The Good:
Zoë's tumor has shrunk by 20% according to an ultrasound done today! Most of this was from the first round of chemo, as the round she is going through at the moment has not had it's full effect yet. Hopefully her tumor will shrink another 20% or more with this round. In about two weeks she will have an MRI to get a full picture of how she is doing, and how round two has worked.
Zoë is also handling her chemo so well. She has not had many ill effects yet. Most of her discomforts are easily taken care of. Today she did not sleep much, or eat well, but it was mostly from interruptions and not illness.
I started a wee bit of Physical Therapy this morning, and wouldn't you know when seeing the PT this afternoon what I did was what she recommended. Ah, natural instinct you are so cool. So Zoë will have a Physical Therapist visit us when we are home, and right now they are working out the details for that.
The Bad:
So folks it looks like I was right to not get all of our hopes up for Zoë going home this weekend. What a relief. I know doesn't that sound so contradictory. But really I am so panicked to think of having her home with the tubes in her kidneys. These tubes can be a source of infection and with Zoë's immunity about to drop in 7-12 days from Monday it is imperative that she stays infection free. So the plan is to in the next day or so figure out if the left tube can be removed by doing 2 tests (collect all of the pee over 24 hours from both kidneys to see what their functions are, then clamp off the left kidney to see if she can pee regularly at the same rate that was collected over 24 hours). Hopefully the tumor will shrink more and the issue with her right kidney will be alleviated. There are so many different outcomes for her kidneys, and what can be done...so rather than speculate I am just waiting and seeing. But what I do know if that because of her age, and the risk of infection I don't think that she will be leaving the hospital until this is worked out.
So with that said lets have some definitions.
New Terminology:
Rather than continuing to call them "kidney tubes" lets go with the medical term.
Nephrostomy Tube- A nephrostomy tube is a drainage tube placed into the kidney to drain urine directly from the kidney. The word "nephrostomy" comes from two Latin root words for "kidney" (nephr) and "new opening" (stomy).
This is a term that you will here me use often in the near future. When Zoë's immunity is zero she is considered neutropenic.
Neutropenia or Neutropenic - from Latin prefix neutro- (neither, for neutral staining) and Greek suffix -πενία (deficiency), is a granulocyte disorder characterized by an abnormally low number of neutrophils, the most important type of white blood cell. Neutrophils usually make up 50-70% of circulating white blood cells and serve as the primary defense against infections by destroying bacteria in the blood. Hence, patients with neutropenia are more susceptible to bacterial infections and, without prompt medical attention, the condition may become life-threatening (neutropenic sepsis).
I am so very glad that I took Latin. How I loved it. I wonder is there a Rosetta Stone for Latin?
And now how am I doing? This is a question that I have been asked a lot lately. Well I had a wonderful visit with
my Mother and Grandmother this week (yesterday) which recharged my need for hugs, kisses, and all around familiar faces. They also brought with them some awesome gifts. A teddy bear for me, from my brother Daniel! Also a very big and special thank you to those wonderful people at NRI Community Services who are literally fueling our tank with the gift of gas. With Zeppo making the 57 mile (one way) trip to the hospital several times a week our gas bill has increased exponentially, and we greatly appreciate the help. Mrs. Cook I cannot thank you enough for the knitted booties, they are so cute. Grandmere and Pap, thank you for the beautiful flowers. I will be sure to get them from Mom as soon as we are home. *smiles*
I also got hugs and kisses from my husband yesterday. Zeppo has been amazing during this time. I don't think that
I write enough about him. But he is handling all of the house stuff, the cats (and Ben's stupid UTI), working, and coming to the hospital. Zeppo supports my every need. What ever I ask of him it is done with both speed and efficiency. I truly could not survive here all this time without him supporting my stay in the manner to which he is. Zeppo has always been amazing. I knew from the moment I saw him in K-Mart all those years ago that he was not just any guy, but "the one" guy for me. When you remark about how strong I am, well I am only this strong because I have Zeppo to lean on, and cry on, and whisper all of my fears to. He is the one who reassures my every decision, supports my ways of coping, and holds me up when I literally cannot stand (and yes I mean literally
not figuratively). Zeppo, I love you!
About the dinner this weekend... I asked the doctors if this would be OK for me to go since I don't want to catch a cold, or bring home germs. The doctors all agree that because I am healthy there should be little risk. Just to wash hands, and have plenty of hand sanitizer on hand (hehehe...punny joke, I know it's bad...). If you are sick we do request you will just keep a safe distance. I can give grins, and thumbs up at you from across a few feet. *smiles*
Which brings me to "The Ugly"....
Oh my goodness what to wear? How I could use a pedicure.... Is there a salon in the hospital? I bet if someone opened a salon in the hospital they would get more business than they would expect. After being here for nearly a month it would feel so good to have a spa day. Even a full size shower would work.
Just remember people I am post baby...with little access to time for working out...and I am hospital dwelling. So be kind. Hehehe. *wink*
Today's post is brought to you by homemade fudge (THANK YOU Mary Louise's daughter (sorry I did not catch which one made it). Your fudge is yummy, and is sticking to my tummy...not helping the weight loss....ugg. *smiles*
Love and Hugs!
Zoë's tumor has shrunk by 20% according to an ultrasound done today! Most of this was from the first round of chemo, as the round she is going through at the moment has not had it's full effect yet. Hopefully her tumor will shrink another 20% or more with this round. In about two weeks she will have an MRI to get a full picture of how she is doing, and how round two has worked.
Zoë is also handling her chemo so well. She has not had many ill effects yet. Most of her discomforts are easily taken care of. Today she did not sleep much, or eat well, but it was mostly from interruptions and not illness.
I started a wee bit of Physical Therapy this morning, and wouldn't you know when seeing the PT this afternoon what I did was what she recommended. Ah, natural instinct you are so cool. So Zoë will have a Physical Therapist visit us when we are home, and right now they are working out the details for that.
The Bad:
So folks it looks like I was right to not get all of our hopes up for Zoë going home this weekend. What a relief. I know doesn't that sound so contradictory. But really I am so panicked to think of having her home with the tubes in her kidneys. These tubes can be a source of infection and with Zoë's immunity about to drop in 7-12 days from Monday it is imperative that she stays infection free. So the plan is to in the next day or so figure out if the left tube can be removed by doing 2 tests (collect all of the pee over 24 hours from both kidneys to see what their functions are, then clamp off the left kidney to see if she can pee regularly at the same rate that was collected over 24 hours). Hopefully the tumor will shrink more and the issue with her right kidney will be alleviated. There are so many different outcomes for her kidneys, and what can be done...so rather than speculate I am just waiting and seeing. But what I do know if that because of her age, and the risk of infection I don't think that she will be leaving the hospital until this is worked out.
So with that said lets have some definitions.
New Terminology:
Rather than continuing to call them "kidney tubes" lets go with the medical term.
Nephrostomy Tube- A nephrostomy tube is a drainage tube placed into the kidney to drain urine directly from the kidney. The word "nephrostomy" comes from two Latin root words for "kidney" (nephr) and "new opening" (stomy).
This is a term that you will here me use often in the near future. When Zoë's immunity is zero she is considered neutropenic.
Neutropenia or Neutropenic - from Latin prefix neutro- (neither, for neutral staining) and Greek suffix -πενία (deficiency), is a granulocyte disorder characterized by an abnormally low number of neutrophils, the most important type of white blood cell. Neutrophils usually make up 50-70% of circulating white blood cells and serve as the primary defense against infections by destroying bacteria in the blood. Hence, patients with neutropenia are more susceptible to bacterial infections and, without prompt medical attention, the condition may become life-threatening (neutropenic sepsis).
I am so very glad that I took Latin. How I loved it. I wonder is there a Rosetta Stone for Latin?
And now how am I doing? This is a question that I have been asked a lot lately. Well I had a wonderful visit with
my Mother and Grandmother this week (yesterday) which recharged my need for hugs, kisses, and all around familiar faces. They also brought with them some awesome gifts. A teddy bear for me, from my brother Daniel! Also a very big and special thank you to those wonderful people at NRI Community Services who are literally fueling our tank with the gift of gas. With Zeppo making the 57 mile (one way) trip to the hospital several times a week our gas bill has increased exponentially, and we greatly appreciate the help. Mrs. Cook I cannot thank you enough for the knitted booties, they are so cute. Grandmere and Pap, thank you for the beautiful flowers. I will be sure to get them from Mom as soon as we are home. *smiles*
I also got hugs and kisses from my husband yesterday. Zeppo has been amazing during this time. I don't think that
I write enough about him. But he is handling all of the house stuff, the cats (and Ben's stupid UTI), working, and coming to the hospital. Zeppo supports my every need. What ever I ask of him it is done with both speed and efficiency. I truly could not survive here all this time without him supporting my stay in the manner to which he is. Zeppo has always been amazing. I knew from the moment I saw him in K-Mart all those years ago that he was not just any guy, but "the one" guy for me. When you remark about how strong I am, well I am only this strong because I have Zeppo to lean on, and cry on, and whisper all of my fears to. He is the one who reassures my every decision, supports my ways of coping, and holds me up when I literally cannot stand (and yes I mean literally
not figuratively). Zeppo, I love you!
About the dinner this weekend... I asked the doctors if this would be OK for me to go since I don't want to catch a cold, or bring home germs. The doctors all agree that because I am healthy there should be little risk. Just to wash hands, and have plenty of hand sanitizer on hand (hehehe...punny joke, I know it's bad...). If you are sick we do request you will just keep a safe distance. I can give grins, and thumbs up at you from across a few feet. *smiles*
Which brings me to "The Ugly"....
Oh my goodness what to wear? How I could use a pedicure.... Is there a salon in the hospital? I bet if someone opened a salon in the hospital they would get more business than they would expect. After being here for nearly a month it would feel so good to have a spa day. Even a full size shower would work.
Just remember people I am post baby...with little access to time for working out...and I am hospital dwelling. So be kind. Hehehe. *wink*
Today's post is brought to you by homemade fudge (THANK YOU Mary Louise's daughter (sorry I did not catch which one made it). Your fudge is yummy, and is sticking to my tummy...not helping the weight loss....ugg. *smiles*
Love and Hugs!
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