great expectations (9/25 update)

Today was good. :-) 

• Mom's white blood cell count came down today, so hopefully the antibiotics are doing their job! It's still not back to normal, though, and Dr. B told her that he would still want to put a drain tube in on Monday if her counts didn't get back to normal. So be praying for the fluid around her liver and her infection to completely disappear. 
• Mom had some hydration issues yesterday, so they increased her IV fluids. Today she's had problems with swelling, so they've decreased her fluids and will actually discontinue them completely by the end of the night. By tomorrow, she'll be free of her IV pole! They took her central line out today and are now using her portacath (catheter under the skin in her chest that was surgically implanted for chemo six years ago and still gets used monthly for Herceptin treatments) for the remainder of her IV fluids and antibiotics. 
• She's had some pain issues today. We (she and I) think it's more from gas or the fluid build-up than the incision, because pain will come on suddenly and last for a couple hours. And, when she loses her IV fluids tonight, she also loses her pain pump. :-( So be praying that they can control her pain with pills!
• When she's not hurting, Mom does great with getting up and walking around and is now able to walk longer distances without the support of a walker. :-)
• The biggest news is that she's now on a regular diet! They started clear liquids (which included jello, applesauce, and pudding) last night, and tonight they said she could eat whatever she wanted! Her GI system seems to be back on track. Unfortunately she has almost no appetite and is having to force herself to eat. She's tolerating what little food she does eat well, though - thank God for that! Be praying that her appetite will increase and she'll be able to eat/drink enough to stay off the IV fluids.

I haven't blogged about this last part yet, because I was hoping for more news from Mom's oncologist. But we found out a couple days ago that some (not sure how many) of the lymph nodes Dr. B removed were positive for cancer. They were the nodes closest to the tumor. This is not good because it means that the cancer had left its place of origin. Since cancer cells travel through the lymph system, Dr. Tauer (her oncologist) will treat this as if it has already spread. Thus, Mom will need chemotherapy. :-( However, Dr. T says that it's a mild chemo and won't even make her hair fall out! She won't start chemo until she's completely healed from the surgery, and she will also start her Herceptin (breast cancer drug) back then, too. (Note to self: Exhale. One day at a time.)

Good news came from the pathology lab, too. The margins (i.e., area surrounding the tumor) around the tumor were clear of cancer! Dr. T discussed with us the possibility of radiation, but Dr. B feels confident that he removed all of the cancer and that radiation will not be needed. :-) We hope Dr. T will agree!

Tonight's my first night at home in six days. Our dear friend Kathy offered to stay with Mom tonight, so they're having a slumber party. Tekia just informed me that Mom's probably having more fun with Kathy than she does with me because they can talk about "old people stuff" together. So there's that. 

We're so thankful for the progress Mom is making! We continue to pray our hearts out and try to believe more than we doubt. We have great expectations. God is mighty to save. 

We've been invited with the Son
We've been invited to come and . . .

Believe the unbelievable
Receive the inconceivable
And see beyond our wildest imagination
Lord, we come with great expectations.

-"Great Expectations" by Steven Curtis Chapman