Really?!?!

Where to begin....after a tumultuous week of appointments, doctors, and LOTS of bloodwork, we finally have diagnosis for Mary.  She has Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).  This means she has cancer in her blood and bone marrow (which is where the blood cells are made).  She will need to begin chemotherapy treatment right away, in fact it's already running as this is being written. She will have 2 chemo drugs...one that she gets as a short infusion in three days and one that runs continuously for the next 7 days.  That is actually the easy part.  The hard part will be the side effects for the weeks after the chemo. 

The effects might include nausea, vomiting, mouth sores, and who knows what else.  The other physical effect will be losing her hair.  That will probably happen during week 2 or 3.  She is very aware of this and is actually ready to get some scarves...not thinking she wants to mess with a hot, itchy wig.

The other big piece of information that is important...this initial stay will be 5-6 weeks.  After that, there will be more treatments planned and that will be based on the bloodwork and biopsies...but that will be a decision for a later time.

During this time she will be able to have visitors (most of the time), BUT YOU CANNOT BE SICK!  If there are too many of us at any given time, there are nice family lounges throughout the floor and we can rotate if necessary.  If Mary is feeling up to it, she could even join us in those areas.  Another important thing to note:  Mary CANNOT have fresh flowers, fresh fruit, or latex balloons. 

She can get emails, cards, and messages:)  Her room is 3 East, C-26 at the IU Simon Cancer Center (535 Barnhill Drive Indianapolis, IN 46202-5116).  If you would like the phone, please send a email or call any of us on the cell phone.

 

We appreciate all of the care, concern, prayer, and support.  Mary's asked that you add her to your prayer chains.