Update August 28

Family Fun:  Big weekends here.

8/12 Jim's sister Gina and brother-in-law George came up this weekend for a visit.  They arrived yesterday and we had a cookout. It was a blast to catch up. Emma did an evening 5k run with glow in the dark stuff thrown at her.  The kids went on the boat with Jim, their aunt and uncle.  Gina and George left and my mom and Kate arrived.

8/19 Emma again went on a boat trip with Jim and some pals.  We also had a goodbye party for Joseph.   He went off to school on 8/25.  Emma and Joe have spent a lot of time together shopping and going to the beach.  Emma, Grandma and Kate even took me out for a day at shopping at target.

Medical Update: Sunday (Aug 28) Over the last several weeks Maureen had continuing weakness.  On Monday, Maureen was admitted to the hospital unable to walk or dance under her own power.  She had not been able to keep down any food or drink before this for days.  They discovered a toxic reaction to one of her antibiotics,  Once she stopped taking it things started recovering rapidly.  The first 3 days in the hospital were a nightmare but I am now feeling much better and beginning to take steps on my own with the help of two nurses.  A ways to go to but no more lightheaded or dizziness.  Mostly severe lack of strength and fatigue.  No worries we'll get back.  Started next round of chemo on Thursday.  No ETA yet for discharge.

In other news...on Sunday 8/21 at 330 am Maureen fell over her walker and her head grazed the corner of a chest.  We went to the emergency room and they found no internal damage so home we went. The same day at 330 pm my Mom was bringing me to a clinic visit.  She tripped and fell while getting me a wheelchair and banged up her face pretty good.  She too went to the emergency room and got two stitches for her trouble but also no internal injuries.  She was able to go home that night and is doing great.

So Joe is at school, Emma starts just after labor day (oh and also made the JV Volleyball team!!). Kate went home after a week stay, and grandma spend 5 hours in the emergency room but has been home in north andover beyond that.   WOW

Thanks for checking in

Love Maureen

Update August 8th

Family Fun:  Emma is home!!  Her return was preceded by a letter with a list of activities she wants to knock out before school starts.  Good stuff like beach days, dinner at a favorite restaurant, bonfire - don;t think cleaning out the trunk from camp made it to the list but this is only day 1.  Joseph is counting the days until he returns to Bowdoin.  Master Shin (who runs the Tae Kwon Do studio where Joseph works) is planning a nice goodbye party for my big guy.  Jim and the kids enjoyed  beautiful day on the boat this past Sunday.  Hope to be joining them on an upcoming trip soon.  Jim's sister Gina and husband George will be here this weekend.  My Mom and Kate get her late Sunday afternoon for an extended visit.

Medical Update:  Good week on the medical front.  Heading into the clinic regularly still as this is the point post-chemo where my counts drop.  (you may know from previous posts - low platelets, low red blood that I need replenished).  Not sure how long this will last -  will update all on next treatment possibilities as they present themselves.

Thanks for checking in!!

Love Moe

Update August 1st

Family Fun:  We've received a few letters from Emma and she is having a great time at camp.  I don't know how she will be able to fit in all the activities.  Of course we miss her terribly and cannot wait to see her this coming Saturday.  Joseph continues to squeeze every bit of fun out of the summer while being really helpful to me.  He goes back on the 25th and we will really miss him.  Jim, Joseph and I spent the weekend with my best friend Lisa and her husband Charlie.  It was wonderful!  For the first time in months I was able to get out (thanks to SVDP and my friend Michelle for the temporary loaning of a transport wheelchair) on a real outing.  Lisa and I drove up to Gloucester, MA for lunch meeting Jim and Charlie there who arrived by boat.  We poked around a beautiful art studio then Lisa and I took a tour of the coast.  A great day!  Thank you Lisa and Charlie for a beautiful visit

Medical Update:  First of all thank you to everyone who brought me to and from the clinic.  Truly without your help I would be in the hospital getting the treatment.  Not only is the physical healing happening faster at home it is great for the soul to see the kids everyday and sleep in my bed every night.  Finished the first week of chemo on Friday.  Everything went well.  I am having some side effects which are common to the chemo I am receiving (fatigue, some stomach trouble).  My blood counts are dropping which will mean more clinic visits (probably every 2 days) for infusions.  The plan is to see how my leukemia responds to the chemo and then chart out future plans for treatment.

Thanks for checking in.

Love, Maureen