Recovery

Since this is Jeff's first round of chemo we really didn't know what to expect - only what we have read.  So every symptom is concerning to us.  He is very weak and is suffering from horrible aching in his bones.  The bone pain is from a medicine they gave him to stimulate his bone marrow to produce new white blood cells. 

Our first night home was very hard.  I think Jeff thought he would feel so much better just to be home and he didn't at all.  In fact he felt worse because he was up too much.  We got home and he couldn't settle and  he turned into the biggest bear.  He got a terrible headache and I thought I was going to have to get the chains and drag him off (cattle term).  But he mercifully fell asleep for the next 36 hours.  The headache is gone!

So we are starting our week.  I called the dr's office and they said all of these symptoms are normal and we will go in for a check up on Friday.  All he needs to do is rest and recover.  I'm sure that's easier said than done.  I don't think he is up to visitors but I'll let you know if that changes.  By the end of the week his blood counts will start to drop dramatically and he won't be able to be around anyone.  He will probably have to receive blood and platelets and odds are he will eventually get an infection.  Although we will try SO hard to protect him.  They said most patients on this type of chemo are back in the hospital pretty often.  So please remind me of that if he gets sick and I start to get hysterical.

The kids are doing well.  Luke is focusing on football and Gracie has cheerleading practice this week.  Jake is sticking to me like glue but I have to admit I kind of like it.  He and I floated in the pool together yesterday and had some great "talk" without having to talk too much.  My children understand the situation and we have been upfront and honest with them about everything. We are just holding them close and thank goodness they are letting us. One funny moment: Jake pointed out that he probably shouldn't pick his nose and if he did he should wash his hands! At least he's on the ball!

We're taking it slow.  We are continuing to be thankful and pray, in that order.  One day at a time.  I tell Jeff everyday that this is not the way he will feel forever.  It will get better.  It's not permanent.  Or maybe I'm telling myself that.  Yes, I think that's what I'm doing.

Thanks for all the love,
Jeff and Leta

The VERY good news!

Jeff is going home today! He is such an over achiever that hes going home much sooner than expected. We are so happy and relieved. He's starting to become very fussy which I see as a great sign. He hates the bed, he hates the food and we both hate the smells! He wants to be in his bed and hold his kids. He wants to eat his Mom's homemade rolls and look out his window and see his cattle. As of today his blood levels are still normal. But they will quickly start to drop. He really won't be able to have any visitors while he's home due to the risk of infection. Within a week his white blood count will probably drop to zero and he will have no immune system. But that won't last very long and he'll start to rebound.

Please keep praying and calling and texting and emailing. We need it!

Love to you all!
Jeff and Leta

Good news/Bad news

Dr Patel stopped Jeff's chemo last night at 10 pm. His body couldn't take anymore. His lungs were starting to have fluid in them and his edema and rash continued to get worse. The good news is he received all of the regular chemo and 80% of the Interleuken2 and the Interferon. The dr assured us that is plenty and most people can't even handle that much. We will wait 2-3 weeks and start round 2. Six hours after they stopped the meds Jeff felt better. His rash is better and we are waiting for him to start losing 15 lbs of fluid! He will be in the hospital longer than we thought, at least a couple more days.

I got to witness some true love and grace this morning. I hope Jeff will remember the moment. I forget that this is hard on other people too. I really only think in terms of Jeff and the kids. But someone Jeff needs and loves faced their fear and came to be with Jeff today. I know it was grace and Gods love that did it. It was simple and beautiful. You know it's Gods touch when your throat closes up and it streams down your face and your heart nearly bursts. Whew! We have been praying for healing and we meant Jeff's body. God knew some hearts needed healing too.

Great things about today:

Jeff is a little better.
No more hiccups!!!
I took a shower for the first time in 2 days.
Friends posted pics of Luke at midnight madness.
Goodness is contagious and we've been exposed to a lot!

Love, Jeff and Leta

End of the day

We are making it through this tough day minute by minute. My Mom was up here and that calmed us both. Jeffs hiccups stopped at one and he had four hours of relief. But after two bites of supper they are back! NO!!! We are praying they don't last all night again.

Luke has Midnight Madness tonight - first workout in pads. We're sick we can't be there to watch him. All my friends in Happy will have to be his substitute parents tonight. Go Luke! Go Cowboys!

Blessings today:
Good medicine that has stopped some of the agony.
My friend Meg brought supper for my family and brownies for me. She lives in Lubbock and came all the way up here. Overwhelmed by her love and friendship!
A rain shower!
Sisters.
My Mom.
Saying "in sickness and in health" over 19 years ago and finding out you really mean it.


We only have about 22 hours left in round one of chemotherapy!!! I really want to meet someone that has done all 6 rounds of this and check them out. They must be superman.

Over and out.
Jeff and Leta

Oh my!

We thought it couldn't get any worse.......

Jeff and I totally underestimated the term "tough chemotherapy". I mean really, Jeff's so young and healthy and strong. He's the toughest guy I know. And apparently he's doing better than most people on this type of chemotherapy. Dr Patel told us most people end up in ICU or have to stop the chemotherapy early. But Jeff is still in the game. 28 hours to go!!!

I won't go on and on about all the side effects but I do have to tell you about the worst one. Chronic hiccups! They started last night around 5. He's had them for 19 hours. They've tried multiple meds and I think we are getting it figured out. Can you imagine? We had no idea that was a side effect but it is. It has ruined our moods and induced quite the colorful language

So, Luke is at football, Jake and Gracie are with my sisters and I called in the best nurse ever to take care of Jeff (and me). My Mom will be here any minute!!! Thank God!

We are on our knees. Praying fiercely! Weary but determined. Glad you are all on our team!
Peace, Jeff and Leta

Up and Down

This has been an exhausting couple of days. But were more than half way through and Jeff IS doing this! Yesterday was really bad. They finally started him on pain meeds and he is sleeping more and suffering less. This morning he felt better and walked down the hall but that was all the energy he had and now he's feeling bad again. The dr came by and said everything is very normal. We were shocked to find out Jeff had gained ten pounds in two days! That's a lot of fluid. So they're trying to get a handle on that. I teased him that it was probably just PMS. He didn't think I was funny at all! In fact there's really nothing funny about this at all. We've tried to stay light hearted but it's just too much.

The only light in all of this is the love and support of our friends and family. Special thanks to Dean for getting Jeff up and walking this morning. I also had a great visit from my childhood friend, Christine. Her sister is very sick with cancer but came to see me anyway! Oh and my sister Katie brought/snuck me wine in a sippy cup last night so I could go to sleep.

As bad as it is we are still saying: God is good all the time!

Please keep praying for Jeff!
Love to you all, Jeff and Leta

Chemotherapy- day 2

They said it would be bad and unfortunately they were right. Jeff is receiving 5 kinds of chemotherapy but the worst one is called Interleukin-2. The first 4 didn't cause any problems at all but #5 has kicked his ass! He has a fever and horrible headache. He feels like he has the worst flu ever. They are trying to keep him comfortable. Trying! Only 3 1/2 more days of round one. But were already thinking: Can he do 6 rounds of this? Or even 2?

The nurses here are fabulous!!! Yesterday his nurse said she was going to lunch and asked if we wanted anything. We never got this treatment at MDA. My Aunt Rosanne is a nurse on this floor so that makes us feel safe.

Please pray for physical and mental strength for Jeff. Pray this medicine is doing it's job and killing off this cancer. Pray this week passes quickly and we can move on to healing.

Love! Jeff and Leta