An Explanation

Last week we picked up two two-pound barbells. Why? So that Ma can get needed exercise and build her strength up. She tried them out once and tonight she tried them out again and got in ten good reps on each arm! This time last week after chemo she was knocked out cold. Why the difference between this week and last week? We think the difference is explained by a reduced dosage of Benadryl. This also explains her being awake during the drive home this time.

Count

Earlier this week we called the Baraga Township Clerk. Luckily it wasn't too late to request an absentee ballot for Ma. The Clerk was great. She priority mailed the ballot to us and it was in the mailbox when we arrived back to Minneapolis this afternoon from Mayo. Ma was excited to get the ballot and filled it out right away. Her ballot went right back by priority mail today. So. If my 80-year old mom who just finished a chemo treatment can manage to vote, you can too. Every vote counts!

Back in Minneapolis

We made it back to Minneapolis at 3:15 p.m. The ride home was very different than the ride back last week. Last week, she was out cold most of the way. This continued for several hours after our return to Minneapolis. This week she was awake the entire drive home. She said she felt "good." It was a pleasant drive.

Done!

We're done. She is waking up.

Almost done

The Taxol drip finished without any problems. The Carboplatin drip is going. We're almost finished.

The Bed Wins

This week we got a bed! The difference between the upright chairs and the bed is huge. She is much more comfortable today.

This picture by the way was taken before the pre-treatments. At Mayo the nurses wrap her arm in a small heating blanket beforehand. What does this do? It enlarges the veins so that it is easier for the nurses to insert the needle.

Last Week

This is a picture from last week, the first chemo treatment. Notice the chair. From start to finish the pre-treatment and treatments take three hours. Although she slept for nearly the entire three hours, the chair was not comfortable. The dude next to my mom is my brother John, who also fell asleep - though not due to any treatments.

So far.

It's been over 15 minutes since the Taxol drip started and so far she has had no major negative reaction to the Taxol. So far. She is sleeping but she is moving her feet around from time to time. The nurse says it is "restless legs" due to the medications.

The treatments

Our nurse is T.J. and she just started the chemo medications. The first one is Taxol. It is a 300 ml drip and will take about an hour. The last one of the day is Carboplatin and is also 300 ml. It infuses faster than the Taxol, in just 30 minutes. The Taxol is infused slower because it is the one that most patients react to, if there is a reaction.

Pre-treatments

Just to give you an idea of what's involved here, there are six "medicines" she gets from start to finish. First she gets four pre-treatment medications and these are all meant to prevent reactions and nausea. The medications are Kytril, which comes in a pill form, and Dexamethazone, Pepcid, and Benadryl. The last three are drips and are administered in the order as I typed them. The Benadryl just finished dripping. This pre-treatment makes her super drowsy. She is snoozing.

Live Blogging From Mayo Clinic

We left Minneapolis at 7 a.m. this morning and arrived at the Mayo Clinic at 8:25 a.m. Our appointment was at 8:30 in the Gonda Building, which is where cancer patients are treated here at Mayo. She checked in at exactly 8:30 a.m., and we waited, and waited, and waited. We were called in at 9:40 so they could take a blood sample. Back out to the waiting room ... for more waiting. We were finally called back to the patient treatment area at about 10:00.