Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Big Day, Part I (7.22)

Per the last post, today was obviously a huge day. I wasn't even sure if I wanted to post this evening as I almost wanted to just let the last post stand alone (not to mention telling everyone I know about the news). While this news does not guarantee anything, you take percentages in these situations and this greatly helps those.

Mom and I spoke early this morning, and I can assure you the nature of that conversation was quite different from this afternoon's. Similarily the text message that read 'Call me ASAP' had a different tone from the one @ 10 AM on 7.11. She's very excited to know this information. We do need to confirm through further evaluation that Walt's equipped to donate so we'll continue looking at others before saying, 'ok, Walt's the donor.'

While I don't have the overall ratings for the 3 categories I've outlined the past couple of nights, Grandma's post is one thing Mom mentioned to me on the phone too. She said sometimes it feels like she's swimming in sewage, comes up to an upper-tier of sewage, realizes that it's even worse, and goes back down. Needless to say that paints a darker picture of the overall 'blah' that Mom feels. Mentally I felt like she was in a good place today though. And Mari seconded that tonight. She said that Mom has been just a pleasure to be around this week as she battles this, and is so admirably strong. I think the chemo just has her feeling down physically more than anything. Here's a picture of her doing her breathing treament in a nice tie dye!



Not a lot else to report tonight other than Robin's (nurse) back, and we love that. She's so great. Mom's still fighting off the lung infections, and Ganguly feels good about where she is. We characterized it as 'cautious optimism'. You'll take that considering doctors are pretty conservative in their analysis anyway.

We're also starting to spin the wheels of how / when this transplant will take place. We still need to see the exact results of Round 1 of chemo then go from there. Clearly Mom needs to be in good enough physical shape to have the bone marrow along with continuing this current stretch of the post-induction process.

WBC: who cares! ;) I'll get details later
Hemoglobin: same!

14 comments:

Rhonda, DJ, Winston and David said...

Dear Cathi,
I hope you feel better.
Your machine looked like you were eating ice cream.

Love,Winston

christie said...

Good morning Cathi,
Guess not all those people at the hospital understand that you have people to deal with their people that leave you in the hallways... I am sure with the team supporting you that you will have more reason for dancing and celebrating today. I am sending you an imaginary bouquet of flowers...they are all bright and cheery and Nick said you could put these on the vases or wherever you want. They are to remind you that we are thinking of you so enjoy these tulips and roses...they are full of sunny thoughts. Christie

Robbie Stanley said...

Sheesh! I'll just not checking the blog often enough. What wonderful news! I'm not awake enough to do the dance yet but promise to as soon as my eyes are really open.
You're looking good in your tie dye, meanwhile! Nice to have the photo; thanks. Hang in there today and imagine all of us dancing away for you!
xox
Robbie

ChuckJanice said...

Greetings from the germ factory! I'm so excited about the donor match--your sisters and your parents had the airwaves tied up yesterday with conference calls and celebrating, as you can imagine! This is a great encouragement!
As always, Cathi, you will be the trailblazer--the first Snell sister to have a Y chromosome. I thought it would be me... :)
Keep the faith, Cathi! We are keeping you covered in prayer from southeast Kansas! Love, Janice

Unknown said...

Morning Cathi!
It's amazing what a difference a day makes. This is really exciting news about the hair colour change, I'm positive you'll look great with it :) Way to go Walt!

I've entered the quarantine zone AKA Best Western and will sit out the day the best I can, although I'm itching to see you (not literally). Will try calling the Medical Center a little later for news - and perhaps a chat if you're not otherwise engaged?

Thank you to all my fellow posters for fighting for pole position. The playing field is now level and I'm way behind :)

Captain Cathi - (I had Captain Henry on the way over) you keep flying high, all your fellow travellers on this journey are root-tooting for you! Jeez, so corny I bet you missed my post yesterday :)

love Janet xo

Anonymous said...

Hay there beautiful,

Damn I'm hungry. Will you hurry up and get out of that place! I miss my lunch partner.

Am trying to come by tomorrow noonish (lunch time)if I can get clearance.

Know you are in my heart and prayers.

Love ya

Dave

Unknown said...

Cathi, I love reading all the posts - I'm getting to know your other friends better. I wish I could be up there to meet Janet!

You still have hair! Any of it coming out? It's hanging tough like you are!! DEB

gail said...

Good morning Cathi!

The news is so exciting!!

I can hardly wait to be there on Saturday. Besides getting to see you - I will get to meet Janet finally. I'm not sure how I missed meeting her officially at Walt's bday party last year.

I can't wait to see you with redhair harhar. Liz should definitely send the photos of Walt sporting the NYE wig.

I'll keep digging through the photo boxes to find some of our camping pics from years ago. (Has it really been that long since our last camping adventure here? 9 years?? Am hoping to find the photos from the campground Walt picked out where the Feds later found a group of bank-robbers/murderers.)

We're all breathing a bit easier this morning with the news. Yea.

Love & hugs.

Gail

Rhonda, DJ, Winston and David said...

Dear Cathi, Being one of the rest of the siblings who actually has gray hair and pays to cover them...I know I can help to make adjustments on the hair color should it not be your preference. It is the freckles that I see popping up all over making changes to your landscape...so to speak!
Cannot help if that happens! But,
then you would be one of us!
(red haired/auburn, freckeled, sunburned Snells! Mari, Lori, Rhonda, Walt and Dad...throw in Charles.)Hang in there today,
tomorrow and one more after that you are almost to the finish line, sister. You are almost done with this crappy week! AirXO, Rhonda

Rhonda, DJ, Winston and David said...

Dearest Cathi, way to go today! My beads are getting a good polishing this week. I think they are grateful for the attention. DJ has us all calling them beads now! I cannot tell you how grateful I feel for today's results. Thank you for the strength you put forth. I know you must be tired...So tired. Keep fighting...and then fight harder. As David says (a phrase which I am working to get rid of...)"kick em in the nuts!" U can do it!! UR!! AirXO,Rhonda

Sara Beth said...

Raw sewage eh? Like being thrown in one of the hog lagoons on your birthday? That is a memory from long long ago.

The tie die is cool, you look good. Getting pictures is a treat.

Love,
Sara

KimMcLew said...

Hi, Neighbor! 'Scuse our family's silence...we've been clueless. Gayla just gave Jim the news ~ and this oh-SO-amazing blog address. The love and support, Cath - wow!

Okay - bless your heart... I've got the gist of your shocking journey to date, but I need to spend time from Ground Zero and catch up. I'm excited I came in on such a momentous day ~ a MATCH! Fingers crossed!!

Lovin' the redhead zeal. I'm thinkin' you're in good company with Lucy, Wilma, Charlie Brown's Girlfriend-Of-His-Dreams... :)

My recent Maynard family contact included scouring my Maggie's favorite cul-de-sac haunts (Eddy's side yard, Sheila's fenceline, and other hidey-holes) lookin' for a pup who wandered away from his pals while at your home. Turns out he was found in Jack's garage, I hear.

I'm loving that happy ending after a scary adventure ~ and I'm holding that thought for you, too.

Instruct your brood to head to my doorstep at any time ~ for any reason. We're on 'college time' (which often means Patrick and Molly are crashing for the night as Jim and I are awakening in the morning!)... so I really MEAN 'any time!'

Feel my hugs. Sleep tight.
Kim, et al

Anonymous said...

Working to come back to KC. Plans are in place and Beth wants to put her team of professionals all over me to make sure I am up to par for Cathi. Pretty big shoes to fill, but it will all start on Monday. Maybe it will be just like the scarecrow on Wizard of Oz at the Wizards place getting all dussed up.

It was Suzanne that picked the hoodolum campground. I was the one who picked the site by the crapper. While it did not smell good we kept the undesirables away.. so to speak. Or maybe they were avoiding us.

Cathi take care of yourself and get better. We are all praying for you. Besides my wife says she is not leaving KS until you get better. Have you seen the mess in my kitchen? hehehehehehe Get well soon.

Walt

Stephanie and Greg said...

Cathi!!!
What in the world are you up to? The family and I go to Florida for 3 weeks and come back to you moving in to the hospital. If you needed a change in location, I am sure we could have helped you find a good vacation home somewhere.
I love the doc's name. Did you get to hand pick him? I found all the words for the song and thought I would include them for everyone.

Ging gang goolee, goolee, goolee, goolee, watcha,
Ging gang goo, ging gang goo.
Ging gang goolee, goolee, goolee, goolee, watcha,
Ging gang goo, ging gang goo.
Ohh, hayla, oh hayla shayla,
Hayla shayla, shayla,

Oh ho Hayla, oh hayla shayla,
Hayla shayla, shayla, oh.
Shally wally, Shally wally,
Shally wally, Shally wally,

Oompah, Oompah, Oompah, Oompah.

Dr. Ganguly is much better than Dr. Oompah!! I picture little purple people with that name.

On a serious note:
I love KU med center. Some of my best doctors are there. The other ones are in Ohio, but the house calls are too expensive.
When I heard about your relocation to the hospital I immediately told Greg that we needed to come visit you. However.... I can not right now. I have had a cold/cough for over a month. As soon as it passes though I expect to register myself on your social calander and come see you. Your pics look great. Keep smiling!! I am jealous of the trip to the Colorado and love the action pics.
Your family has done an incredible job of keeping everyone informed. You are blessed in many ways Dr. Cathi. Keep smiling..... Chat with you soon. Stephanie