Vera overall has been doing well. She was recently battling liver toxicity and high liver enzymes (normal is less than 40 and hers was 1500), constipation, and low glucose. It has been going on for a few weeks and seemed to only be getting worse. We made a couple visits to clinic to load her up on fluids. All of these symptoms were due to her last few rounds of chemo. As of this week her numbers have finally normalized and we are so grateful as she is feeling much better.Â
She currently has a small cold, but if she is able to get over it by Friday she will start her next phase of chemo (maintenance). This next phase will start with a spinal tap chemo infusion, IV chemo infusion and 5 days of chemo steroids along with daily oral chemo at home. This next phase starts out really rough as she has had the most difficulty with steroids in the past. Often bed ridden in pain and not herself. But we will get through it, as we have been told this next phase is all about allowing her body to recover while taking maintenance chemo to keep the leukemia cells away. It usually takes about 5 days for steroids to wear off so after the 10 day rough patch we hope she can really enjoy life again.Â
Vera has been struggling emotionally. She often says “nobody loves me because I don’t see anybody anymore”, we reassure her she is sooooo loved and loved by people she doesn’t even know. We believe this is a product of cancer life the last 9 months, but we have hope that life will turn around soon. We have been seeing some friends and family and she loves it, however we don’t see people as often as she’d like (everyday).
I have organized a fundraiser for childhood cancer research through St Baldrick’s Non-profit. I was able to rally a group of 32 other cancer moms to hopefully meet our goal of $2,500 for childhood cancer research. Organizing fundraisers has provided me a way to not feel so helpless in a situation we have no control over. It feels good to contribute to a cause that will hopefully benefit my child and so many like her. We had a tough conversation with Vera’s oncologist last week where I asked what are the worst of her long term side effects, wanting to prepare myself. He stated both secondary cancers and heart failure are two side effects Vera could experience as a result of her treatment. He said they could happen in the near future, 20 years from now, or not at all. But hearing these words is heart breaking. He said there is nothing we can do to prevent this from happening and that ultimately this is all a product of lack of research in child safe drugs. And THIS is my motivator to continue to fundraise for childhood cancer research. Please consider donating to the link below in honor of Vera, no donation is too small. 💛 Thank you for continuing to keep Vera in your prayers. STRONG LIKE VERA 💪
