Ups and Downs

 Vaughn's Update on Suzi:

Suzi has been doing somewhat better at having the energy to do a little more during the last several days. She still has very little energy and tires very quickly but is grateful that she can do a little more.  She managed to get the house decorations changed from Autumn and Halloween to Christmas...and made it look very nice.  She does a great job of making home a nice place to be, including with her decorations that change with the seasons.

We got our tree up and our outside decorations and lights up and energized and it is nice to have that done.

Now for the ups and downs:

Up:

• She is mostly over the bronchitis that she had for a couple of weeks.  It really knocked her for a loop.  She said it was the sickest she could remember being.  The coughing kept her awake all night for a solid week.  She was finally able to get back into urgent care and get a narcotic cough syrup that stopped the coughing during the night and let her get some sleep.  Most of the cough is gone and she is happy to have that out of the way.

Down:

• No sooner had she pretty much gotten over the bronchitis when she noticed that her left foot, ankle and lower leg appeared to be swollen.  We had an appointment already made with her oncologist in a couple of days so she waited until then instead of making another appointment.  They did an ultrasound and determined that she had a deep vein blood clot in her left leg.  They didn't seem too concerned about it and just gave her a prescription for Lovenox (a blood thinner).  The downside is that she has to give it to herself as an injection each morning for the next 30 days.  So, she is learning a new skill  ;-);
• Her Oncologist said that she was a little concerned with the lack of progress in getting her light chains reduced and was considering changing the chemo prescription to one that required going in for an injection twice a week.  She was waiting for the results of the latest blood tests to make that decision;
• Her red blood vessel count (hemocrit) has been going gradually down, which is not a good thing.  So, they decided to put her on Procrit, which is a drug that increases the red blood cells, hence, the hemocrit level.  She goes in for a weekly injection for this drug.  They monitor this very closely so that the hemocrit level doesn't go to high.  In order to monitor it, she goes in for a blood test every two weeks;

Up:

• Received a phone call from her Oncologist's office...light chains showed a significant drop in this last blood test and they will be leaving her on the same chemo...no additional injections.

Suzi maintains a positive attitude and is very grateful for doctors, medications, prayers and support of friends and loved ones, and the fact that she does feel somewhat better and more capable of getting around and doing some things by herself (a short shopping trip, other exciting things like that).  In order to help keep her able to do things inspite of her very limited endurance (including shortness of breath), she now has a disabled parking permit so that she can use her energy inside of the store (or other destination) instead of using it all up getting across the parking lot.

Last night we went to a Christmas concert that two of our grandchildren in Dallas, Oregon were in. (Emma and Dalton from Kristi and Kurt's family).  It was excellent.  They did a great job and we really enjoyed it.  Grandma Sharon rode down with us to be there, as well.

Tonight we went to dinner with Marshall and Sharon Woolner and then went to the Nativity presentation at the Milwaukie Stake Center.  We had an excellent dinner and really enjoyed our time with Marshall and Sharon...as always.  Saw some friends there that we don't often see.

We are looking forward to enjoying the Christmas Season with all of its music, color, and family get togethers.  We are especially grateful to have the opportunity at this time of year to celebrate the birth of our Savior and to be grateful for our wonderful families and friends.

Thank you again for all of your support, letters, cards, phone calls and personal well wishes for Suzi.  She loves all of you so much.

Love, Vaughn, Dad, Grandpa, Brother, etc., etc.