Day 45 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Friday, July 4th 2014

The Concierge seating area was empty today

Today was mom's 3rd morning waking up at Cancer Treatment Centers of America and it's the morning of Independence Day, the 4th of July. Due to today being a holiday, CTCA was literally empty except for a very limited staff.  Even though the staff members there today were working on a major holiday they still displayed such loving care and uplifting happiness.

No one in the usually
 busy hallway

Now that mom is under isolation due to her white blood cell counts being so low, we are all wearing masks and gloves if we go to touch her or assist her in any way.

Morning TV Land with MeeMaw

Mom continues to be on fluid therapy and was fed through her PEG Tube up until 9:00 am.  After her feeding was done the nurse came in and unhooked mom from all  monitors and machines and said it was okay if I helped give her a shower . I gave mom a nice warm shower and dressed her in new comfortable pajamas.  I noticed that her ankles and calves were swelling and that was due to taking in so much fluid therapy and not releasing the same amount.  So as I  changed her bed linens out I got her to sit up in the chair for a few and Kayleigh sat right by her side.


As She got back in her bed with clean sheets and blankets, I elevated her legs to help with the swelling.  I also applied a lot of  Medihoney to her lips and the nurse hooked her back up to the heart monitor and fluid therapy.

A few of the Limos and Buses were parked today

Dr. O. came in later this afternoon to go over her vitals signs and her current state of well being.  He explained that her kidney and liver functions are good.  Her blood levels seem to keep changing daily.  He was surprised that I told him her mouth looked great compared to this past Tuesday up until today.  He said if I had not told him her mouth was much better he would of said it was awful!  He is new to CTCA and it was a pleasure meeting him and we look forward to seeing more this weekend.

Day 12 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Thursday, May 22nd 2014

Today we had a packed schedule with many different appointments and doctors to see.  We started out with mom's port being accessed and blood drawn for the weekly lab work. The results came back a little less than positive.  We were told mom's kidney functions are getting worse and her Sodium and Magnesium levels were very low.  After the nurse checked mom's blood pressure and the reading was 81/50 there was some serious concern.  It was obvious that mom was very dehydrated and was not drinking the amount of fluids that was ordered by her team of doctors.  Dr. McKnight's nurse requested that we call Dr. Scott, the family doctor to discuss her blood pressure and the high blood pressure medications she has been taking for many years.  Being that mom is no longer a smoker, her high blood pressure medicine would need to be altered.

The Beam of Hope

"This beam was signed by people who have been touched by cancer, just like you.  They are patients, survivors and family members who made the journey you are now making and signed this beam as proff that hope is real.  We will accompany you on this journey and will share your passion, acknowledge your courage and celebrate your tenacity of spirit

Cancer Treatment Centers of America is your home for healing and hope."

Mom was originally prescribed a form of chemotherapy known as Cisplatinum and due to the effects on her hearing from her first chemo treatment Dr. McKnight and his team are planning to change it. Being that mom is having one of the side effects from the Cisplatinum, which is permanent hearing loss including complete deafness Dr. McKnight doesn't want to risk it.

Next on the schedule today was Radiation prep and treatment.  We only had minutes to get to that appointment.  Mom took 100 percent raw natural Wildflower Honey that she bought from Barley and Vine. She is supposed to take one tablespoon of honey and swish 15 minutes prior to the radiation treatment and 15 minutes following the treatment.  The honey soothes her throat and mouth from the radiation treatments.

The view of the bottom floor from Quality of Life

Next it was up to Quality of Life form mom to have Infusion for two and half hours due to dehydration.  She was getting extremely restless and impatient so it was nice to get done and go home.

The Charm of the Day; Sky Blue.