Thursday, January 22, 2009

Chemo - Round #1

I apologize that it has taken so long to give everyone an update. We really appreciate all of the emails we have been receiving from everyone with words of encouragement, offers to help in different ways, and most important, all of those who have been faithfully praying for us. I wish there were more hours in the day to personally respond to all of the emails and comments on Brenda's blog, but for now, please know that we really appreciate everyones' support and we are so thankful and blessed to have such great friends and family.

Brenda is currently in the hospital, in Red Deer, receiving treatment for an infection or bug that she picked up since having her first chemo treatment last Friday. She was doing quite well for the first couple of days after treatment, but according to her oncologist, that was mainly because of the steroids they prescribed before and after her treatment, to reduce swelling. She wasn't feeling very well on Tuesday and by Wednesday, at noon, she had an elevated temperature and needed to get checked out. One of the side effects of chemotherapy is reduced white blood cells, which provide us with our immunity to fight disease and infection, so it is fairly serious when someone undergoing chemo treatment gets sick, so we headed off to the emergency dept again.

She was admitted and has been receiving antibiotics by intravenous to fight the infection and is supposed to receive medication to increase her white blood counts. We hope and pray that the drugs do their job and she recovers quickly so that she can return home and recuperate. Until her white blood counts increase, she will remain in hospital, under close supervision - hopefully for just a couple more days!

Carman

4 comments:

Daria said...

Carmen,

I hope Brenda recovers and makes it home soon.

Be careful ... there are so many bugs out there right now.

Take care,
Daria

Kami said...

Hey guys. Thinking of you EVERY Day...stay strong!
love you
Kam

Chelsea said...

you don't know me......but I have been following this blog since the beginning.......I don't have a lot to say, although I wish i did......

Brenda, you have the weight of the world on your shoulders......however, the Creator of the Universe is who you ask for strength!

The world today, full of economic confusion and fear, fear of sickness and fear of tomorrow......
and here you are! A stunning example of faith, strength, that only comes from one place.....because when we are only human
we fear,
we are alone
you Brenda, you are not alone, you are a tool, used to give others faith, where it may have been lacking, and you don't even know it! you don't know who's lives you are touching......what they are going through......and yet you and Carmen have been a life line! Life line to faith, and strength! I do believe we don't really know why, or how, when, and maybe we shouldn't. There is a reason this life is so full of unanswered questions....would a loving Creator leave us like this? NO! What's in store we can only imagine! Just imagine Brenda! If the world was in your hands, what would you do to make it better.......wouldn't a loving God want all those same things?? Ponder that with me.....

kandace said...

Carman and Brenda,

I think of you both often and am so sad for what you are going through. I hope Brenda gets feeling better and is able to return home soon. My cousin is a pastor in Squamish and I have put in a prayer request for you both. Please know that there are SO MANY prayers out there for you.

Kandace