Journal entry by Mary Jane Fields —
Good Evening Family & Friends.
It is not an exaggeration to say that today went well. It started off on a good note, as Marian felt good enough to drive to the hospital. It was definitely good for me, because I did not have to navigate Houston rush hour traffic. In addition, the coordinator for this clinical trial has been exceptionally in tune to our preferences, and she scheduled today’s infusion for 8:00 am. Of course, it didn’t start until 10:00 am, but that is still several hours earlier than normal. Every 4th infusion they give Marian 2 drugs, so it takes a little longer, and starting that early put us in a good mood. In addition, when they did Marian’s vitals, she weighed 86 pounds, gaining a little weight. Her heart rate, which has been running high, was significantly lower. The nurse took 3 tries putting in the IV needle, and had to call in another nurse to get the needle securely in Marian’s arm. Despite the rocky start, the rest of the procedure went very smoothly, and we were back at the apartment by 3:30 pm.
However, this good mood actually started yesterday, when Marian had her blood tests, and we met with her trial team. Her blood tests were good except for a couple, which we think we can correct with some changes in her diet. Speaking of diet, we also met with a nutritionist who said that Marian’s glucose numbers are so low, she can ease up on some of the diet restrictions for a diabetic diet. She wants Marian to increase her calories by about 1,00 per day. She gave us some really good suggestions, and we both think her weight will be increasing regularly. In fact, to celebrate leaving the hospital earlier than normal, we stopped at a Dairy Queen on the way back to the apartment, and each of us had a hot fudge sundae.
Thank you all again for your prayers, good thoughts, and caring support. We feel that these are all contributing to a positive outcome. We won’t be able to know for sure until the CT Scan, which is currently scheduled for February 19. Have a good week, and for all of you in the frigid Mid-West, be careful, and stay warm.
It is not an exaggeration to say that today went well. It started off on a good note, as Marian felt good enough to drive to the hospital. It was definitely good for me, because I did not have to navigate Houston rush hour traffic. In addition, the coordinator for this clinical trial has been exceptionally in tune to our preferences, and she scheduled today’s infusion for 8:00 am. Of course, it didn’t start until 10:00 am, but that is still several hours earlier than normal. Every 4th infusion they give Marian 2 drugs, so it takes a little longer, and starting that early put us in a good mood. In addition, when they did Marian’s vitals, she weighed 86 pounds, gaining a little weight. Her heart rate, which has been running high, was significantly lower. The nurse took 3 tries putting in the IV needle, and had to call in another nurse to get the needle securely in Marian’s arm. Despite the rocky start, the rest of the procedure went very smoothly, and we were back at the apartment by 3:30 pm.
However, this good mood actually started yesterday, when Marian had her blood tests, and we met with her trial team. Her blood tests were good except for a couple, which we think we can correct with some changes in her diet. Speaking of diet, we also met with a nutritionist who said that Marian’s glucose numbers are so low, she can ease up on some of the diet restrictions for a diabetic diet. She wants Marian to increase her calories by about 1,00 per day. She gave us some really good suggestions, and we both think her weight will be increasing regularly. In fact, to celebrate leaving the hospital earlier than normal, we stopped at a Dairy Queen on the way back to the apartment, and each of us had a hot fudge sundae.
Thank you all again for your prayers, good thoughts, and caring support. We feel that these are all contributing to a positive outcome. We won’t be able to know for sure until the CT Scan, which is currently scheduled for February 19. Have a good week, and for all of you in the frigid Mid-West, be careful, and stay warm.
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