Thursday, May 10, 2012

Update on Nick 5/10/12


Nick and I were in Birmingham yesterday for another round of chemo and IVIG.

Overall, everything is okay. Nick’s port wasn’t working...AGAIN. It seems like he is having more and more problems with this new port. The port is being clogged by small protein particles that are in the blood stream. It’s not all that uncommon for the particles to collect at the end of the internal IV line. It just seems like this is happening a lot more frequently. I don’t know what any of it means. As long as the medicine used to clear the port and the line continues to work, it’s all okay.

Once the line got cleared, it worked like a dream. Please pray it stays this way!

Nick received his chemo and IVIG. Everything went okay with that. No real problems.

One concern that the doctor has is that the chemo may by affecting Nick’s bladder. This is a side effect of the chemo, but Nick hasn’t ever had a problem with it. The doctor wants Nick to drink even more water than he usually does to help flush out all of the chemo. Nick may have to begin receiving extra IV fluids when he gets his chemo to help as well. He is already getting a lot of IV fluids, but...this is part of what can happen with being on this chemo for as long as Nick has been on it.

I also noticed that Nick’s platelet count seemed a little bit lower this time. It is still in normal range, but lower. I am wondering if the cancer is beginning to affect Nick’s ability to make platelets. That has happened before when the cancer was really active and growing.

The oncologist is keeping an eye on all of the different blood levels that indicate if things are trending in that direction. Nothing was mentioned about it yesterday since all of the results were not back yet. I don’t anticipate there being anything abnormal, but looking at the trend of the different blood levels is one way to help catch a problem before it gets too bad. I guess my concern is that this may be the beginning of a trend...the beginning of the cancer becoming more active again.

So, I guess I have more questions than answers. The answers are not easily gained though. It’s just going to take some time of watching and waiting to see what the cancer is going to do. It hasn’t behaved very predictably for the last year and a half. Nick’s oncologist says that it is “smoldering”. The problems begin when it erupts.

I’m trying not to play the what if game. I’m trying not to over worry either, although both are very difficult for me.

Today, Nick is good. I’ll take that and let God take care of tomorrow. Please pray for healing for Nick.

Kacie is still in a knee brace from the car accident we were in. She is due back for a checkup next week. Her knee still hurts often. Please pray that it heals completely and quickly.

My collar bone is broken. I’m in a sling for three weeks. The rotator cuff in my shoulder is really irritated as well, along with most of the muscles on the left side of my upper back. Lots of rest and steroids are the doctor’s orders. I go back for a reevaluation in a couple more weeks. The doctor will decide then if an MRI is needed.

I guess that pretty much catches us up. This school year is winding down quickly. Nick’s next chemo is scheduled for June 6.

Thank you for the continued thoughts and prayers.

I would also ask that Noah Crowe and his parents be lifted up in prayer. Noah is a little guy that is battling brain cancer. His parents have had to make the decision to let the ALMIGHTY PHYSICIAN take over Noah’s care, since the chemo isn’t working anymore. Noah’s website is www.prayfornoah.com if anyone would like more information.

Another little guy, Thomas Sullivan, has just begun his battle with a brain cancer. He is having a tough time with this second round of chemo. Please pray for him and his family as well.

Last, but not least, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE lift up a very dear friend of mine and Keith’s who is fighting a battle with cancer. Rick has been fighting this cancer for many years. He is in ICU right now and needs lots of prayers. Please pray for Rick, his wife Lisa, and their daughters, Hannah and Lauren.

Thank you for continuing to help us carry our burdens.

Always remaining...

In HIS Grip,
Kristy Baxley

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