Chemo works, visitors wait! (2.14.16)

Despite the two booster shots mom had this week post-chemo, her white cell count has crashed again. Her oncologist was really trying to keep her numbers up, but this chemo is wicked and wonderful stuff. This, with the combination of the lasix drugs she's on, has also done something weird to her blood pressure, making it really low. Today Hannah and dad took her to the ER to get some fluid and try to bring that blood pressure up (the drive to Galesburg in the blizzard helped in this!). Because, who doesn't want to go to the ER on Valentine's Day?! 

We'll figure out with her oncologist tomorrow if there's something she can do to bring her counts back up before chemo day on Tuesday, or if we're stuck waiting again.

For the time being, we're going to ask that she have no visitors. It's a hard thing to ask, because your visits are what keep her smiling. But the risk of infection is too high with no white cells to chase off all our unintentional germs. She's wearing a mask, and Hannah and dad are taking very good care, but we can't be too careful.

We have to keep reminding ourselves of what her oncologist said in our first office visit, this is a marathon, not a sprint. The run is easier with friends, but even then sometimes (at least if you run like Hallie, maybe not Hannah) you have to pause and walk. Mom's going to walk these next couple of days. Keep watching this site, and hopefully she'll be ready for more visits very soon.