Tuesday, Day 6.....She's Very Determined

Charmaine had a very difficult day on Tuesday. Pain was very intense due to the mucositis over entire internal organs. Any mucous membranes get ulcers on them. Mammy (her mother) had a funny saying that she repeated yesterday. She said she had ulcers from the rooter to the tooter. She is on a constant morphine drip with a side button she can push for more if needed. So far she has had 4 units of blood and 2 units of platelets. She has had a reaction to antibiotics for 2 days, thus the red swollen face. She is much better today since they reduced the morphine drip a little.

This is the low point we all knew would happen but could not imagine how it really would be. The good news is that she won't remember hardly any of this later.

The mucositis will stay for 4 or 5 days until her new stem cells start producing white cells to fight the infection.

Another painful issue is the burns on her skin inside from the radiation.

Yesterday they had to catherize her because it was unbearable pain to urinate. Just like pouring alchol on an open wound.

Today is much better. She is trying to nibble and sip some things and is certainly making more sense.

Her temp has been 101.5 to 102.5 almost all day but has just broken.

The pictures are of Natalie and Stefanie walking her doing her laps. She must walk everyday or will get pneumonia very easily. The breathing treatments also help keep her lungs expanded to prevent fluid buildup.

Yesterday at her lowest point, it was more than I could bear to even look at her. Today is better.

The nurses all say she is doing much better than most patients.

Will keep you posted. Wish the next 7 days were passed.

Sam