Yesterday was chemo day for Kelly. She is never crazy about these days since she knows she is going to end up sick. It does help to have a nice place to go for her infusions now. Below are some photos of CHOC's new Outpatient Infusion Center, which is right behind the oncology clinic. There is a big common area in the middle so if the kids feel like it, they can go there and watch tv, play video games (or play with other toys there if they are younger) and just have a chance to be social instead of being closed into a room like they used to be. Kelly still likes to be in her own space once her chemo starts, but it is nice for me to be able to talk to other moms here, especially when Kelly has a brand new book with her and doesn't care if she has me with her all the time.
Yesterday also went faster because our friend, Bailey and his family were there for a long chemo infusion also. We had the last two rooms across from each other (they are open, with curtain that can close. Here is Bailey with his two little sisters. They are watching E.T. - so is Kelly right across from them. Thanks for making a long day go faster, Michelle. Next time I'll bring the muffins!
Kelly was given an extra anti-nausea medicine yesterday since she has been having a hard time with her chemo, and it really knocked her out. This is the first time she has ever fallen asleep during chemo and I think she liked it that way. After she fell asleep, I noticed what she had tucked in her pocket and I thought this was touching. This is a special rosary she received while she was in Lourdes. It is blessed and has actual Lourdes water in it. That trip is still helping her through her journey.She is feeling much better today, just pretty tired. We are happy to see that she has her appetite. Speaking of her appetite, in case you haven't heard, she is eating wheat again! She couldn't resist trying a piece of bread on our trip to France. Bread is one of the things that the French make well. As we were flying over to Lourdes on Air France, she tried a piece of my bread to see if it would make her sick. Twenty minutes later, she still felt fine, so she had her own piece. She was thrilled that she was able to eat croissants every morning at our hotel! So she is still eating bread and tolerating it well. She may have outgrown her intolerance to wheat, or her digestion may be affected by her chemo. Whatever happened, she is very happy to be able to eat all things wheat again.
Kelly's next MRI is a week from today on Wednesday, June 4th. She has an appointment right after her MRI with her neurosurgeon, Dr. Muhonen, to go over the results. Please join us in praying for clear scans.
Thanks for your love and support,
Kathy
14 comments:
Kelly,
Well there's some good news-able to eat wheat again!! You must be having a lot of fun trying new things once again! Glad you're not feeling too bad today!
Love,
The Silvestris
Dear Kathy,
Thanks for the Kelly update! The new chemo area looks very comfortable and welcoming. I love the pix of Kelly with her special cross - sweet!
Can't wait to hear the great news after her MRI next week.
How's Kevin doing?
Talk to you soon,
Darla and Family
Heyyy!! My chemo room looked nothing like that! Just 7 chairs all crammed into a teeny tiny room. I am glad you were able to sleep Kelly. I bet it made the time go much faster. Sometimes it is nice to just "check out" for a little bit.
Very exciting about the whole wheat thing! Hmmmm, that makes me want to go out for lunch.... again! :) Debbie Meyering
Hi Kath & Kelly,
It's good to hear there are positive things to help make chemo a bit more bearable. The photos of the new infusion center look great. And the Lourdes rosary tucked in Kelly's pocket is a beautiful picture of her faith and strength! I'm so glad to hear about the wheat news too, and that Kelly was able to have croissants in France! That in itself is a miracle!
Hope you're resting well tonight. We'll all be saying prayers for a beautiful MRI on June 4th!
Love & hugs,
Aunt Tracy
Dear Kelly,
Sleeping through chemo sounds like the way to go. The new infusion center looks very nice, too.
Of course, everyone is hoping that your MRI on next Wedesday is ABSOLUTELY CLEAR!
Kathy and I saw your Aunt Denise last night. She told us your Dad is in Hawaii again. I hope that means he'll be back home soon.
Have a restful day.
Henry
P.S. Congratulations on being able to eat wheat again!
Awesome news guys!! Chloe is back in on Monday for a long day too. We just love the infusion center, isn't it great! Glad you were able to sleep, that is a biggie! Hope to see you guys soon!
XOXOXO
The Diemer's
Hi Kelly! The infusion center looks very nice and I am glad you were able to rest.
Victor's "little boat" is actually back from Chile and in San Diego. It leaves there and goes to Pearl Harbor but I am sure your Dad will be back home before the Washington gets there.
I will cross everything but my eyes (and maybe those too when I am not driving!) and pray for another beautiful picture of your brain on June 4th!
Hugs,
Pat
Dear Kelly,
I remembered a little adventure I had in Freiburg years ago. It may amuse you or it may put you right to sleep. Either way, I guess there's no harm.
Freiburg is in the southwestern corner of Germany, not all that far from the French border. For that reason, the French forces decided to make it their headquarters after World War II. In the early 1970's, there was still a large French military presence in Freiburg.
Now, I'm fairly short, and I had dark brown hair in those days, which I kept short and I wore glasses with dark frames.
So there I was, walking past the French non-commissioned officers' club, and a French M.P. stopped me. The French had a big desertion problem. The German army would take them if they could speak German. The German army had a shorter enlistment and better pay, and once they had an honorable discharge from the German army, the French could do nothing, as long as the deserters stayed in Germany. There was also a bounty for catching and returning deserters, so M.P.'s were on the look-out. Anyway, the M.P. saw a couple of thousand francs coming his way, and he wanted to take me in. I said: "Sorry, I'm an American." I showed him my passport with my German visa stamps in it and everything. He said he thought I was a French deserter. He said my haircut complied with French military regulations, and the eyeglasses looked like French military issue, too. I asked him "What about the cane and the way I walk?" He said: "My friend, you'd be surprised at the acting I've seen."
After that, I'd see him from time to time around town. He'd give me a smile and a big wave. He wasn't a bad guy at all, really.
Henry
Dear Kelly,
I don't know what it feels like to get chemo, but I know it's not fun. It sounds like the doctors are doing all they can to minimize the discomfort.
I'm flying out tonight and will be home early tomorrow morning. I think we have something fun scheduled for tomorrow night. Can't wait!
Love you!
Great Update Kathy. Thank you. It is wonderful to hear that this session was better than the last. Sleeping through it really helps...at least that's what my dad says. Have a wonderful day...we think about you and pray for you often.
Michael
Hi Kelly,
I took a peak at the pics of your room re-do. It is really nice......and special, because it was made just for you. The infusion room looks very comforting.........it's much more inviting than the one at Children's in New orleans.
I will be praying for you dear, that your MRI comes back squeaky clean!!!
((HUGS)) Veronica/Angel_wings
www.caringbridge.org/visit/kellygranier
So glad the new infusion center is more inviting and spacious! We love the photos especially of you Kelly sleeping with your rosary in your pocket--very sweet!!
We'll be sending lots of extra special prayers your way for another clear MRI on June 4th!
Glad to hear Kevin will be home tomorrow!
Love,
Aunt Jenny, Uncle Bob, Kylie and Ryan
Kellllyyy!!! I need to finish my drawing in your book but Megan said she's not going to dance tonite...so I think it's safe to assume you won't be their either. Maybe I'll see you saturday and I can finish it. :] I'm glad that you were able to sleep through chemo yesterday. I will be praying for another clear MRI!
<3 Amy
ps-So You Think You Can Dance starts in 4 hours and 10 minutes! YAY!!!
Hi Kelly!
Glad that another chemo day is in the past.
Mark and I thought a lot about you and the family this past weekend. We were up in the mountains at the cabin and it snowed! There was about two inches on the ground and it looked like the middle of winter.
We now have a new pet in the mountains. He is a squirrel we named One-Eyed Jack (Jack, for short) because...you guessed it...he only has one eye. He's pretty brave. He came up to Mark and took a peanut right out of his hand. He's got some competition (another squirrel and a bluejay) but he can handle it.
Glad to hear your Dad is coming home tomorrow. Give your whole family our love. Great news about not having a wheat intolerance anymore. My students, and Mark and I will be praying that your MRI is clear next Wednesday. Please thank your Mom for taking the time to write and post pictures on your website. It's such a great way to keep in touch with what's going on with you. Take care!
Love and hugs,
Laurie
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