Today I started Chemo. I am doing what’s called 7 + 3 which is 7 straight days of chemo and 3 of those days I get 2 bags of chemo.
I was also giving a heparin shot to prevent blood clots.
Doctor’s haven’t been in yet. Mom went home for the day to get things since we weren’t prepared to be admitted early. But my sister is here to spend the day with me 
🙂
Week 2
The ‘thank yous” for week 2 is going to take me awhile to write. 1. because I am cooking a late dinner tonight due to not getting back from Jen’s hair appt until 7:30 and 2. because the list is so long. It may just end up taking a couple post to complete.
✓ Thank you again Diann Neal and Ernie Nealfor allowing Jessica and Jennifer to stay with you last week so that they were able to get to their early morning appt.
✓ Thank you Deb Spieles for your message this week. I am looking forward to seeing what you and Jessica have planned.
✓ Thank you Kimberly Bair for the conversation. It is nice to have your insight about these battles that lay ahead.
✓ Thank you Alex Warnement also for planning an event for Jen. And also Jessica Crawford for taking over some of the load in planning it.
✓ Thank you Dolores Johnson for sharing with me about the chapel at the James. Randy and I took a tour of it when we recognized the names outside the door. It is such a peaceful place.
✓ Thank you Angela Gamble for the nice conversations over the last week. I hope your battle with this horrible disease is a short one and life can get back to some normalcy soon for you.
✓ Thank you Tabitha Maag for your messages through out this week. I was feeling pretty low a couple of times, and those words and often snapchats of those cute babies are really helpful. Also thank you for setting up with Laura to do Jen’s hair. The smile on her face will push me through.
✓ Thank you Laura Moreo! She is still smiling! Her hair looks amazing. You did a wonderful job and your kindness will not be ever forgotten.
Heroes always show up in those moments you need them most. On the afternoon Jennifer was to have her bone marrow biopsy, I had one heck of a stomach ache and needed tums so badly. But fear if I went down to the gift shop, they would show up to do the biopsy and I wouldn’t be there for Jen. I prayed my stomach ache would subside as I needed to be at her side. But it was not letting up.
In desperation, I asked her nurses if they had anything I could take, but they directed me to the gift shop. That day, Jennifer’s personal care assistant was this spunky young woman. She had a beautiful bed side manner and always a beautiful smile on her face. When she heard of my problem, she came in the room and told me she would run to the gift shop for me. Not 10 minutes later, she showed up with tums. I immediately took them and my stomach ache subsided quickly. Soon there after the team showed up to do Jen’s biopsy and I was able to sit near her and hold her hand through it. I am so grateful for my hero that day. And that God sent her to me.
Today I am thankful to be home with my family. Thankful for my doctors and all of those on my care team at the James. All of those who run the clinical trial. Those who made things happen as quickly as they did when they discovered I was sick.
Thankful for all those who are praying for me and my family. Thankful for those who have sent me cards, gift cards, gas cards, and food. Thankful for those who visited me in the hospital and here at home.
Thankful for my amazing family and their strength. Thankful for my cousin for being here when I can’t be. Thankful for my friends at church. And thankful for my continue faith in God.
My road ahead of me I know is a long and rough one. But I know that I will have God, my family, and friends on my side.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Count your blessings, even the small ones. They matter!
This evening Jennifer is headed to Columbus with her sister Jessica for early morning appointment with the clinical trial folks at the James. Thankfully they are able to stay with Randy’s aunt Diann. She is preparing them a late evening meal when they arrive which is super nice of her.
Jen overall felt ok today. She has a bit fatigued and light headed this morning but as the day progressed she felt a bit better.
A bit of bad news for her today was the place she was in contact with to harvest her eggs after chemo told her they don’t except her insurance. So I’m not sure if there may be another place she can do this with or if we will need to figure out how to pay for that out of pocket. The initial visit over $250 and without knowing additional cost from there it is definitely something to figure out. This is one of those things I need to let go and let God lead us to the answer. Prayers needed in that department.
We decorated today for Christmas and listened to Christmas music nearly all day. Every year we question why there are so many versions of the song Last Christmas, one of Matt‘ s least favorite Christmas songs.
Jennifer had her bone marrow biopsy on Monday. And late yesterday afternoon, the doctors shared with us her diagnosis. Jen has what is known as Acute Myeloid Leukemia or AML. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes abnormal myeloblasts (a type of white blood cell), red blood cells, or platelets. Later this week we will hear exactly what cells are being effected and a treatment plan.
The plan for today is to get a central line put in that she can receive chemo and other drugs through. It is a short procedure that she will remain awake through.
To learn more about about AML, please go to http://www.cancercenter.com/leukemia/types/tab/acute-myeloid-leukemia/
Many years ago, I had a wall hanging that hung in the dining room in the house on Plum Street. I believe I had bought it at a home party of some sort. It had the words ‘Let Go, Let God’ on it.
To be honest I never really understood at that time what those words meant, so it makes no sense why I even bought it. Maybe it was the cheapest thing I could buy in the catalog and you know when you go to a home party, you feel you have to buy something.
It is just like me to not understand these words, as I always need to be in control. And I don’t fall asleep until I have sorted out everything in my mind. And last night, as I got into bed, I started trying to figure out all the how’s, who’s, and what fors. How was I going to put myself in all the places I needed to be in the coming weeks? How will I trust those who are in charge of Jen’s care? Who was going to take care of the pets? What will the outcome be? Where would I find the answers?
An old school friend had seen a post I made with a few of the things Jen had painted and inquired about those pieces. As we spoke, I told her some of those worries I had, including keep up financially. She suggested the Go Fund Me and I responded I have done ones before for other people but had hard time asking for us.
At 4am, Jen texted with message saying she would need a blood transfusion. I hadn’t looked at that last message my friend sent. I couldn’t fall back to sleep and got up and went out to my computer and started working on a few things I had left open to finish. I finish a picture load from a birth from a couple weeks ago and answered a couple emails. I opened facebook, where that message from my friend was still waiting to be read. Earlier the night before I had been trying to tell myself to give it to God but it was a struggle. I finally was able to fall asleep hoping God would answer some of my questions soon. I opened up my friends message, and soon it was made clear to me. She told me it was ok to ask for help and people will donate as sometimes that is the only thing they feel they can do to help and that I shouldn’t feel bad for asking. And it makes others feel good when they are able to do something. And in some ways by asking I was allowing people to feel good inside.
I knew it would take someone who could trade off with me to care for jen and duties at home. But I didn’t know who that would be. As I thought about it, I figured out that if Jen’s sister, who had accepted a new job that wouldn’t begin until mid December, was able to help me for the next few weeks it would help a ton. We would then be able to get help from Matt who would be starting Christmas break. The answer became clear. If I could provide her with some cash assistance, she could help me with all these things.
I created a Go Fund Me, and went back to bed and slept deep for the next couple hours. God led me to a solution and I needed to just have faith in Him. I needed to Let Go, Let God.
Please consider donating to Go Fund Me. I will also sometime this week set up a fund at the Fort Jennings Bank if you prefer to donate there.
For those who have already given, of time, prayers, kind words, or money I promise it has not gone unnoticed. Thank you.
This shit just got real.
Jen texted me this morning. Her red blood count dropped to a level they are needing to give her a blood transfusion. Please continue to pray. Also if you are a type O- or B-, please consider giving blood to replace the blood she will be using. Thank you!
So today while talking with the doctor. If it is leukemia it could possibly be pre leukemia.
The plan was if I were to have chemo done to harvest some of my eggs to save so that I could have a better chance at having kids in the future.
Unfortunately due to how long it takes to prep my body for an egg harvest it would postpone any treatment. Which my doctor strongly advises against.
As hard as it is to hear that everyone person and body is different and I still may have viable eggs even after treatment.
But I also am ok with looking to other options for a family in my future.
Not the best news to hear, but I won’t let it stop me from getting better. I can become a mom on other ways but need to be healthy for that.
My transfusion went well with no side effects. I also had my CT scan this morning.
My mom is here now for the day and I have the possibility of having some visitors later today.
I am in good spirits and ready to give it my all.
Please if you can donate blood whether you are my blood type or not please do so. One donation = 4 transfusions. Although your blood may not go to me directly it will replenish what I used today or be used to help someone else in need.
Thank you for all the prayers and good vibes. I truly and blessed to have such great support.
Rally Together With Jennifer 