Only One More Day to Go

Monday, April 15, 2002

We only have one more treatment to go. I can't believe that we are almost done. Now that it is almost over, it doesn't feel like it was that bad. Kelby might even miss our daily trips down there.

Kelby has gotten a few sores in her mouth now. She was complaining about them on Friday, but they must have gotten better over the weekend. Today they bothered her again. They are especially bothered by acidy stuff. Other than that she hasn't had any other side effects. They had thought that her skin would be affected, but it looks just fine. For some reason her digestive system isn't working too great...but it hasn't been for quite some time...even before the radiation. I have been giving her Senekot to get her flowing. She complains of a "tummy ache" whenever she needs to go poop. Our doctor doesn't think that it has anything to do with her cancer. I hope that she starts feeling better with that soon.

Now the hard part comes; We have to wait for a month now before they do another set of scans. Hopefully the radiation will stop the tumor in her jaw. It doesn't seem to be getting any bigger at this point. If the cancer hasn't spread anywhere else in her body, she may have quite some time before she has any other symptoms. Who knows...she may even be healed. She will be on the Accutane again. That's a pill twice a day for two weeks, then she rests for two weeks. The Accutane is really hard on her skin, but it is supposed to work on her whole system against the cancer.

This will be a difficult time for us emotionally. As we enjoy every moment, we'll always be wondering in the back of our minds when this cancer will strike again. We are all in this position really...not knowing the number of our days. Most of us take our days for granted, assuming that we have plenty. At least we can make the most of every one of Kelby's days. It is just hard to not know what is going to happen. I will have my ups and downs, I'm sure. We can only work on making memories. That is why I am so excited to get our new puppy!

The puppy doesn't get to come home for another week and a half. We haven't gone to visit him again yet, so no pictures. His name is Trooper after Kelby's stuffed frog. The frog was named Trooper by a nurse because Kelby was being such a "trooper" during a procedure.

Gramma Dee Dee will be coming here on Wednesday. Kelby is pretty excited! It will be nice to have her. Maybe she'll help me get my yard into shape. She does have a green thumb after all...which I did not inherit.

Well, good night for now. God bless you all!