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Posted by: Dan @ 9:13 pm
These words are hard to write…
The past week has been a bad one for Sandy. She is experiencing a major setback. At first, a couple of weeks ago, we thought she was having a reaction to the chemo drugs - fatigue, etc. But this past week has seen a steady increase in the physical problems she has been experiencing. Her peripheral vision in the left eye has gotten worse - the “blind spot” is much larger. She has lost a lot of the control of her left side - she has difficulty moving her left leg and arm. When she walks she is very unsteady and drags her left foot. Because of this, as well as the vision loss, she veers to the right when she walks. She was able to get around using hiking poles, but even that is difficult now. Her left hand is “like it belongs to someone else” as she says - difficult to grasp things, put clothes on, do the simple things we all take for granted. She has also had some headaches this week, which she has rarely had. There are also cognitive changes, more difficulty understanding and retaining things like what we are going to be doing tomorrow or what happened yesterday. This has all been unbearably frustrating for her.. and heartbreaking for me.
The past two days we talked a lot about getting an MRI for her as soon as possible, not waiting until August 1 as originally scheduled. Fortunately today we had her regular 2-week appointment with her local oncologist. Her doctor was of course very concerned about the changes in her condition since two weeks ago. She ordered an MRI immediately and the radiology people worked late to get Sandy in for her 30th MRI (yes, 30 in the past seven years), and, as usual, I held her hand and rubbed her legs during the 30-minute MRI. She and Sandy’s oncologist at Stanford also decided to put her back on Decadron, a steroid pill that reduces brain swelling. Because that is one of the possibilites - swelling from the brain tumor increasing in activity or a delayed reaction to the surgery 6 weeks ago or possible bleeding in the brain. We meet with her oncologist tomorrow (Friday) morning to learn the results of the MRI. And then we will know what is happening to her, and make decsisions on what comes next. We are praying for the best and hopeful the Decadron will ease her symptoms.
Despite this setback, we still encourage family and friends to stop by and see us anytime. Just don’t stand on Sandy’s left side - she may not see you. Our thanks to everyone for the comments, cards, visits, gifts and love that keep coming our way.
Sandy found a part of a poem she wanted me to share…
Blessed are they who make it known that I am loved,
respected and not alone.
Blessed are they who can ease the days on my journey
Home in loving ways.
–Esther Walker
Good night,
Dan