First Day Home

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Hi all – As you know, we were able to bring Sally home around 6pm last night. We learned yesterday morning that her counts had skyrocketed over the previous 24 hours, so was well enough to leave. The only issue left was the pain she was in. Morphine works great for Sally through the IV, but for some strange reason she gets an allergic reaction when she gets it orally at home. Dilantin is another painkiller that also works well with Sally, but causes her heart rate to shoot up to unhealthy levels. So yesterday we had to experiment with Hydrocodone. It did help with her pain, but also may have wired her a bit as she wouldn’t nap all afternoon. Still, it would allow us to manage her pain so she was granted her release.

Just prior to her release, Nicole was able to get the push of chemo that was scheduled for today so that she wouldn’t have to bring Sally back in this morning. Sally is due to head back in on Wednesday for a quick count of her blood counts. We also plan to ask about her treatment for Christmas week as she is scheduled to get the Red Devil and other chemos that week, including treatment ON Christmas day. Obviously we’d like to avoid spending Christmas Eve and Christmas  in MSK, but will make the best of it if we have no choice, her health has to come first.

The last week was certainly an eye opener for us, we were not expecting Sally’s counts to drop that low. If she would have gotten sick with anything more than a cold, her body wouldn’t have been able to fight it off throughout the week. It was a reminder that we have to be very careful with having people around Sally. Our family has already become hand washing warriors.

Today, Sally was grumpy most of the day and wanted to be held by mommy. Nicole finally gave her some of the Hydrocodone and Sally was in much better spirits, although didn’t nap all afternoon. She did well with her new Physical Therapist that worked with her this afternoon. When I got home from work, Sally was in a very playful mood. We sat on the couch and we played the game of taking the sunglasses off my face for a half an hour. She gave plenty of her awesome smiles. Although she now has diaper rash from going to the bathroom a lot today, so is back in a rough mood.

Nicole and I both had rough mornings emotionally. We were constantly on the go the last week, that finally having everybody home gave us a second to breath and digest everything that had just happened. It was yet another reminder of how serious this all is and we both had our minds going places that we try to prevent them from going to. I had a tough first day back at work, for the last week I was able to turn off stress from my job and just focus on family. It was overwhelming to come back and have that stress added back on top of everything else, I’ll just have to get used to shouldering it all again, which I will.

Nicole felt we needed a little humor in our home over the holidays with everything going on, so she got us this shower curtain:

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Christmastime is a nice distraction as we love this time of year so much. Please keep Sally in your thoughts and prayers.

Matt

7 Responses

  1. Missy Quigg
    Missy Quigg December 2, 2013 at 9:22 pm | | Reply

    Praying for your Sally everynight…. so much so we feel like we know her.

  2. Denise Nofi
    Denise Nofi December 2, 2013 at 9:42 pm | | Reply

    I pray for Sally and the rest of you always. You all continue to be so strong. You are an amazing family. God Bless you and may he give you the easiest, most comfortable Christmas possible. <3 xoxo Feel great, Sweet Sally!!!

  3. Marie
    Marie December 2, 2013 at 10:03 pm | | Reply

    Always in my thoughts and Prayers…xoxo

  4. Candyce McCann
    Candyce McCann December 2, 2013 at 11:32 pm | | Reply

    I pray for Sally, the boys, & you two, Matt & Nicole, each time I read your updates. I can’t even imagine the fear & stress you are both feeling. When my daughter was 8, my husband was critically ill as he fought cancer. I had to screen visitors — including my daughter’s friends — for illnesses, fevers, even a simple cough or sneeze. Matt, I can’t imagine having to go to work and keep production up there, while worrying about your daughter and your sons. And when you’re not at work, you want to be taking care of Sally & Thomas & William. Even when my husband was critically ill in the hospital, he would pick up his laptop & try to write software code because we are self-employed. Just remember: Both of you are doing the best for Sally & the boys — you are loving them, you are fighting for them, you are letting them know that you will move mountains to bring your family together again. There is no greater love in this world.

  5. Sandra
    Sandra December 3, 2013 at 7:14 am | | Reply

    You are an amazing family with a lot of love and prayers being sent to you by people you don’t even know. Sally, Thomas & William are beautiful children with two fantastic parents who give them everything they need (love). Stay strong and remember each day is a day closer to Sally reaching her recovery. LOVE the shower curtain it shows the spirit of your home. This is the season to believe. Limiting the people Sally is in contact with will help her and all of you. I don’t know Sally but I think and pray for her every day.

  6. Paul
    Paul December 3, 2013 at 12:15 pm | | Reply

    I’m so glad to hear Sally’s home and I always keep you guys in my prayers–You are very blessed to have one another to lean on for support

  7. Helen Hentschel
    Helen Hentschel December 3, 2013 at 2:52 pm | | Reply

    Praying for Sally every day . God Bless all!

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