Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Let's Survive this together

We are home from the hospital, but still must travel each day to Philadelphia for radiation at HUP 5 days a week, for 6-7 weeks.  Three times a week, we also have doctor's appts & Oncology clinic, where they check her blood counts etc... On top of that, we also will have physical therapy beginning next week, three times a week as well.  So, I am kinda busy :) 

Treatments started, and Calli is SO exhausted, and really having a hard time keeping anything down in her stomach :(   Today I went out and bought everything I could think of that she can try to eat and /or tolerate.  She has been having a lot of trouble sleeping, due to pain, and horrible migraines.  

On top of all of that, her bed was not working out...she could not sleep at all, which makes her tense, and then she gets bad migraines.  Mike and I were both up at least 4 times a night with her, trying to get her comfortable.  I bought wedges, body pillows, memory foam mattress covers, memory foam pillows etc...nothing works.  Finally, She tried to sleep with me, but that did not work so well either, so her doctor ordered a hospital bed for her.  

Well, we were thrilled with that, until we found out how much they are to rent per month!  OYE!  So, I found out that the local lions club has ones for free to rent to the community, and I went over this morning before we left for the city to check them out.  Yucky, I mean, there were a lot of them, but they were very old, and crank kinds, and the guy was unsure if all of the pieces were there etc.....my thought was that it will be ok, it will all work out...somehow.

We then went to the city, Mike was able to take off again, (God bless you Chris  Landes!)  I do not know what I would have done without him.  Not only is he strong enough when I have no energy to lift the wheelchair in and out of the suburban, but right after I gave Calli the anti-nausea pills, like 8 seconds later, she began to vomit.  We were on 76, & she threw up copious amounts.  He had to pull over, so I could look through the vomit and try to see if she threw up the meds I just gave her.  They are timed meds, and quite a few of them, and if she did not get these down, she could not get the next ones down which were due in a half hour- her chemo pills.  They are timed with the radiation schedule...So, no pills in the mess, I washed my hands with a wipe, and on we went.  He was able to help out so much.

Tomorrow he is back to work for good though :(  We will get through!

She made it through her first radiation really well.  She was SO tired after though, and threw up the rest of the day :( 

We got home between 3-4 ish, and I had to go to Walmart, grocery shopping, and then on to another pharmacy.  It was as I was walking into Walmart, that I saw Harleysville Mattress.  I walked in thinking that they MUST have an electric bed.  They did! A great one with a super soft mattress too.  The guy was so nice, it is a special order, but I NEEDED it tonight, so that my baby can sleep.  I asked him if I could buy his new floor model.  "No."  Well, I asked him again, and told him that she needed it tonight, and he said "Yes."  It was pricey, but he took off several hundred dollars, and did not charge me tax-which was another hundred or so, because I had an Rx for a hospital bed.   We would figure out how to pay for it later.  Well, you know that ask and you shall receive thing?  I made a phone call, and asked, and the Lord gave- willingly.  I don't want to mention names on here, because I want them to get the Glory and blessing from God.  



All of you that have given, meals, cleaning my bathroom, watching my dogs, feeding my chickens, helping with Aidan, the cards, it has meant so much to us.  It is helping to pay the weekly gas bill for driving down each day.

Each day I want to sit and write thank you notes to all who have been so generous and kind to us, but there is just no time right now.  I am really sorry.  Some day, i will sit down and be able to write each of you individually and thank you for all that you have said, done and given to us.  Thanks so much for helping us, praying for us, and believing the best for Calli!

As my child is sick, and in pain, and cannot find physical rest...I must keep my mind on good thoughts, on God and His plans for her life.  It is so hard to watch your baby go through things like this.  She is strong, but she has moments where she just wants the pain to be gone.  At times, she does not understand, and I remind her that God loves her, and I remind her that each pain she feels, Jesus felt.  Why?  Because HE himself bore all of our sickness and diseases on the cross.  It is finished, done.  I am not sure how or why if it is done... that she must bear it now, but that is not for me to worry about or question.  It has been 3 weeks since her surgery.  So I am just thinking how quickly radiation and chemo can go.  6 weeks...  



Psalms 34:18  "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

The other night, when Calli was in so much pain, she asked me to sing this song to her.  As I did, I was stroking her hair, and she began to cry.........




Let's Survive This Together
Let’s survive this together
We’ve survived so much together already
But I want to live through this with you

This is why I’m alive

Its moments like this I want together with you
Let’s just take tonight and breathe again

You feel pain tonight

You won't always feel this way
You feel plain tonight
And it's going to be okay
It’s going to be okay

Let’s survive this together

We’ve survived so much together already
But I want to live through this with you

6 comments:

  1. GOD BLESS you in your struggles. I am praying for you guys every day.

    Jeff

    ReplyDelete
  2. So sorry to hear that Calli isn't feeling well. I have been praying for her and will continue to pray for her and you, her family. ~Natasha Bergey~

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have been praying for you all. I just met someone at Harvey Cedars last week who healed herself from Stage 4 cancer using an eating plan which can be found at www.knowthecause.com and seeing a nutritionist in Harrisburg area. She had another friend who had to do chemo and radiation for breast cancer, but she did not get sick when using this healing eating plan even though everyone else was. I'm not sure if this will help you, but it is worth a shot. I pray Calli's body will have a miraculous healing, and you will be done with this is no time.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Janelle RittenhouseJune 23, 2011 at 11:39 PM

    I just had sit here late this evening and cry for you Lucy... and pray...you have incredible strength.

    May our Lord Jesus Christ continue to give you strength and hold you up!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm with you all the way Calli...
    Love and prayers,
    Lydia <3

    ReplyDelete
  6. Calli, You are an amazing and strong girl!! You don't know me and it is really random how I found out about you. My husband and I bought a car a few weeks ago from a woman that is a friend of yours. I mentioned that I am an RN at CHOP and that is how you came up.
    I was not going to go that eve with my husband but something was nagging at me telling me to go. So I packed up my 4yr old, 22 month old, and 2 week old baby and went. I think it was the Lord wanting me to know about you and your family.
    Please know that I have many in my church and family praying for your healing. My brother is also a RN at CHOP in the PICU. I work on the surgical unit. Your story has touched my heart and you are in my thoughts and prayers daily. Please, please just ask me if there is anything I can help you with besides prayer. Even if it is just bringing you guys food while you are down in the city. I would be more than happy to do anything possible! Lisa Forsythe (LML0218@hotmail.com)

    ReplyDelete

We love to know your reading! Your comments encourage us!