Here is a great picture of Ken and Margaret. Their journey together is an inspiration to love. Looks like things are getting better, Ken can let everyone in on Margarets progress.
Thinking of You
Keep all your prayers coming for our sweet Margaret
Margaret enters Pier 344
Margaret's first day on the pier prior to setting sail on her chemo journey
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Margaret" s Ocean View
Margaret is using the ocean and a ship as her metaphor for beating the leukemia
Don't bring flowers....Margaret's Chemo Regime
INDUCTION OF REMISSION — The most common remission induction regimen includes cytarabine (cytosine arabinoside, Ara-C, or Cytosar), given continuously for seven days through an intravenous (IV) line. Daunorubicin (Daunomycin, Cerubidine, or Rubidomycin) is given in a single IV dose for the first three days of treatment. This is sometimes known as the "7+3" regimen. In some medical centers a variation of this regimen is used, in which daunorubicin is replaced by idarubicin, or cytarabine is given alone in much higher doses. Read more at:http://patients.uptodate.com/topic.asp?file=blod_dis/2244
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Sunday: Today's visit with Margaret revealed her much improved! The drainage tube from her lung was already removed, she will use supplemental oxygen only while she sleeps tonight, so no need for it during the day.
But the alertness and energy she displayed were the most obvious signs that the lung situation was under control. She was more herself today. She did have a few visitors drop by: friends Kate and Mary were there when I strolled in, and my sisters Karen and Cheryl had dropped by earlier, with Alan. Margaret was out of bed and sitting comfortably in a large easy chair, chatting away.
One of her physicians visited the room while I was there, checking on her, so I was able to accompany him to a nearby computer station and view a series of chest x-rays and CT-Scans of Margaret's lungs over the past several days. The congestion that had clouded the images of just a few days ago was almost vanished from this morning's x-ray.
When I returned to Margaret's room and described the images, mentioning that there was only a small amount of congestion remaining in today's image, Margaret grabbed the little device that measures her breathing capacity and gave a few practice inhalations and exhalations. She had been advised that by periodic deep breathing, she would help her lungs clear up faster. She vowed to do that deep breathing exercise every 30 minutes or so for the next couple of days. Then, able to do so for the first time in three days, she grabbed my arm and she walked around the common area of the ward a few times as we pushed her wheeled IV stand along the floor.
Margaret is no slacker. She will work diligently to get herself healthier, if the doctors and nurses will handle all the other the stuff beyond her capabilities.
Her blood counts are looking good. The doctor mentioned that soon they will slowly change over the IV medicines to oral tablets, to prepare her for going home.. maybe as early as next week.
Still much to be done before then, but it sure was nice for Margaret to hear "going home" being mentioned as more than a remote future event.
I have finally mastered the comment block...
I've been checking the website continually and have been so encouraged by the news. Many thanks to ken and family, for all the updates to the site and for the pictures.
Ken, you and Margaret haven't changed at all through the years...
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all!
Nancy Rodriguez
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