Well, here I am again, late as usual. Better late than never right?
Bridget had her chemo last Tuesday. Did well. We had the anti nausea meds confirmed NOT to use Zofran (the one that doesn't work) and to use Compazine midway through the treatment and the two other anti nausea meds that DO work. So smooth sailing, no queasy's.
She did have more pain this time from the shot given after chemo- the one to boost her WBC's, but with Tylenol was able to manage.
We are down to two treatments June 30 and July 14th!!!!!
She can have her port removed after that if she wants to---- she does.
She does not have to have the WBC shot after her last treatment, he feels she will be able to build up White Blood Cells on her own.
Then starts the being vigilant about her health care from now on. She will have MD appts every three months with Hueftle.
So, I am pushing her to start applying for jobs! She is going to have to get a job and get some health insurance if offered. She will have bills to pay off. The bills from this journey as well as her old school loans, and any new MD bills in the future. There was an article about kids moving back in with parents and regressing- it's not going to happen here. (I know you are reading these posts Bridget) ---this is a HUGE HINT to you!! . I hope she has learned a lot of things from this journey and Responsibility is a major life lesson, but one that we all need to take on.
That said, I am home today. Writing appeal letters to SSI and Medicaid, following up with St. James on any write off they will allow, calling the bank to set up an account for her (Everyone else does it, I figure why not us), submitting an editorial to the paper on uninsured health care and how important it is to get a public option (Mr. Baucus) onto the table, and calling some people I know that can help me set up a fundraiser for additional expenses.
Speaking of fundraisers- if anyone has a special talent/product/etc that they would like to donate to a fundraiser (Baked goods, wood working projects, donated hours cleaning houses, car washes----Hey I just thought of that one- and THAT would be a GREAT thing for Zach and his friend to do!!!!) ---- please feel free to let me know, I will take any donations available.
We have two to go, all labs are great, and I can see the finish line at the end of the journey.
Again, I have to thank EVERYONE for their LOVE and SUPPORT and PRAYERS, I need to let you know--- I could not have gotten through this without all of the above. Thank you SO SO much, from the bottom of my heart.
Denise
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Great news!!
I tried to think of a really catchy title, but I guess in this case- simple says so much.
Bridget had her PET scan yesterday, and her ninth chemo session today!.
Her labs remain very good, hemoglobin is 14.3, and I forgot to look at her potassium. All other labs are normal. Her PET scan showed 'essentially normal", which means the chemo did it's job and Bridget is golden!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She will have three more chemo sessions after todays. Her last one will be July 14th. She will not need radiation, she won't need stem cell transplants. She is free of the lymphoma. Of course, she will have to be vigilant about her health and make MD appts when scheduled.
She was so overjoyed to get the news that she cried - tears of joy as commonly known. Me- I was so relieved to hear the great news!!! She will go for her Neulasta shot tomorrow.
Right now, she is sleeping. The antinausea meds are working, we'll see how she is when she gets up. She tolerated the chemo today great- slept through most of it. The nurses and Dr. Hueftle were happy for her. Sherrie and Roxie (who have been giving her the chemo in Patient Service Center) were ecstatic!!
Thank you for all the prayers and positive thoughts- don't quit now- keep it up please!!!
And now, knowing that SSi turned us down, and she is not eligible for Medicaid, and apparently not even for unemployment benefits! (OUR system is So messed up!) I am not going to appeal.
We turned in paperwork to have St. James write off some or all? of the bill..Have not heard on that. I turned in some medicines paid for to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to get reimbursed for that, and am waiting to see what they will/will not allow. I will be contacting Survivors and Thrivers (a Cancer group here in Butte) to see if they can help as well. I'll also contact the American Cancer Society to see what help they can give.
However, I need to ask for more help! This has been an expensive journey, our bills (when all is said and done) will be over $125,000. I don't have that kind of money, Bridget will be YEARS before she has the ability to make that kind of money. I hate begging but I have to- because I am drowning (in debt and stress from worrying about this debt). I hate begging because everyday I see SO many other people who need money just as much as I do. I hate begging because I think Butte (not to mention my family) has already given me so much. I hate begging but... I need help. I hate begging because I was raised not to- but I am pretty much forced to.
I need help not only monetarily, but in setting up fundraisers, appeals to the community of Butte, getting an account set up in case someone wants to make donations, etc. etc. etc. As most of you know, I live in Butte, and work in Helena which means 12 hour days. Which leaves the weekends. As far as I know, my bank is not open on weekends, neither is the paper. I happen to think Bridget's story would make a GREAT article on the current state of healthcare- and it's a HOT topic!! But I can't get the Standard to reply back to my inquiry on an article.
Any help is GREATLY appreciated! If you are wondering why I can't do this myself- well, let me tell you, when you are spending a lot of time worrying, and getting more stressed, you spend a lot of energy and sometimes it gets overwhelming. I am overwhelmed.
Now, before you get all down in the dumps about my situation, let me remind you- I am TRULY blessed to have ALL of you in my life, and I am TRULY grateful/relieved/ecstatic/over the moon about Bridget beating this cancer!! A miracle occured, in such a short time and WE feel blessed!!
Let the celebration commence!!!!!!!!!
Denise
Bridget had her PET scan yesterday, and her ninth chemo session today!.
Her labs remain very good, hemoglobin is 14.3, and I forgot to look at her potassium. All other labs are normal. Her PET scan showed 'essentially normal", which means the chemo did it's job and Bridget is golden!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She will have three more chemo sessions after todays. Her last one will be July 14th. She will not need radiation, she won't need stem cell transplants. She is free of the lymphoma. Of course, she will have to be vigilant about her health and make MD appts when scheduled.
She was so overjoyed to get the news that she cried - tears of joy as commonly known. Me- I was so relieved to hear the great news!!! She will go for her Neulasta shot tomorrow.
Right now, she is sleeping. The antinausea meds are working, we'll see how she is when she gets up. She tolerated the chemo today great- slept through most of it. The nurses and Dr. Hueftle were happy for her. Sherrie and Roxie (who have been giving her the chemo in Patient Service Center) were ecstatic!!
Thank you for all the prayers and positive thoughts- don't quit now- keep it up please!!!
And now, knowing that SSi turned us down, and she is not eligible for Medicaid, and apparently not even for unemployment benefits! (OUR system is So messed up!) I am not going to appeal.
We turned in paperwork to have St. James write off some or all? of the bill..Have not heard on that. I turned in some medicines paid for to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to get reimbursed for that, and am waiting to see what they will/will not allow. I will be contacting Survivors and Thrivers (a Cancer group here in Butte) to see if they can help as well. I'll also contact the American Cancer Society to see what help they can give.
However, I need to ask for more help! This has been an expensive journey, our bills (when all is said and done) will be over $125,000. I don't have that kind of money, Bridget will be YEARS before she has the ability to make that kind of money. I hate begging but I have to- because I am drowning (in debt and stress from worrying about this debt). I hate begging because everyday I see SO many other people who need money just as much as I do. I hate begging because I think Butte (not to mention my family) has already given me so much. I hate begging but... I need help. I hate begging because I was raised not to- but I am pretty much forced to.
I need help not only monetarily, but in setting up fundraisers, appeals to the community of Butte, getting an account set up in case someone wants to make donations, etc. etc. etc. As most of you know, I live in Butte, and work in Helena which means 12 hour days. Which leaves the weekends. As far as I know, my bank is not open on weekends, neither is the paper. I happen to think Bridget's story would make a GREAT article on the current state of healthcare- and it's a HOT topic!! But I can't get the Standard to reply back to my inquiry on an article.
Any help is GREATLY appreciated! If you are wondering why I can't do this myself- well, let me tell you, when you are spending a lot of time worrying, and getting more stressed, you spend a lot of energy and sometimes it gets overwhelming. I am overwhelmed.
Now, before you get all down in the dumps about my situation, let me remind you- I am TRULY blessed to have ALL of you in my life, and I am TRULY grateful/relieved/ecstatic/over the moon about Bridget beating this cancer!! A miracle occured, in such a short time and WE feel blessed!!
Let the celebration commence!!!!!!!!!
Denise
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