The remarkable Kathleen

Hi everyone:

I went with Kathleen to her oncology appointment yesterday morning. After two weeks since her last hospitalization, I was expecting that Kathleen would need to be admitted to the hospital for blood transfusions. Instead, her numbers jumped again. Her hemoglobin was at 11.5, and her platelets skyrocketed to more than 85,000 (still well below normal, but off-the-charts for Kathleen). Needless to say, she was a happy camper.

Kathleen received the first infusion in a second round of chemo. She came through it without event, although she's likely to feel a bit miserable through the weekend.

Don and Kathleen are planning a 4-day trip to Jamaica in mid-November, with her doc's blessing. Keep your fingers crossed she's faring well at the time they leave.

Kathleen's low blood pressure continues to be a concern. She was given fluids yesterday, and encouraged to eat more salty foods. In the scheme of things, this seems like small potatoes, which is exactly what we want to hear. The only blue moment in the day came when Kathleen asked her doctor how long he planned to keep her on chemo. His answer? "As long as it's working." I think Kathleen had hoped she'd catch a break. She shook her worries off quickly, as Kathleen is wont to do.

Don't you love a day full of good news, especially since so many of my postings haven't been so inspiring?

Love,
Brian