No More Chemo

Wonderful news! Mom's doctor told her yesterday the chemo treatments are finished.

She has to go in every third week and get "Herceptin". Mom said she felt like she was on vacation when she only got Herceptin.

We would all like to thank each and every one of you who send prayers & good thoughts Merry's way. She's positive it was without a doubt what pulled her through.

When I get more information I'll let you all know.

Merry Lynn

Happy Birthday Mike!

Today is our brother and Merry's first born's birthday.

August 13, 1951, Merry was 17 years old when she had Michael Wayne.

Happy Birthday Mike, We Love You.

Better The Devil You Know

Well Mom changed meds on Monday. They decided to triple all of her medicine. She won’t have to go get chemo for three weeks. This whole chemo experience has been confusing. Just when we start to understand the program the program changes.

On Wednesday, Mom got a lovely side effect from the new meds (her doctor failed to tell her 71% of patients suffer from it). Neuropathy, in her lower legs and feet. She told me it was like she was plugged into an electrical outlet. Not tingly but electric shock. Of course to keep her southern creds she just gritted her teeth and told no one. Until the next day when it got unbearable. She said it was worse than childbirth and kidney stones. Perhaps she’ll go back to the drug that only gave her diarrhea and nausea. At least they’re not painful just annoying.

Thursday Lisa came and got her for a girls day at her house. They watched movies & had a fun lunch. Lisa gave her a pedicure, manicure & foot massage. I’m thinking of going to the Lisa Spa soon! It sounds great. Mostly it was just great for Mom to get out of her house. She’s all but been housebound … no, actually she's been housebound. That evening she got some meds to counter act the effects of the new meds. So on Friday @ 7pm she was doing much better. Lisa took a few pictures of their day.

Lisa & Merry

Scarf’s will be THE thing this year.

It's been a good two weeks

The last 2 weeks have been good.
Week one, Mom only got the single dose of Herceptin, which leaves her feeling good ... well better than the cocktail they have been giving her. Then because of her white blood count being down she wasn't given the cocktail again the next week, only Herceptin. Good news, she felt good all week, bad news, couldn't go out in the public and enjoy it since her immune system was low.
One other good note, while talking to her Chemo doctor she told him how the chemo had been affecting her. So he will be giving her a new drug that won't incapacitate her. He told her that the insurance companies make the doctors give this drug first ( even though most people get violently ill from it). The new drug cost more so some clerk/administrator at the insurance company has made a decision that affects all these already sick people just alittle more. I can only hope that there's a special place in Hell where this guy/gal goes. To put my sweet mother and countless others thru weeks of nausea, diarrhea, hair falling out, exhaustion...
I'll try and be a little less pissy on my next post. Maybe get a few more photos on the page.
Thank you again for all the prayers you've been sending moms way. She's sure they are what's getting her through all this.

Lisa's photos

Lisa took this photo today. Mom looks great in her new wig.

Hope you have a great week.

Midway

This last week was not her best week. Pretty sick from Wednesday night through Sunday night. The nurses at her Chemo clinic have told mom to let them know next time, they can give her drugs to alleviate some of the symptoms. Better living thru drugs... (But isn't it drugs that are putting her through all this?)

Here are Mom's exact words; "Thank you, thank you, thank you, for all the prayers. Even days that are bad could be worse."

Today she was only given "Herceptin". The last time it was only this drug, she had a very good week. She's planning on a vacation week. Plus this is her mid-way mark. Six more weeks of Chemo.

Dell wasn't so sure about the kitties convalescing with Mom at first. Now he can see their recuperative qualities. Somehow they know just where to snuggle up, so she gets all their medicinal kitty care. She has one kitty named Shadow, who's pretty scared of her own shadow. The other day Shadow climbed up on Mom's stomach, then reached up and patted her face. Even the cats knew how sucky the week had been!

I've been promised a photo for the blog with a turban or something as fantastic. I'll put it on as soon as I get it.

Mom hasn’t been able to go to church since the Chemo started and has been told to avoid going anywhere she might catch germs, since she’s in a very fragile state.
Isolation seems to be a big part of Cancer. So, if you’re not sick, go by and see Merry. I know it would certainly lift her spirits.

We were so young...

My friend Lyndsey recently gave me this picture of the Merry's circa 1978. I think we were at The Spagetti Factory in Hollywood.

Welcome to My Mom Merry

Here's my plan. I'll post every Sunday updates on Mom's condition. That way you can put this blog on your favorites and check up on her whenever you want.



Talked to herself this afternoon...she sounds much better than she has in a few weeks.

Round three of chemo last Monday.

Mom found another reason to be thankful, before she began her chemo she went in for a port.

It's a surgical procedure where a central line is installed so that the nurses don't have to find a vein each time they do the chemo. They simply hook her up and no fuss. Mom said she saw the nurses trying to find a vein on this little woman for 15 minutes. So the port (which is supposed to hurt like a you know what...) was worth all the pain she went through getting it implanted.



Somehow Lisa (my baby sister) was talked into shaving Mom's head... The shame was, there's no video footage! Clumps of hair were coming out so Mom took our cousin Kathy Smiths advice and just cut it all off. When so many parts of your life are out of your hands, it's good to have at least one thing in your control. So goodbye hair ... Hello turbans and wigs! She's probably precious.



I'd like to thank my niece Haley for helping me find this site for the blog. She kept us all informed on her brother Aaron Rices condition when he was seriously injured in Iraq. For a good read (Haley's a real writer!) check out her blog. http://www.wachdorf.com/haley-blog/

July 5, 2009

Just a quick note on how she's doing so far with this journey. The chemo treatments so far have left mom feeling relatively crappy. On the good side ... she's getting lots of sleep. She won't need to go on a diet for a while and the hair is bidding adieu. If she had the energy and a pool she could swim whenever she wanted. Our cousin Pattye who finished chemo recently sent Mom a box of turbans, she says they are all so pretty. Mom's going to start a fashion craze in Hattiesburg. Thanks again for letting me bend your ear with our news. Her spirits are still up. I appreciate everyone who's stopped by, emailed, phoned or sent her a card. This is a marathon and you all are the cheers and waters along the way.

Love, Merry jr.

June 25, 2009

Just a note to keep you up on Mom's progress.In May she had a single mastectomy.Her lymph nodes were clear of cancer but they still have to give her chemo to make sure the surgeon got it all.So 2 weeks ago she started her 12 weeks of chemo.Every ones been so kind to give her advice on what to take with her.So she had a book, a DVD player with an assortment of movies, a few magazines, a portable CD player with an assortment of music and ice (to cool her fingers & toes - apparently my cousin Kathy's toes & finger were boiling during her treatment). So my sister Lisa and Mom Merry were ready for anything. They were led to a cubicle and the chemo started. They put in a movie but were interrupted by the very nice nurse who explained what was going on with all the drugs in her particular cocktail. They tried to start the movie again but again the very nice nurse came to tell them more about when she would be coming for her treatments. Granted every time someone has told her the plan for her chemo up to this moment it has been a different story. So now she comes each Monday 3 weeks on 1 week off. So mom looks in her bag of goodies and has found that the ice has melted all in her bag and onto her CD player. They dry off the CD player and its time to go home.She felt pretty darned good Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday thru Saturday not so good. Flu like symptoms and no appetite.This Monday she took a book. It only took 4 hours to put the chemo in and she was home happy with her husband Dell and the cats. She still has her hair but is ready at the first sign to shave it all off. I guess it's more empowering to just cut it off than to watch your hair slowly fall out in clumps.Thank you again for all the prayers, good thoughts and triangles of light that were sent out for mom. Please continue keeping her in your thoughts. She's sure everything you've done has helped. This is a long journey but we will get through it and she will be better.Love, Merry Donnerps. Merry Lynn to those in the south.

Before we had this blog...

May 3, 2009 My Mom - Merry

My Mom is going to have a Mastectomy tomorrow, Monday May 4th around 10:30 am CST.
I'm worried for her and wondered if I could get my friends to say a quick prayer for her.
Her name is Merry Austin, the surgery will be at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
I feel like the more information you have the better in the prayer area. :)
Thanks for doing this,

Merry D



May 4, 2009
Hey y'all, I wanted to give everyone an update on my mother's surgery.
As expected, Mom went in for her mastectomy at 10:30 this morning. The surgery went smoothly and there were no complications so by early afternoon, she was awake and resting in her room. First reports indicated her lymph nodes were not involved (although final results are still TBA) so no further surgery has been scheduled at this time.

We're waiting to hear the results of one, last, comprehensive test to determine if she gets a clean bill of health but won't have that information until tomorrow or Wednesday.

I'll be leaving for Mississippi on Wednesday morning and expect to be with Mom as soon as I can get to Hattiesburg. I'll try to pass updates along as I get them.

Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers.
Merry



May 5, 2009 Update on Merry - mom

Just heard from "herself." Earlier today, Mom's test results came back and her lymph nodes are CANCER-FRACKING-FREE!!!!!! She will probably be released from Forrest General tomorrow so I'll be staying with her and Dell at home in Hattiesburg.

Thank you again for keeping my mother in your thoughts and prayers, I know they helped.
Merry D




May 15, 2009 My Mom Merry
First of all I'd like to thank you for your prayers, triangles of light and any good thoughts that were sent in for my Mother.
When I arrived in Mississippi and first saw my mom, she was surrounded by her precious cats. :)
We have decided they have a sense when you are ill and surround you with their recuperative and healing abilities. (Our cats did the same thing with my husband Steve when he broke his back a few years ago).
Mom has gotten through the surgery portion of her cancer and will need to heal before she goes to her oncologist. Her staples were taken out and she's been okayed to take a shower ... I guess she didn't tell her doctor that I took her to get her hair "done" 4 days after her surgery. A girls gotta do what a girls gotta do. She looked marvelous.
The next 6 months will be challenging with her chemotherapy. Please keep her in your prayers, good thoughts and whatever may be your way of positive reinforcement for my mom Merry Austin. Again I say a sincere thanks for everything.
Merry D