Jan 31st

Hi All,

Jess has had her good and bad days. I am sure glad that they gave her blood on Tuesday. I think that it gives her a little pick me up. I am trying to keep her eating yogurt and drinking a lot of fluids. She woke up Friday morning with a stomach ache. I know that it is from the oral chemo; so she got up and took some pain pills, drank a boost, which I made sure she did, so she wouldn't get another stomach ache. Portland called Friday to confirm her appointment for Tuesday. She will not be able to eat or drink for 6 hours prior to the appointment. But they wanted her to drink a lot this weekend. She also has her big chemo treatment Monday in Medford. She is a little nervous about it, but Pat and I will be going with the kids, so I feel that will help. We will be leaving here Monday morning around 630 am and won't be home until late Friday afternoon. It will be a long week, but hopefully we will be coming home with good news :)

My nephew Tim started a fundraiser on a giveforward webpage. It ended yesterday; thank you all who helped him reach his goal and helping us. He worked really hard on it! Thanks so much to everyone for your help and support. It has helped us out so much and I don't know what we would have done without all your help. Please keep Jess in your prayers this week as she has a lot going on.


Love to all,
Cindi

Jan 27th

Hi All,

I meant to write last night, but I was feeling tired. I have been really stressed thinking about Portland next week and working, so I am a little wore out mentally and physically. Jess didn't get out of the hospital until 830 on Monday night. It takes a long time to get blood. She had chemo first and then received two units of blood. They ended up staying in Medford for the night. She was tired by the time they got done; but at least she didn't have any reaction to the IV chemo. Now they know for sure that it was the three shot PEG chemo that gave her problems. They are going to give it to her ealy on Monday, but also give her benadryl through her IV and steroids to help out with any reaction. We have decided to go up to Portland on Monday. We started to think that if she has a reaction that night, like last time, or something goes wrong we would have to go back to Medford. This way we will already be in Portland with her main doctor. That will put us in Portland Friday evening through Friday morning. It is going to be a long week. Well I am off for the night. Talk to you all tomorrow. Please put her in your prayers.

Love, Cindi

Jan 25th

Hi All,

Jess and Jon headed over to Medford this morning for the two chemo therapy treatments that she was supposed to received. But, when they got to Medford the Portland doctors had decided to give her only the IV chemo; because of the reaction she had last time. They wanted to see which one was actually doing it. So they took the PEG one off of her schedule today. She called me and was so excited! She really hates the three shots they give her; it really hurts her. Also, after they drew her blood they found that her blood count was low again and she needed to receive some more blood. She wanted to do it all at Rogue since they were going to be doing her PICC dressing change today, but the doctor said that they wanted her at Providence because she was known there (which is nice to know!). When she arrived there they needed to give her two units of blood, setup, and do the chemo, which would put them at about 6 hours. They would have had to leave around eight this evening. So we all thought they should stay over there for the night; especially since it started snowing again and the two of them don't need to be going over the mountain that late. It was a good idea they packed for the night. I am off for the night. Please keep her in your prayers. I will let you know how it goes tomorrow.

Love to all and God bless,
Cindi

Jan 24th

Hi All,

It is snowing in Klamath right now and we sure need it! We are hoping that winter is finally arriving :) Jess has been relaxing in the house all weekend. It has been a long two weeks and I totally understand why she is dragging. She has her up and down days. Some days she runs into town with makeup on and unless you know her really well you would think that she is totally fine; other days it is hard for her to even shower. She tries to fight it but it is hard some days. The energy it takes to do it isn't worth it to her. She has a big day tomorrow in Medford. IV chemo and the 3 shot chemo. We aren't really sure which one gave her hives. It made her feel really bad, so they said they will be watching her really close tomorrow. So kids are going to be packing for the night just in case. Especially with the weather going on. I will let you know how it goes tomorrow night. Thanks for checking in; please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Love to all,
Cindi

Jan 21st

Hi All,

Jess is in Medford doing chemo again today. This is the end of 2 weeks of 4 day chemo. I am so happy and I am sure she is too! She is taking the oral chemo again before Monday, then she has chemo one day a week before we go up to Portland on Feb 2nd. She was feeling pretty exhausted by the time they got home last night, so I can only imagine what she will be feeling like tonight. It upsets me so much to see her like this, but I keep hoping and praying for wonderful news when we get back up to OHSU. She woke up this morning before I left for work and I gave her a couple of meds. She said that they helped byt then she fell asleep and didn't get breakfast, so she got a different kind of stomach ache. Poor thing. Well keep her in your prayers. Send her strength and positive energy. Love to all! Cindi

January 19th

Hello All,

Jess seems to still be feeling upbeat. I can tell that she is a little more tired though. So I have been keeping my eye on her tonight. She still needs to be drinking lots of fluids and eating yogurt. It is easy to forget when you are feeling a little more chipper. Don't worry, I was on it, lol. I made her eat yogurt and she got her Dad to mix her a Crystal Light before I went to bed and write the blog for the day :) The fam was kidding about her getting busted! She had chemo today and again for the next two days. So I want to make sure that she is staying strong. Portland got a hold of me today and we head up the morning of the 2nd for the PET CT and a MRI, then we meet up with the head doctor on Thurs the 4th. So we will basically be up in Portland for 4 days in a motel....fun, fun! I have to admit that I am little nervous and just can't help it. I just want it all to be gone. Well, everyone I am off to bed. Please keep her in your prayers.

Love to all,
Cindi

Jan 18th

Hi All,

Jess had a pretty average weekend. She has her good and bad times. She actually had a pretty good day today when we went to Medford for chemo. We had a girls day today and it was really fun. We headed out about 1030 am and her appointment was at 1230, to get her blood drawn, a doctor visit, and then chemo. We felt like we had a good doctor visit. Dr. Taylor came in and said that her blood count was really good and they were going to check on her liver since it has been acting up with the oral chemo; but she never came and found us again, so we are hoping that was good too. She checked Jess' mouth and said that the lump she had seen about 6 weeks ago in her soft palate was gone now. We are hoping that there is going to be really good news in Portland in about 2 1/2 weeks! I am praying for that :)

Jess is still having some pain in her stomach so they did an extra test today to check it. She has to be back in Medford tomorrow for chemo again, so they will get the results back then. The doctor went over all that has happened in the last few weeks because we haven't been seeing her for doctor visits. We have been seeing the PA. She told us what Jess has been going through (trips to the hospital and low blood counts) is common for as much chemo as she has been getting...so it made me feel better. She said that they were going to be watching her closely in the next couple of weeks, since she is having different chemos (to make sure that she doesn't get the hives like she had before). Well I hope that I got everything covered that has happened today, lol, it was a busy busy day. Please keep her in your prayers.

Love to all,
Cindi

Jan 14th

It was a super long day for Jess again. She had to stay on her back for the 24 hours from her spinal last night so they asked the hotel if they could stay until 2 pm today since her chemo was at 240. Then when they got there they wanted to pull blood to check for her liver first before they did all the chemo. If her liver was acting up worst than it has been they were going to hold off for the day, but it ended up being okay. It took them an hour though to figure this all out so she got another late start on her chemo. In the mean time through the doctor from the spinal had called her to check up on her from her procedure yesterday so that was nice of him. He was checking up on her headaches and pain. Her cancer doctor had given her some morphine so she was feeling okay. It is sore right now (8 pm Thurs night), and she is super tired since she is getting the oral chemo too, but at least she is home and they don't have to be back there until about 3 pm tomorrow. So my little girl is looking pretty peaked so please pray for strength and healing. Love you all, Cindi

Jan 13th

Jess had a kind of a rough day today. Medford called this morning and wanted her over there for a spinal at noon so she and Jon took off around ten to get over there. She didn't really feel it, but she must have started to get anxious on the way over (not sure why though?), so she had to stop because she was sick on the way over. She said that they were very nice, but it still hurt like heck. They put shots in her spine first to numb it and then she said that he had a lot of tools there and asked for about 15cc of her blood out of her picc line; which he inserted into her spine. They want to make sure if there is a leak that this will cure it. She had to lay there for about 2 hours and then head over to get chemo. Since they were running so late they didn't get done until around 6 pm. The doctor had told her that she needed to drink lots of caffeine and stay on her back for the next 24 hours. Plus he does not want her bending down a lot or picking up things more than 10 lbs (that leaves out her puppy) :( She and Jon got a hotel room for the night so she could lay down and I know that I feel more comfortable with her being by her doctor for the night. Plus she has chemo again in the afternoon. Well, I am mentally and physically beat tonight so I am off to bed. Please put her in your prayers. Love to all, Cindi

Jan 12th, again

Update!

Jess just called me at 6 pm from Medford still!! I had misunderstood her earlier and they hadn't even done any chemo yet. So I found out that they had hydrated her before and after chemo to try to cure the headaches. Plus the chemos can't be given together so that make for a longer time. Also, I found out that they are thinking that her spinal fluid is still leaking so they are going to call in the morning and get her set up for another spinal before her chemo, but inject it with blood this time. I feel a little overwhelmed right now. It just seems like one thing after another. I will let you know how she does. Cindi

Hey everyone!

Jess and Jon headed off to Medord this morning for blood work, doctor visit, two different IV chemos, and then a picc dressing change. I had to work and it killed me not going. I talked to Jess and she was fine with it as long as it was chemo that she already had, and as long as she wasn't having spinal chemo. Soo...I went to work and fretted...lol. They should have been home around 330, but she called me around 230 and said she had gotten sick over there. The doctor was giving her extra fluids to hopefully help with the headaches that she is still getting. Plus she had taken a nap after chemo for a little catchup so that put them a little behind; and she still had to get the dressing change which pushed them to be home around 600. Then the next three days she has to get IV chemo again. I will continue to go to work unless something comes up. Thanks for checking in. I will let you know how she is doing tomorrow. Please keep her in your prayers. God Bless, Cindi

Jan 9th

Hi everyone!

Well, we got home with Jess on Friday afternoon. It seemed like a crazy last few days and I actually felt sick because I was so tired. Jess is still feeling under the weather. Headaches come and go, very exhausted, and she is still having back spasms. I am trying to keep her up on her pain meds and drinking at least two liters a day of fluids. She said that she slept pretty well, but she woke up with her arm killing her (it was the one that got the two shots of chemo). If she gets up too fast it starts the headache; she has been laying on the floor all day, by the fire and staying pretty quiet. We are trying to also keep her eating a couple of yogurts a day to help with her intestines; she also has a mild bladder infection to add to this. The doctor decided that after her spinal chemo she really needs to lay on her back and stay still for a few hours. That is what they did up in Portland, but down here they only had her do it for about an hour...we are going to change since it has been a nightmare for Jess. Well, I am off for now. You all take care and thanks for checking in. Please keep her in your prayers.

Love, Cindi

January 7th

Hello, We are in Medford. Last night Jess kept getting sick, had a massive headache and bad back spasms. I had already called once and they had me go get some stronger meds and that didn't hep. When I called again to the cancer center I got a hold of the on call cancer doctor. He got a little angry at me for waiting so long, but I told him that I had called earlier. He had me put a pill under her tongue, but it didn't help so off we went. We got to the ER about midnight. They instantly started fluids, morphine, and a brain scan to check for spinal leaks---thinking maybe something went wrong with the spinal chemo. Pat and I headed out a couple of hours later when they had her settled in. They admitted her and told us that she was severely dehydrated and to wait only about four hours before we bring her in; if this happens again. They must have been worried because the cancer doctor actually showed up about 2 am and popped in around 3 am. She had a pretty good morning, but then right after lunch she broke out in hives, had back spasms, and the headaches again. They gave her morphine again and some other pain meds plus a heating pad on her back. They are going to be giving her morphine every two hours to get it under control, but I don't know what is causing this. They are thinking it is the spinal, but I will be anxious to know what the doctor says in the morning (8th). Well I am super tired. I hope that I gave you a pretty good overview of what is going on. Please put in some extra prayers for her.

Thanks!
Cindi

Jan 6th

Well Jess is doing horrible. Major headache, throwing up, and back and muscle spasms. We have tried everything...heating pads, meds, massages, having her lay differently. I hate it when I can't fix it and I hate to see her in so much pain. I have also been trying to get a little something in her stomach so it doesn't get upset more. Thank goodness she doesn't have anymore chemo until next Tuesday. Although, it will be the long 4 day week of chemo and the oral chemo again. Well, I am going to get off. I will let you know how she is doing tomorrow.

Love and prayers,
Cindi

Jan 5th

We had IV chemo and spinal chemo today. I was really happy with the way that the cancer in office in Medford were asking about the last spinal doctor. They were all very concerned and asked about what happened. It is a big office over there and everyone we met were asking about how she was and her chemo nurse said that she was going to go over to the hospital with us and have our back...lol!I was surprised at how word got around. Before we left there and went to the hospital the cancer doctor confirmed that it wasn't the same spinal doctor as last time. So we were really happy. When Jess had her pulse checked when we got there it was 135. I could tell that she was getting really nervous. So they gave her some meds before her chemo to calm her down and then some before her spinal. We finally got out of Providence around 530. We hadn't eaten since breakfast since Jess couldn't so we thought that we would grab a quick bite to eat. Jess got a massive headache so she went and laid in the pickup. I told Pat that there was no way that she was going to come home so we got a room at the hotel, but as soon as she got out of the pickup she started to throw up. It is so horrible to see her this way. As soon as she got into the room she was laying on the bed with a warm washcloth on her forehead. I could just see her trying to come home and getting worse and having to go back in the morning. She started to feel better after laying there for awhile so I am happy. I will let you all go. Please say an extra prayer for her and send her positive energy :)

Thanks so much!!
XOXO Cindi

Jan 3rd

Good evening to everyone! It is sure foggy here. Wow, I don't know if it is like this everywhere else, but it is cold and murky outside our house. Jess had a rough day with major body aches, headache, and just felt all over blucky. It is weird how the chemo hits like that. She can feel so good and then wham it hits. So she has been just laying on the couch and keeping warm today. We got all the Christmas decorations down and the tree too. It seems so sad when you do that at first...then I look around and we have more room to move around (and we really need it!). So I am heading to work tomorrow and Jon will be here to keep an eye on Jess and then on Tuesday she has chemo and the spinal chemo as well. We will probably be spending the night over in Medford on Tuesday because she had a rough time because of the idiot doctor she had. So we will see how she does. Well I am off for the night. I will talk atcha all tomorrow. Please keep up the prayers. Love, Cindi

Jan 2nd

Good Evening! I hope that everyone has recovered from New Years! Well, Jess had a rough day on Fri. Hives, chills, no appetite, and over all just blucky. I had to keep taking her temp to make sure she didn't have a high fever, but she was alright there. Wow, does she scare me sometimes. I stress and stress worrying about her. She woke up this morning though feeling a lot better. I actually took her outside and a quick trip to town to get her out and about--and some fresh air. She looked so much better and she ended up eating really well today too. That is always a good sign. The chemo is so scary, the way it affects her. She was mainly just achy and cold today. We stopped to get the mail and the air fight bill was there and you guys would not believe how much it was....$17,500!! And that is just from Klamath to Medford. Crazy, crazy! Well I am off for the night. Thanks so much for checking in. Please keep her in your prayers and send positive energy her way.

Love you all,
Cindi

December 31st

We just got home from Medford (6 pm). Jess had another case of bad hives this morning so I called up the doctors and they wanted to see her. They were sorry that we had to drive over there, but they wanted to make sure that she was okay. Jess and I left about 1030. It wasn't too bad. I just had to go into 4 wheel drive up the hills. They figured that it was the chemo that she has by getting 3 shots. It is actually a really nasty strong chemo that they used to give in the IV but it had so many side effects they switched it to shot form. I sure hope it is it is working if it is that bad ass! The first time Jess had it was when she was up at OHSU and she was on all of the steroids, so it took care of the side effects, but since she hasn't been on them she got the hives (thank goodness that is the only side effect she has). They put her back on a medium dose of steroids for about a week, along with Benadryl until the chemo is out of her system. She is also really tired and worn out and her appetite is not real good so she always has me worried. Next Tuesday we have IV chemo and the spinal again, so I hope she can get enough rest this weekend to be ready to go. We are going to spend the night next week so it is easier on her. I am going to try to work on Mon, Thurs, and Fri since I am pretty sure I am completely out of sick leave...it is going to be a tiring week. I hope that you all have a safe and happy New Years! Love you all and thanks so much for your support.

God Bless,
Cindi