It’s been a little while since an official update. Sorry about that. Between hospital visits and follow ups I’ve had a few updates typed out on my phone but nothing put together for an email. I apologize. I’ll try to summarize a short timeline.
April 18th-23rd
Hospital stay for a Neutropenic Fever + Rhinovirus + unknown virus. We had an intense few days of waiting for lab results. When Doctors used the words Possible Sepsis, my mind started thinking some very negative thoughts. Thank God all her cultures came back clear, and she was able to recover with a few rounds of antibiotics. It’s scary what a common cold can do to a person that is immunocompromised.
April 24th-30th
Lydia spent the next week recovering at home and slowly getting her strength back.
April 30th- May 3rd
Happy Birthday, Lydia! She turned 8 on May 3rd. Had a nice quiet celebration at home. (We postponed her birthday visit to the Aquarium, we will go when her counts are better )
Lydia started Interim Maintenance 2 (IM2) on April 30th. It’s very similar to Interim Maintenance 1 just more intense. Remember those mouth sores she was hospitalized from in January? Well she’s getting that same Chemo that caused them last time again, but a higher dosage. So we very much appreciate your prayers that those would stay away. This phase will last about 41 days and then Lord willing she will be in long term maintenance.
May 10th
Lydia shocked all of us by needing a blood transfusion today. She didn’t have the usual signs that she normally has when she needs a transfusion. But we are thankful for the team we have to check and recheck her blood work to make sure she gets what she needs. Good news/bad news sort of thing. Lydia is pretty sensitive to the Methotrexate chemo, and that has hard side effects. But it’s a good thing because it’s doing what it’s more effective that way. Along with that, that will make her counts go down which means we will still have to keep her home. We were hoping she would get to come back to church, but we were advised to wait until we get to Long Term Maintenance. We are on day 11 out of 41. Moving along!
Please pray:
1 – That her reaction to the high dose chemo isn’t too bad and that she doesn’t get any mouth sores.
2 – She stays well (as well as our family)
These 6 months have seemed so long and hard; but we’ve hopefully gotten through the worst part. This fight has been intense, and we don’t know what the future holds but we know the one who holds our hands through it all.
I’m very thankful for all the prayers and cares for Lydia, and all of us. We have been very blessed things have gone relatively smoothly so far. We’ve learned to be thankful even when things look bad.
Praise God for His Goodness and Mercy,
Sarah Jacquet