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Feeling Great, and Happy Thanksgiving!

Sherryl is feeling great these days.  She is very aware of feeling the chemo fog lift; it has hovered over her for the past several months.  She is appreciating the energy she has and this series of really good days.  She does experience some nausea, but it is mild and tolerable.  And she'd rather feel a bit nauseous than constantly tired. 

Sherryl's knees are sore, too, which she's attributing to the "bone glue," Zometa.  So Sherryl's physical therapy sessions are focused on range of motion in the lower body.  Overall however, RaRa says she feels as good now as she did long before she had cancer.  Phenomenal! 

Jonathan and Rachael, Sherryl's nephew and niece-in-law and parents of Austin and Haley, are hosting Thanksgiving this year.  We're going to have such a great time together!

Our cousin Marie still does not feel well, so prayers continue to be needed and very much appreciated.  Thank you so much. 

Wishing you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!   

Feeling Better / Prayers for Marie

Sherryl saw her oncologist today and they reviewed together her reaction to the current chemotherapy treatment.  Once anemia is no longer an issue, if Sherryl still feels tired as a result of this medication, the oncologist suggested that a lower dose may be the way to go.

Sherryl's voice is absent of fatigue, but she is still getting plenty of sleep.  And she is relieved to know that adjustments to medication dosages can be made based on fatigue and energy level.

Our cousin Marie, mother of two sons who are day care alumni, is not feeling well at all these days.  Fortunately, she is in Auntie Pattie's good care.  We are all sending love, prayers, and good thoughts to Marie, and we ask that you please do so as well.  Thank you!   

Chemo Sleepy

Sherryl is adjusting to the new chemotherapy and is noticing it is making her very tired.  She's tired when she gets home from work, so she goes to bed and has had what she calls "one of those weird chemo sleeps," which she describes as just keeping her eyes closed even if she's awake.  An appointment with Nancy last week revealed some reasons for this sleepiness. 

Sherryl's white blood cell count is down from the chemo medication, plus anemia has surfaced again.  There is a non-cancerous spot on the upper lobe of the right lung that, for some unknown reason, becomes inflamed from time to time resulting in a cough.  Sherryl was prescribed a cough medicine to take at night as well as a very strong antibiotic.  Unfortunately, antibiotics have always resulted in fatigue.

Sherryl also learned that her iron is low, so, rather than taking iron tablets, she'll look to iron-rich foods to increase the count.      

Sherryl didn't expect to experience this fatigue, but was assured by Nancy that this is a common symptom for this course of treatment.  As a result, the frequency for this chemotherapy has been changed to 3 weeks on and 1 week off.  Sherryl is feeling a bit better as of this morning and is optimistic her energy will return in the next couple of days. 

In an email from day care mom and friend, Michelle, Sherryl received the following photograph and thought how great it would be if little girls wore T-shirts like this one.  Thank you, Michelle!