from the fabulous Graves & Breland families ...

on the couch; Mom's 1st cousin Melinda, holding grandbaby Maddie, & her husband Carl, holding granddaughter Baylor

on the floor; Jason, Mary Evelyn, Brinkley - Megan, Tanya & Chris

more from Mom ...

One step forward ...

Much improvement since my last update but not without challenges. My incision has almost completely healed and I definitely have more energy. I’m still having a great deal of difficulty eating and haven’t put on any of the weight I desperately need. Spent yesterday afternoon at an urgent care center for extreme fatigue, weakness, nausea and a severe reflux attack. The doc there was concerned that my intestines are becoming blocked again, but my oncologist this a.m. was not so concerned. We shall see.

Headed for the couch, the evening seems to be the “witching hour” or I’m just worn out by the day’s end.

Love you all,
Nyshie

from Mom .....

Whew!!!

I’m finally, slowly but surely, fighting my way out of the last month’s sabotage on my body. I still have quite the abdominal incision, which is being repacked 3 times per week by a home health nurse. Have lost lots of weight and all of my hair (as previously posted). Every day brings a little more energy and a little more light to this dark place I have been in. We saw my oncologist last week and I’m scheduled to re-start chemo in 2 ½ weeks. It should take about 2 ½ to 3 months to complete the chemo. We completely missed the holidays and still have a pile of gifts in our living room, which is driving some little girls I know crazy.

The good news has been lots of football to watch, the bad news is my teams are losing right and left ... Go Packers!!!

I just want to give a heart felt thanks for all of the love and support we have all been receiving on a daily basis in the form of visits, calls, cards, food, chocolate, etc. Way too much for me to respond to on an individual basis, but please know your kindness has been appreciated. A special thanks to Maggie for keeping the blog up to date, to Ben for coming from Massachusetts to take turns with Paul sleeping in the hospital, and to Paul for seeing me through this yet again and for my entire family for caring for me in a thousand different ways. Beth, Danny, Chad, Eric, Jess and Matt have continued to provide amazing moral support and love.

Love you all,
Nyshie

Doing well at home ...........

Hi all,

Sorry I haven't posted in a couple days, I sort of ran out of steam.

Mom is doing really well. She's up walking, showering, even went for a short ride in the car with Paul today. The wound care nurse comes Mon, Wed and Fri to change the wound dressing & packing. She also has a PT coming out today to do some exercises with her. Ben reported to me that she has been eating pretty well too.

I think she has an appt. with her doc on Thursday. I'm not sure if he'll want to start chemo next week or wait one more week. We'll see??

That's all for now ............

Love,
Maggie

Unbelievably good news ... anyone?!!!!

Mom is HOME!!! Yes, I said it, she just got home!

Her bowels started working last night, so to speak, and her red blood count was up this morning from the transfusion. The PT practiced some stairs with her, IV came out and she is home!

The dirt road up to the house was a bit brutal and she is feeling a little nervous but I think when she wakes up in her own bed and looks out at her snow covered trees, she'll get her fight back.

A wound care nurse will come out every other day to check her incision, change the packing and dressing and check the wound vac. I assume she'll have labs next wk.

I think that's it for now.

Lots of love and massive thanks everyone for all of the support!!!
Maggie, (Nysh, Paul, Ben, etc.)

Friday

Mom was really wiped out today. Her hematocrit was pretty low so they gave her 3 units of blood. Her foley is out, which is nice, so she is up walking to the bathroom. I think she only made two trips down the hall today, too much pain. Plus, the wound care unit came in and had to completely unpack and repack the gauze in her wound, very painful. Her bowels need to awaken, which is the next crucial step. Monday is the earliest discharge possibility ... for now.


Thanks everyone,
Maggie

Thursday evening ...

Overall, Mom had a much better day. Her spirits were better, she actually took some steps, and her appetite increased! She walked out of her room and next door to the shower, HUGE! She sat up in a chair several times. It is still extremely painful for her to move but she made some great strides today.

Things have been very emotional and overwhelming. One day at a time I suppose ...

Night,
M.

Wednesday evening ...

Sorry for the delay in updates.

The wound care unit has been coming up and changing the dressing and gauze packing. The doc also put in a small vacuum line that will continuously pump any infection or fluid from the wound. This is helpful with the healing time too.

She is supposed to sit up 4 times a day. A physical therapist came in today to show her some "exercises" to do. PT said she still has quite a bit of strength in her arms and legs ... good!

She is still in a lot of pain but her appetite is coming back!

Paul took last night, Ben is there tonight.

She is feeling very overwhelmed but definitely hanging in!

Night,
M.

"Minor" speed bump ........

Well ..........

Her doc came in and the redness around her incision had spread overnight, plus the fever has yet to go away, so he opened up the incision. There was a large pocket of infection, which they drained and packed with sterile gauze. She will have an open wound with dressing changes so that the infection can be resolved.

She continues to eat a litte more.

I'm running out the door but will update later.
M.

Mom is "present!"

She is coherent and alert! She continues to do well with liquids. The hospital brought her coffee, jello and swanson chicken broth ... lovely. But, yay Ben, he made her an organic, root veggie broth and some miso soup!

She is having a short nap and then we are walking the halls.

Still haven't seen doc this a.m.

More later ............

Improvement!

The Ng tube is OUT! She did have the "11th floor enema" and it worked. She has been up out of bed some and I believe having some liquids.

Hopefully sleep tonight.


Loving,
M.

Happy New Year!

Well, a bit of a rough night. More agitation, confusion, etc. They are going to clamp off her Ng tube and see if her belly fills or if things will go south. Also, I think she's in line for an "11th floor enema." Don't ask! Doc wants her to back off pain meds and get up a little today.


We'll see ...............

More later!

Love from Alaska!

friends Steve & Debbie, Nysh's niece Miki & her husband Ross
adorable great nieces Emi & Maya