Presently, Mom is down at Duke recovering from the installation of her central line. Dad and mom arrived in Durham yesterday and got set up in a hotel there. They saw mom's stem cell doctor this morning at 8AM and then reported back to the hospital at 12:30PM, this morning (Thursday). During this second visit the central line was installed in her chest near the location of her other port she has been using for chemo thus far. They first removed the old port and then implanted the new line. They numbed the site around the central line before installation but did not put her out.
Throughout their research, Duke has found that hydrating patience prior to this chemo prevents potential bleeding in the bladder. So currently mom is hooked up to a very large bag of different fluids. Everyday she has report to the bone marrow transplant clinic at 8AM. Tomorrow (Friday), she will receive her BIG chemo. Saturday and Sunday she will be monitored to see if there are any adverse affects from the chemo. Their hope is to return to Roanoke on Sunday afternoon.
Other than the pain in and around the site of the central line, she is doing great at the moment. Please pray for her as she goes in tomorrow for her BIG chemo.
They are scheduled to return to Duke in two weeks for the stem cell harvesting that will take potentially two days. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. We will continue to keep you all updated through this blog as regularly as possible.
Thank you,
Robert
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
The Grand Finale...Revised
Hi everyone! I received a phone call last week letting me know the schedule has been postponed one week. So, the process will still proceed as below...everything will just move one week later. Again, thanks for praying!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
The Grand Finale!
Yesterday Charlie and I went to Duke to discuss the upcoming events. Everyone there is very efficient and the day went well. They were pleased with my progress and gave me the OK to proceed. However, the procedures are not as simple as I had hoped:
On February 10th we will go to Duke for a day. I will have a series of preliminary tests (EKG, etc.) to determine if I am healthy enough for the transplant.
On February 17th we will go back and spend 4 days. I need to have a major dose of chemo to get my body "prepped" for the transplant. I also need to have the catheter inserted in my chest; this is used for the harvesting. They will monitor these procedures before discharging me.
On March 1st I will return to Duke; harvesting begins on the 2nd. This will take 1-2days.
On March 8th my stem-cell tranplant will begin. This will last 2-4 weeks.
This is a lot to digest! Some things I am thankful for: I get to return home between each of these procedures, this will all be over much faster than I had anticipated, my protein levels were satisfactory to proceed. Some things that are difficult: there is a lot of traveling, I'm not sure I was mentally prepared for this to happen so quickly, fear of the unknown. I only share these concerns with you so you can join us in prayer. I feel like you all are and have been my support through this. I cannot thank you enough. I will keep blogging to let you know how it progresses! Love to everyone, Fran
On February 10th we will go to Duke for a day. I will have a series of preliminary tests (EKG, etc.) to determine if I am healthy enough for the transplant.
On February 17th we will go back and spend 4 days. I need to have a major dose of chemo to get my body "prepped" for the transplant. I also need to have the catheter inserted in my chest; this is used for the harvesting. They will monitor these procedures before discharging me.
On March 1st I will return to Duke; harvesting begins on the 2nd. This will take 1-2days.
On March 8th my stem-cell tranplant will begin. This will last 2-4 weeks.
This is a lot to digest! Some things I am thankful for: I get to return home between each of these procedures, this will all be over much faster than I had anticipated, my protein levels were satisfactory to proceed. Some things that are difficult: there is a lot of traveling, I'm not sure I was mentally prepared for this to happen so quickly, fear of the unknown. I only share these concerns with you so you can join us in prayer. I feel like you all are and have been my support through this. I cannot thank you enough. I will keep blogging to let you know how it progresses! Love to everyone, Fran
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Almost Finished Chemo
I seem to be nearing the end of this course, at least in terms of chemo. I am in my last cycle before going to Duke on February 1st. My protein spike has dropped below 1.0 (for all the medical people) which means I am progressing as Dr. Richards had hoped! At Duke I will meet with Dr. Long who will set the date for the stem-cell harvesting. All of this is very exciting to me as it is what this whole process has been for!
Yesterday I had another bone marrow biopsy. This time around was a better experience because of drugs! Still no horrific side effects from the chemo...just fatigue and intestinal problems. I still love to cook but have had trouble tasting food. I'm told this goes away when the chemo stops, thankfully!
Life for the Krauses has been busy as ever. Natalie and Jordan just put a contract down on a house in Grottoes. Will is working on his thesis to finish up his graduate studies and Robert has begun a new Master's progam at Fuller Seminary. I am so proud of all of them!!!
Again, thank you for praying. God is holding us together and we praise Him for that! Please remember to pray for the upcoming stem-cell transplant. This could be the hardest of trials yet, but I trust Him and am prepared!
Yesterday I had another bone marrow biopsy. This time around was a better experience because of drugs! Still no horrific side effects from the chemo...just fatigue and intestinal problems. I still love to cook but have had trouble tasting food. I'm told this goes away when the chemo stops, thankfully!
Life for the Krauses has been busy as ever. Natalie and Jordan just put a contract down on a house in Grottoes. Will is working on his thesis to finish up his graduate studies and Robert has begun a new Master's progam at Fuller Seminary. I am so proud of all of them!!!
Again, thank you for praying. God is holding us together and we praise Him for that! Please remember to pray for the upcoming stem-cell transplant. This could be the hardest of trials yet, but I trust Him and am prepared!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Happy Holidays
The Krause family has survived another holiday season! Christmas was wonderful with family and friends all around. My sister Genie is still in town and will be leaving tomorrow. She took me to chemo today, which began my 5th round.
It was nice having the week off during Christmas, but I am hopeful for this next round. I will meet with Dr. Richards on Thursday about my next steps. If the protein spike has decreased enough, I will go to Duke for the stem-cell harvesting. This process will only take 3-4 days. Then there will be a month back home before I have to return for the actual transplant. Dr. Long at Duke will decide whether or not I need chemo during that span.
The treatments have zapped my energy, but they are doing their job! I have had some swelling in my legs but that is manageable. I started seeing a physical therapist in Botetourt and that has helped my hip tremendously…this is a huge blessing! However, my hands are still hurting. Pray for them.
We feel like we are entering the second phase of this process and are hopeful for the future! God has remained faithful and we are thankful!
It was nice having the week off during Christmas, but I am hopeful for this next round. I will meet with Dr. Richards on Thursday about my next steps. If the protein spike has decreased enough, I will go to Duke for the stem-cell harvesting. This process will only take 3-4 days. Then there will be a month back home before I have to return for the actual transplant. Dr. Long at Duke will decide whether or not I need chemo during that span.
The treatments have zapped my energy, but they are doing their job! I have had some swelling in my legs but that is manageable. I started seeing a physical therapist in Botetourt and that has helped my hip tremendously…this is a huge blessing! However, my hands are still hurting. Pray for them.
We feel like we are entering the second phase of this process and are hopeful for the future! God has remained faithful and we are thankful!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Another Tuesday Come and Gone...
Well, we began the 3rd cycle of chemo infusions today, Tuesday afternoon. Charlie and I met with Dr. Richards and the only thing concerning him was that my hemoglobin was lower than he liked. The chemo is bringing the protien spike down which is what we need to happen in order to harvest my stem cells at Duke. The negative is that the chemo is affecting my hemoglobin which explains why I am so tried!! I have the week off from the "high powered"oral chemo. I have to re-qualify for another round of it which I should begin on Sunday night.
My port site was not healing to satisfy all, so I had to have stiches put in it today by radiology intervention techs. I am to have it checked on Friday after Thanksgiving. But it can be used for this Friday's infusion and next Tuesday's infusion. YEAH!! Please pray that it will heal correctly and without any infection!
Thank you ALL for your continued support and prayers.
Charlie and I and all our family hope you will have a VERY BLESSED THANKSGIVING!!
My port site was not healing to satisfy all, so I had to have stiches put in it today by radiology intervention techs. I am to have it checked on Friday after Thanksgiving. But it can be used for this Friday's infusion and next Tuesday's infusion. YEAH!! Please pray that it will heal correctly and without any infection!
Thank you ALL for your continued support and prayers.
Charlie and I and all our family hope you will have a VERY BLESSED THANKSGIVING!!
Monday, November 9, 2009
My Week Off!
It's Monday and I am looking forward to my week off of chemo treatments. Since my last post I have started an oral chemo schedule in addition to the intraveneous sessions. I wasn't sure what to expect, and had heard of some awful complications that can result from these pills, but have pleasantly experienced none of them! The only effect so far is I am very tired. I went to the doctor today because my porticath was dislodging. They fixed the problem and hopefully it will heal in the next couple of days.
We had a great weekend celebrating our niece's and nephew's birthdays. All the family came over on Saturday and my sister provided lunch for everyone. Natalie and Jordan were in from Elkton and spent the whole weekend with us!
My oncologist thinks it will be the first of 2010 before I go to Duke for the stem cell harvesting. That should give me 4-5 rounds of chemo beforehand. It is a long road, but promising! We are thankful for all of you who pray for our family. It is in these times that we realize what matters the most!
We had a great weekend celebrating our niece's and nephew's birthdays. All the family came over on Saturday and my sister provided lunch for everyone. Natalie and Jordan were in from Elkton and spent the whole weekend with us!
My oncologist thinks it will be the first of 2010 before I go to Duke for the stem cell harvesting. That should give me 4-5 rounds of chemo beforehand. It is a long road, but promising! We are thankful for all of you who pray for our family. It is in these times that we realize what matters the most!
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