Hair Cutting Day
Day # 12
It has been a fairly quiet couple of days here. Weekends usually are. Once in awhile someone out walking the floor, peaks in the door to see Jen’s decorations in her room. The nurses on the other pods on the 16th floor heard we had her room decorated and will come to take a look. I guess this means we have a reputation to uphold when Christmas is over. So I will need new ideas for decorating the space.
Jen’s hair started thinning out on Friday so I searched some of the facebook groups in the Columbus area and found someone to cut her hair shorter. We feel it would be less dramatic when it falls out if it was shorter and maybe easier on her.
Jen hasn’t worn her hair short since elementary school so it made her nervous. Her sister convinced her of getting bangs like Zooey Deschanel. And so a beautiful young lady, originally from Bluffton, Ohio named Kaleigh Oberly came to give Jen a new style. And wow do we love it! Each day we find how blessed we are to find such wonderful people in this world.
Jen has ran a low fever off and on the last couple days. Although they still aren’t sure of the source, they continue to give her antibotics to help her fight the infection.
Jen’s energy has been slightly better this weekend. She managed to walk a bit last evening but got tired quickly. Today the time getting her hair cut was about all she could muster up.
This is a big week for Jen. On Tuesday (day 14), she will get another biopsy. This will tell us if the chemo has worked and if we will begin to see her numbers come back up in the days ahead. If the chemo didn’t work, we start back to day 1 with more chemo. We should know by Wednesday or Thursday if it has worked.
I am here with jen until mid week and then her dad will come down for a day or two. Jen’s brother Matt is home now until after Christmas so he will be able to visit more also.
Also Jen’s sister Jessica starts her new job tomorrow. In the last month, things have been so crazy I haven’t had much chance to talk to her about it. But I’m hoping it is amazing for her. I’m sure she will do great!
Thank you for your continued prayers, kind words, and support. We are very blessed to have all of you in our lives!! Have a great week.
Snow
While you are all dealing with much more snow back in Ottoville, here in Columbus they only got a dusting of the white stuff. The tops of the buildings are covered but the roads are clear.
Mom Back in Columbus
Hello from The James! I am back in Columbus with Jennifer today and plan to stay through mid next week. Today Jen’s counts dipped low enough they decided she need a transfusion of platelets and one of hemoglobin. The platelets were at 8. Anything under 10, you run risk of brain bleeds so we are happy she received those. Normally a transfusion will bring score back to about 50. (Normal is over 150).
Her hemoglobin (red blood cells) dipped under 7. Because red blood cells carry oxygen, these being low make Jen very tired. It also makes her heart work harder. Jen’s white count is at .4. They do not give white blood cells. This is up to Jen to remake. They do however have a shot they can give to help boost but the purpose of chemo is to destroy the abnormal white cells. Unfortunately along with that goes her normal ones.
Jen still has one sore on her leg they are watching. It is full of fluid and they may need to release it at some point. Because they don’t know what the sore is caused by and because of her very #s low, they have her under an isolation. The nurses, doctors, and PCAs and others who enter her room are required to dress in protective clothing until they know if the sore is an infection that can be spread.
Other then very tired, Jen seems to be handling it all well. She takes frequent naps so her being in more of an isolation is welcome right now.
Columbus isn’t suppose to get as much snow as back home. It would be very pretty to watch the snow fall from the 16th floor however.
As some of you know John Glenn passed away yesterday. He too was here at the James. Randy was here when his motorcade left the hospital.
New Warnings on the Door
The warnings on Jen’s door now include low platelets, low white count and isolation.
Jennifer showed signs of an infection last evening with a couple body sores. She spiked a fever for a few hours over night but the temperature returned to normal. They have started her on antibotics while they find the source on infection. Her platelets are very low thus risk of bleeding is very high. Her blood pressure has also been low.
Keep prayers coming.
Sister Jess’s Words
Had a little bit of a long night. Yesterday, especially in the evening, Jenny’s blood pressure was low, even for her. She also ran a little bit of a fever for a few hours. So she got some extra blood draws, cultures and vital checks through the night. “Of course the night I’m sleeping and resting comfortably,” she said.
Her temperature is back below fever range now and her blood pressure has normalized so not sure what exactly was happening. It’s breakfast time and hopefully we can get a short walk in this morning.
Good morning everyone!
A Word from Jen
The past 12 hours have been long and rough. I spiked a fever late last night. So when that happens they do a lot of blood work and antibiotics. As well as extra vitals through the night. By my 4:30 vitals this morning my temperature was back to normal. I did get sick out of the blue this morning, but other than that I feel good.
I’ve been pretty tired the past few days. I seem to sleep better through the day than I do at night.
My spirits still remain good as we power up to get me through the low cbc numbers and my risk of infection over the course of the next week.
I appreciate all of the prayers, cards, and gifts I have gotten. I truly am blessed to know so many wonderful people.
Lots of love from Columbus!
God bless!
Brewski Toss Benefit
Rally Together With Jennifer 