I visited with Val for a couple of hours last Sunday. We had a very nice visit. I felt better after seeing her. She looked strong to me and had color in her cheeks. We did visit in her bedroom where she is most comfortable. I also think she feels her bedroom is her "safe" place along with having the conviences of a full bathroom near her. Jay visited with us and fixed Val lunch. She ate well and drank well. After a few hours of visiting, she was tired and needed to rest.
I am so thankful I was able to go to VT and see she & Jay.
Much love to Val & Jay.
Steff
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Friday Jan 30, 09 7 pm
Dad and Val left at 8 and got home around 5pm from chemo #3. Their favorite nurse Tony was sick so Joanne administered the chemo treatment. She received 20% less of the dose today and will at every 3rd chemo to give her body a break. Everything was given the same as the second chemo so Val should have the same results and feel "as good as she did last time". The CA-125 marker was 245 last month and now after the 2nd chemo is 146 (Yea!). The MD listened to her lungs and felt that her R lung presented with less fluid compared to last time. She still requires oxygen, but this deserves a (Yea!) also. The MD palpated her stomach and decided it was less hard than last month...what this tells us I am unsure. Except to tell you that the yesterday Dad reported her abdominal pains as worse. She still takes her two pain pills a day apparently. The chest x-ray and abdominal C-T scan which we thought were happening after the third round of chemo is not happening until after the 8 chemo. He originally told us these tests would be repeated after 3 and that she would get only 6 rounds so why he changed his mind on these two factors is an answer yet to get. Thank you to Baine and Denise who met Dad and Val at chemo and who drove them back to Barre after it was over. (Denise followed them as Baine drove their car). Dad went to lunch for Mexican with Alison. She reports he is still in many phases of coping: angry, sad, angry, sad. Thank you to Nancy who spent some time visiting Val during her chemo today (Nancy please comment on this blog if you could. Thank you ).
Val apparently looked like a million dollars today. She wore a great pink hat, pink outfit, lipstick and jewelry. She has them fooled down at chemo. No one would know that she doesn't leave her bedroom, refuses to walk downstairs or take care of her animals, and eats all her meals with Dad looking at the back of the television in their bedroom. So if anyone can encourage her to take some steps to "live while she is living" that would be much appreciated from myself as she won't do it for me or my father. Love and prayers to Val always Salynn
Dad and Val left at 8 and got home around 5pm from chemo #3. Their favorite nurse Tony was sick so Joanne administered the chemo treatment. She received 20% less of the dose today and will at every 3rd chemo to give her body a break. Everything was given the same as the second chemo so Val should have the same results and feel "as good as she did last time". The CA-125 marker was 245 last month and now after the 2nd chemo is 146 (Yea!). The MD listened to her lungs and felt that her R lung presented with less fluid compared to last time. She still requires oxygen, but this deserves a (Yea!) also. The MD palpated her stomach and decided it was less hard than last month...what this tells us I am unsure. Except to tell you that the yesterday Dad reported her abdominal pains as worse. She still takes her two pain pills a day apparently. The chest x-ray and abdominal C-T scan which we thought were happening after the third round of chemo is not happening until after the 8 chemo. He originally told us these tests would be repeated after 3 and that she would get only 6 rounds so why he changed his mind on these two factors is an answer yet to get. Thank you to Baine and Denise who met Dad and Val at chemo and who drove them back to Barre after it was over. (Denise followed them as Baine drove their car). Dad went to lunch for Mexican with Alison. She reports he is still in many phases of coping: angry, sad, angry, sad. Thank you to Nancy who spent some time visiting Val during her chemo today (Nancy please comment on this blog if you could. Thank you ).
Val apparently looked like a million dollars today. She wore a great pink hat, pink outfit, lipstick and jewelry. She has them fooled down at chemo. No one would know that she doesn't leave her bedroom, refuses to walk downstairs or take care of her animals, and eats all her meals with Dad looking at the back of the television in their bedroom. So if anyone can encourage her to take some steps to "live while she is living" that would be much appreciated from myself as she won't do it for me or my father. Love and prayers to Val always Salynn
Friday Jan 3o,09
This past weekend Ryan's wife Steffan was in from TX and was able to visit Val and Dad on Sunday so look to this blog for her comments.
This week also Prudy Val's friend visited ( I think on Tues.). She may want to comment also for us. Thanks.
Cindy Catto called from FL and has allowed me to add her comments.....
"I just had a great chat with Val to wish her well tomorrow and tell her I would see her next week. She was really upbeat and said she going to wear earrings and maybe even lipstick to tomorrow's chemo. Val talked about giving your father cooking instructions for a tomato sauce that even a first grade could make. She is feeling like she's starting to heal from the surgery.
I heard the old "Val" in her voice. I think this is something to celebrate. I'm not sure how many people read the comments on the blog spot; so please feel free to quote from this e-mail."
Cindy Catto
Thanks for all the support form family and friends. Love and prayers to Val Salynn
This past weekend Ryan's wife Steffan was in from TX and was able to visit Val and Dad on Sunday so look to this blog for her comments.
This week also Prudy Val's friend visited ( I think on Tues.). She may want to comment also for us. Thanks.
Cindy Catto called from FL and has allowed me to add her comments.....
"I just had a great chat with Val to wish her well tomorrow and tell her I would see her next week. She was really upbeat and said she going to wear earrings and maybe even lipstick to tomorrow's chemo. Val talked about giving your father cooking instructions for a tomato sauce that even a first grade could make. She is feeling like she's starting to heal from the surgery.
I heard the old "Val" in her voice. I think this is something to celebrate. I'm not sure how many people read the comments on the blog spot; so please feel free to quote from this e-mail."
Cindy Catto
Thanks for all the support form family and friends. Love and prayers to Val Salynn
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Jan 25, 09 Sunday (Day 16 after chemo#2)
I spoke to Dad last night for 20 minutes. That is chatty for him! He stated that the first 7 days post chemo for Val were very tiring, but since day 10 she has had pretty good days where she eats well and rests well. She gets up stays in the chair in her bedroom a little, walks in the hallway little and then rests. She did go down stairs 3 days ago to help Dad make the "sugo" (red sauce), but otherwise she doesn't want to go downstairs. She was apparently craving Dad's eggplant Parmesan. She is now on 2 senna pills and her BM are 2-3 x per day with no pain. She stands a little in the shower, but still uses her shower chair all without oxygen. When she gets out of the shower, her oxygen is down to 85 before she gets it back on. Her right calf is still swollen, but not painful despite her coumadin level being at 1.4 ( they like it between 2-3). I mentioned Jobst stockings to him and explained that they have to be measured and she would have to wear them. He said he would speak to her and see if she would wear them.. I explained she could just wear one knee high on the right to stabilize the clots and prevent them from moving on her. Less swelling means less discomfort in that leg. She is a tough sell though form all that know her well. Her friend Mary Lou has spoken to Val and shared her own experience with the Jobst stockings so she may have been a positive influence too on Val. The last RBC count remained at 10.4. The next CA-125 marker number will be drawn this coming Wednesday Jan. 28. Her next scheduled chemo #3 is this Friday Jan 30, 09. She continues to take two pain pills a day for her abdominal pain. One she takes and hour before Rudy and Lea visit which is everyday around 2-4. I was happy to hear my Dad say it is a little lonely and we look forward to their visit everyday. Thank you to Paul Porior who will drive Dad to his eye appointment on Monday Jan 26. Rudy and Lea will come up and stay in the house with Val. Dad can't drive after the appointment as they will dilate both his pupils to check his macular degeneration which has been stable for a few months. Love and Prayers to Val Salynn
I spoke to Dad last night for 20 minutes. That is chatty for him! He stated that the first 7 days post chemo for Val were very tiring, but since day 10 she has had pretty good days where she eats well and rests well. She gets up stays in the chair in her bedroom a little, walks in the hallway little and then rests. She did go down stairs 3 days ago to help Dad make the "sugo" (red sauce), but otherwise she doesn't want to go downstairs. She was apparently craving Dad's eggplant Parmesan. She is now on 2 senna pills and her BM are 2-3 x per day with no pain. She stands a little in the shower, but still uses her shower chair all without oxygen. When she gets out of the shower, her oxygen is down to 85 before she gets it back on. Her right calf is still swollen, but not painful despite her coumadin level being at 1.4 ( they like it between 2-3). I mentioned Jobst stockings to him and explained that they have to be measured and she would have to wear them. He said he would speak to her and see if she would wear them.. I explained she could just wear one knee high on the right to stabilize the clots and prevent them from moving on her. Less swelling means less discomfort in that leg. She is a tough sell though form all that know her well. Her friend Mary Lou has spoken to Val and shared her own experience with the Jobst stockings so she may have been a positive influence too on Val. The last RBC count remained at 10.4. The next CA-125 marker number will be drawn this coming Wednesday Jan. 28. Her next scheduled chemo #3 is this Friday Jan 30, 09. She continues to take two pain pills a day for her abdominal pain. One she takes and hour before Rudy and Lea visit which is everyday around 2-4. I was happy to hear my Dad say it is a little lonely and we look forward to their visit everyday. Thank you to Paul Porior who will drive Dad to his eye appointment on Monday Jan 26. Rudy and Lea will come up and stay in the house with Val. Dad can't drive after the appointment as they will dilate both his pupils to check his macular degeneration which has been stable for a few months. Love and Prayers to Val Salynn
Monday, January 19, 2009
January 19th
January 19th.
I spoke to Dad on the phone today. Val and Dad are resting today as they are a little tired out. Val has had 3 good days in a row so that has been good. Val has been eating pretty well and enjoying some Odawalla drinks. The home nurse is coming tomorrow to take blood and hopefully the red blood cell count is staying up.
Love and Prayers to VAl !!!
Ryan
I spoke to Dad on the phone today. Val and Dad are resting today as they are a little tired out. Val has had 3 good days in a row so that has been good. Val has been eating pretty well and enjoying some Odawalla drinks. The home nurse is coming tomorrow to take blood and hopefully the red blood cell count is staying up.
Love and Prayers to VAl !!!
Ryan
Friday, January 16, 2009
Friday 1/16/09
I spoke with Dad on the phone today at 2:00 o'clock VT time.
They got a good blood report back yesterday that Val's red bloood cell
level is at 11. So this is good news as Val does not need to go for a
transfusion at this time. This level was at 10 on Monday so it is good that
it stayed up and even went up a little. Val was up and took a shower today.
The swelling in Val's leg has gone down a little and she was able to walk in the hall
upstairs today. Val has been eating pretty well yesterday and today. Apparently
she is enjoying some prime rib and jello.
Val is still pretty exhausted and resting a lot.
Hopefully the Vermont -24 F is not going to last much longer.
Love and Prayers for Val!!!
Ryan
They got a good blood report back yesterday that Val's red bloood cell
level is at 11. So this is good news as Val does not need to go for a
transfusion at this time. This level was at 10 on Monday so it is good that
it stayed up and even went up a little. Val was up and took a shower today.
The swelling in Val's leg has gone down a little and she was able to walk in the hall
upstairs today. Val has been eating pretty well yesterday and today. Apparently
she is enjoying some prime rib and jello.
Val is still pretty exhausted and resting a lot.
Hopefully the Vermont -24 F is not going to last much longer.
Love and Prayers for Val!!!
Ryan
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Wed. Jan 13, 09
Dad and Val are having land line telephone problems. They will be up and running tomorrow on Thursday after the repair man is there.You can call Rudy or lea if you need something urgent before Friday. They do have their cell phone if needed. From speaking to Tony the chemo nurse Val is passing her hardest days of 2-5 after chemo #2 Last Jan 12. We are expecting the next chemo to go even better if this one continues on it's current positive track. Day 7-10 post chemo is where the blood may dip and transfusions may be warranted. Rudy is trying to convince Val to take her Tylenol for the abdomen pain vs. the codeine which is addictive and has constipation effects. Kudo's to Rudy for trying we are all supporting you. We are all hoping that Val will begin to go downstairs once a day again real soon for so many good reasons! Love and prayers to Val Salynn
Dad and Val are having land line telephone problems. They will be up and running tomorrow on Thursday after the repair man is there.You can call Rudy or lea if you need something urgent before Friday. They do have their cell phone if needed. From speaking to Tony the chemo nurse Val is passing her hardest days of 2-5 after chemo #2 Last Jan 12. We are expecting the next chemo to go even better if this one continues on it's current positive track. Day 7-10 post chemo is where the blood may dip and transfusions may be warranted. Rudy is trying to convince Val to take her Tylenol for the abdomen pain vs. the codeine which is addictive and has constipation effects. Kudo's to Rudy for trying we are all supporting you. We are all hoping that Val will begin to go downstairs once a day again real soon for so many good reasons! Love and prayers to Val Salynn
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