The Chalifoux Update

Update

2008-02-20T12:13:00.003-05:00

Sorry, I said I would update daily, but exhaustion took over. Here is where we are at. Mom is still in the hospital. She has a blood clot in her arm. They have decided that no surgery is necessary, and she will remain on blood thinners when she leaves the hospital. She had an IV line in her neck, and fortunately, they have removed that. It made it uncomfortable to sleep! She was hoping to get out today, but has developed a cough and a fever. They have decide to keep her since her immune system is so low currently. They don't want her to go home, spike a high fever and have to be readmitted through the Emergency room.

She is feeling better, much more fiesty about her desire to go home. I think she is a little lonely and bored. Feel free to call her cell phone (804)543-0361 or her room directly (804)281-9601. Visiting might not be a good idea right now, since her immune levels are down. Thanks for all of the prayers and support. Love, Noelle

Bad News

2008-02-17T15:33:00.002-05:00

Mom went to the ER last night. Her arm was swelling and discolored. They admited her and she will be in until Tues or Weds. She has a blood clot in her arm or neck. They took out the PIC line and she is on blood thinners and antibiotics. A vascular surgeon will decide if that is enough, or if surgery is needed. Needless to say she is exhausted and not feeling so good. Please say prayers, and feel free to call me for an update. My number is 804-364-2032. I'll update daily right now, so please check back. Noelle

A Huge Pothole in the Road...

2008-02-13T16:56:00.003-05:00

Hi, it's Noelle. I always mix my metaphors, and stuggle to come up with a witty title that explains where we are in the journey. Since the last post, mom has actually relaxed and stayed home. The infection got better, and her port was tested to make sure it was ok, and she seemed on the upswing.

Good News: Chemo number 4 is finally done and this means mom is 2/3 of the way done with chemo!!!

Bad News: She has had problems with her port since the beginning, and finally the doctors gave up on it working. This all occurred yesterday, 2/12. They decided to put in a type of iv, a pic (sp?) line, to administer the remaning chemo treatments. This morning mom and dad went back to the hospital, to have it inserted, and then back to the treatment center for chemo. Needless to say it was a long couple of days, but she has had the treatment.

I always think that it is a big deal, one more down, cross it off the list. The reality is that even though the treatment is over the after effects really don't start for a few days. This time mom will go for a shot each day, for 5 days. It is less strong than the previous shot that she reacted poorly to. Please keep praying that she feels well, and makes it through with few complications.

Aunt Ann, dad's sister, came to help this time. She'll be staying for almost a week. It gives me peace of mind to know someone is there in case of any other fainting spells. There email is not working currently, so if you want to send a message, feel free to email me at nojophoto@gmail.com. I'll be glad to print it out and bring it over.

I'll keep you all updated as we have news. So consider no news between treatments is good news!

Noelle

A bend in the Road

2008-01-29T18:10:00.000-05:00

Hey, it is Noelle. We have a little bump in the road this chemo. Two main issues, as far as I can tell: 1. Mom has an infection in or around the port where they put the chemo. She is on antibiotics since Saturday, and they have put her on stronger antibiotics. She needs for this to get better or it is going to warrant a trip to the hospital (I believe for iv antibiotics).

The other main issue is that she did not react well to the shot that is supposed to increase her blood levels. That caused a little fainting episode this weekend, and the Dr. has decided to stop the shot of that is causing the problem. In its place, mom will have to have a series of 5 shots in five days after each chemo. Not the best option, but better than fainting.

She is feeling better than this weekend, and she is trying to schedule less, but help encourage her, and say prayers that we can stay the course and get this over with asap! I'll keep you updated when there is news, definitely this weekend hopefully to let you know the infection has cleared! Noelle

Half Way Done!!!

2008-01-23T18:45:00.000-05:00

Today, the 23, mom had her 3rd chemo. She is officially half way done with chemo. She has been doing well, with only mild discomfort. Her hemoglobin on Monday was good, but dropped today because she has been pushing herself too much in the days before chemo. She has come to the realization she needs to slow down because if her numbers stay low, she won't be able to have the next chemo on schedule. I am glad she has finally realized this. Mom seems to push herself right before the next chemo in case she feels bad, and in the process she wears herself out going into chemo. The next chemo is in 3 weeks. I promise to try to give more information sooner, and to have more wit in the next posting. I am just too tired!

Mom said thanks for the prayers and reading the blog. She really appreciates the love and support. Noelle

2 down and 4 to go

2008-01-02T20:44:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends and family,
I had my second chemo today...yes this is Laurie finally learning how to do this crazy thing. All went very well except that I talked Mike Jr. into taking his Dad home and it went longer than I thought so Mike was worried about me when I decided to stop at the grocery store because I was starving after chemo.
What a different experience this is for me than my Mom who went through it 25 years ago. The anti-nausea drugs are keeping me so comfortable and most of the people I have talked to say the same things.
I am almost bald now as my hair started coming out so much that it was choking me. I got up on New years and chopped it off. Tonight in the shower most of the rest came out. I said that I looked like Kojak but I guess that dates me so I look like Howey Mandel (only not as cute!)
Thanks for all your love and prayers and support. Ps. if you want to call me now it is welcome. We go to bed around 10 eastern time.
Love,
Laurie

Ok, I'm a day Late, but the news is good!

2007-12-14T14:10:00.000-05:00

Yeah! Good news, it went well, and mom feels good. She hasn't been queasy, the side effects not so bad. She has been up during the night from the steroids, but other than that, I don't believe she has slowed down. A dinner party last night, the Christian Women's Club Brunch today, Christmas shopping, and even a trip to the wig store today. If she does lose her hair, the wig will probably just make it easier to get out earlier in the morning! Good job with the prayers guys, thanks!

Also, on a side note, I just realized the irony of the picture I put up of mom and dad, drinking a glowing blue drink. I used the picture just because it was it cute and fun, never thinking about the crazy chemo cocktail she would be imbibing! Oh well. More news to follow as it comes.

1 Down, 5 to Go!

2007-12-12T15:13:00.000-05:00

Ok, not all the way down, but finally in progress. Mom went today at 10:30 for the first treatment so I was surprised to see her car at preschool at 11. Fortunately, it was Dad and Mitty who had just dropped off Grammy and came to see the rip roaring preschool show, and enjoy a juice box. Unfortunately, they weren't able to start the chemo without some delay. Her port was pressing against a vein, so they had to make a quick trip to the hospital to see what was causing the problem. I just talked to her and they worked her back in so she could still start the chemo today. She said that it is very different than she imagined. She has a nice comfie recliner, and they are making smoothies for the patients today. She can bring a lap top, or friends, and even have lunch delivered. So far, so good. I'll update tomorrow how she's doing. Keep praying for no nausea and the medicine to work well. Talk to you tomorrow.

The Radiation Plan

2007-12-07T08:57:00.000-05:00

Hey, guess who! It is Noelle, and this time it is not because mom didn't know how to blog, it is because her computer connection is out. Technology is supposed to make life easier, but sometimes it just seems to add more complications.

Yesterday, Mom and Dad met with the Radiologist, Dr. Chin. I didn't go. They really liked her, and she seemed to be very busy. They were there longer than they anticipated because Dr. Chin takes as much time as each patient needs when she meets with them. So although that often means the Dr. is late, you know you'll have her full attention when she is there, and isn't that what really matters?

Radiation will start about 4 weeks after chemo ends. Mom will have 33 treatments over the course of 6 weeks. It is 5 radiation treatments a week, with Saturday and Sundays off. That is all I know about the radiation. I'll update again after Mom's first chemo treatment on December 12. Pray that the chemo does what it needs to do with a minimum of nausea and discomfort. Thanks for all the support, and feel free to leave comments below by clicking on the comment button at the end of the post. Noelle

Divine Power, Rule and Authority

2007-11-29T15:53:00.000-05:00

Chemo is scheduled to start on 12/12 2007. As I am teaching mom how to update her blog and for the title, I asked her to look up the biblical significance of the number twelve. It means "Divine Government, Apostolic Fullness, Divine Power Rule and Authority." It goes on to say it is the number of the New Jerusalem where God dwells with man and reigns. There were 12 gates, 12 angels at the gates, 12 crops of fruit on the tree of life, one for each of the 12 months, 12 tribes, 12 sons, 12 disciples but, only 6 chemo treatments! She will sit in chair 7, (the number of spiritual completion and perfection) I hope the chair works! Please pray that chemo will only do good, and no harm since there are many possible side effects. Especially include the lack of nausea, and while were at it, how about a miracle...no hair loss! I have some sexy pictures of mom in ethnic wigs (the only ones available to us the day we went) but she has threatened my life if I post them! We probably won't post again until after the first treatment.

The Plan

2007-11-26T20:11:00.000-05:00

Hi, it is Noelle again with the update. I promise, I will get Mom updating her own blog asap, but in the interim, I know you all want news. We (Mom, Dad, Maddie, Kate and Aunt Rose) met with the oncologist for the first time today and surprisingly enough, we all did not fit in the examining room! That left Aunt Rose coloring with Maddie and Kate in the lobby (to the joy of all of the other paitents!) The Doctor seems very good and without going into too many details, the prognosis is good. He paitently answered our many questions and explained why he thought chemotherapy was a good option for Mom. Her type of breast cancer is very responsive to chemotherapy and will help clean up any stray cells in her body. She will be starting chemo in mid December and will have 6 treatments, one every three weeks. As you can expect, no one really wants to go through chemo, but as I read this post to her over the phone, Mom wanted to make sure I include how strong her faith in God is. She knows that God is in control and will take care of her (and us) through the tough time ahead. Honestly she is more peaceful than I am and infinitely more graceful as a paitent than I ever was.

Things to Be Thankful For

2007-11-19T08:52:00.000-05:00

I'm updating the blog for mom. My goal is to have her start doing her own updates. I know with Thanksgiving rapidly approaching, there are many things to be thankful for, including the fact the tumor was smaller than we thought and that only one lymph node was involved. I also know that G and Mike are very thankful for four little spoiled cutie pies! So in honor of Thanksgiving, I have a photo to add of the kids together, even sitting down I might add! For those who haven't seen the kids in a while, they are from left to right, Kate (4), Kara (7), Maddie (6 almost) and Mikey (6). It goes without saying they are also thankful for G and Mike. Happy Thanksgiving. Noelle

Good News!

2007-11-15T10:40:00.000-05:00

Hello Family, Friends and Well Wishers. This is a new blog created to keep you posted on the health and adventures of Laurie Chalifoux. I (Noelle) am setting this up so that you all can receive timely updates on Mom's treatment and prognosis. As we progress through this journey we also hope to enlighten and inform you. I told mom she could post daily devotionals when she is up to it and we even hope have wig voting contest, where you all can choose the newest hair style and color for grammy!

But, on a serious note, we would like to start out with good news. The surgeon, Dr. Jim Pellicane, called today inform us of good news. The tumor was smaller than the MRI originally showed. It was 1.8 cm. This is almost half a centimeter smaller that we thought. He also said that only one lymph node was effected. It was a big lymph node, but because it is only one this means she is a great canditate for localized radiation. We still must do chemotherapy (hence the wig makeover contest) but this is decidedly good news.

I am starting this site out for mom so she can really spread news. I know she is so grateful for all of the good friends the support and prayers. Check back often, and we will keep the site updated. Thanks. Noelle