments make you feel. Yet on the other hand you know that if you persevere for a week, then you start feeling better.
Tomorrow is chemotherapy class and then an appointment with Dr. Chen the oncologist at 12:20 PM. If I remember correctly then on Wednesday there is an appointment with the hematologist. One thing that I will say that has held true, that people told us, once you see the oncologist, everything else starts happening in a very timely manner. It was just waiting three weeks to see him that was tough. So, if you or any of your loved ones ever get diagnosed with some type of cancer and they put you off for three weeks or so, go to Member Services right away and complain. That's the only way you're going to get your appointment moved up. Every time I went to member services, things happen in a more timely fashion. Of course this applies to Kaiser health care. I'm not sure how you would handle it at another facility.
Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support.
With love,
Frank and Harriet
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Bad Hair Day
I received a call from Harriet yesterday morning at about 8:30 AM. She said that her hair is starting to fall out. I tried to find a place that would cut her hair and shave her head, but to no avail. So I called my son Joe and asked if I could borrow his clippers.
Yesterday afternoon I cut Harriet's hair off and shaved her head. This was a 1st for me as it was for her. It actually takes quite a bit of time. Fortunately we planned ahead and had purchased a wig.
Just like the doctor said, her scalp is very sensitive. I should add that all of her senses are heightened. Hopefully, Harriet will feel up to going to church this morning. I hope that you all have a good day today!
Maranatha,
Frank and Harriet
Yesterday afternoon I cut Harriet's hair off and shaved her head. This was a 1st for me as it was for her. It actually takes quite a bit of time. Fortunately we planned ahead and had purchased a wig.
Just like the doctor said, her scalp is very sensitive. I should add that all of her senses are heightened. Hopefully, Harriet will feel up to going to church this morning. I hope that you all have a good day today!
Maranatha,
Frank and Harriet
Saturday, September 27, 2014
MUGA
Harriet went in for her MUGA yesterday. She said that they give you this injection and wait for a period of time, approximately half an hour. Then they put into this cocoon type structure. But the difference between this and a MRI enclosure is that this one is extremely close to your face and body. Very claustrophobic situation. Anyway, it did get done and the technician said that normally they do this at the very beginning before you start your chemotherapy. They want to establish heart condition so that they will no which chemo drugs to use. It seems that depending upon the heart condition they will use different chemotherapy. Again they're trying not to kill the patient, just the cancer.
Another thing that happened yesterday that was unusual is that Harriet realized that she was hungry and had an appetite. This is not happen for quite a few weeks.
Thank you for your continued prayer and support. We hope you have a great weekend!
Maranatha,
Frank and Harriet
Another thing that happened yesterday that was unusual is that Harriet realized that she was hungry and had an appetite. This is not happen for quite a few weeks.
Thank you for your continued prayer and support. We hope you have a great weekend!
Maranatha,
Frank and Harriet
Friday, September 26, 2014
What Is A MUGA?
That's a good question. Harriet was scheduled to have her MUGA test yesterday, but they called her and rescheduled for today due to problems with the imaging machine.
The MUGA is: The MUGA scan (MUltiple Gated Acquisition scan) is an often-useful noninvasive tool for assessing the function of the heart. The MUGA scan produces a moving image of the beating heart, and from this image several important features can be determined about the health of the cardiac ventricles (the heart’s major pumping chambers).
I was told they inject her with some type of solution and she rests for half an hour and then they do the imaging. It seems that a lot of these tests are to establish "benchmarks", so that as the chemotherapy progresses, they have something to compare it to what is normal.
Yesterday was a pretty good day. And we are thankful for these good days between the chemotherapy. I want to thank you for your continued prayers and support.
God bless you my friends,
Frank and Harriet
The MUGA is: The MUGA scan (MUltiple Gated Acquisition scan) is an often-useful noninvasive tool for assessing the function of the heart. The MUGA scan produces a moving image of the beating heart, and from this image several important features can be determined about the health of the cardiac ventricles (the heart’s major pumping chambers).
I was told they inject her with some type of solution and she rests for half an hour and then they do the imaging. It seems that a lot of these tests are to establish "benchmarks", so that as the chemotherapy progresses, they have something to compare it to what is normal.
Yesterday was a pretty good day. And we are thankful for these good days between the chemotherapy. I want to thank you for your continued prayers and support.
God bless you my friends,
Frank and Harriet
Thursday, September 25, 2014
More Healing Needed
Yesterday went pretty well. There are still times of pain. Linette came and cleaned the house. Harriet said it has not been that clean for two and a half weeks. Thank you Linette!
This is a learning experience, in many ways. I'd always heard about people going through chemotherapy and difficulties, but it's different when you experience it. One of the things I've learned is that in life there are extremely difficult things and then there are the small things. You know what I'm talking about, like when your spouse miss speaks and you correct her or him. Things that are actually inconsequential. Over the past weeks I have learned that dealing with the major problem like cancer is a full-time job and you don't sweat the small stuff (and everything else is small stuff). And I can guarantee you, everything is a small item compared to cancer. So, maybe you don't have to go through this experience to learn the lesson. Give thanks everyday for your spouse and the good health that you have.
God bless you all,
Frank and Harriet
This is a learning experience, in many ways. I'd always heard about people going through chemotherapy and difficulties, but it's different when you experience it. One of the things I've learned is that in life there are extremely difficult things and then there are the small things. You know what I'm talking about, like when your spouse miss speaks and you correct her or him. Things that are actually inconsequential. Over the past weeks I have learned that dealing with the major problem like cancer is a full-time job and you don't sweat the small stuff (and everything else is small stuff). And I can guarantee you, everything is a small item compared to cancer. So, maybe you don't have to go through this experience to learn the lesson. Give thanks everyday for your spouse and the good health that you have.
God bless you all,
Frank and Harriet
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Blood Test
Harriet is doing better and we're so thankful. I must tell you though that the pain of the tumor still exists and when she's getting close to the end of the medication cycle, she has to endure the pain until she takes the new medication. I took her to Kaiser yesterday and had a blood test done. I'm sure they're going to be doing a lot of these.
Harriet has all the chemotherapy sessions already set up for the rest of this year. The last one being on December 28 and that would make five sessions. Originally the doctor said 6 to 8 sessions, but I guess we'll have to see. I'm sure that they continue to do testing and monitoring to make sure that they're getting all the cancer.
Thank you for your prayers and well wishes.
Frank and Harriet
Harriet has all the chemotherapy sessions already set up for the rest of this year. The last one being on December 28 and that would make five sessions. Originally the doctor said 6 to 8 sessions, but I guess we'll have to see. I'm sure that they continue to do testing and monitoring to make sure that they're getting all the cancer.
Thank you for your prayers and well wishes.
Frank and Harriet
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