Update on Ross Purcell’s chemo from Carol

Spent the entire day – Monday – (8 hours) at the cancer clinic for his 1st chemo treatment.  Tomorrow afternoon he goes in to the lab for an injection to boost his white blood cells.  5 days of steroids (heavy dose) and then in 2 weeks he goes in to check his white and red cells.  Next treatment is set for November 19th but think that might be a week short cause we were told it would be a 4 week process.  So far so good.  The first infusion is the dangerous one and starts out very slow and increases if there is not a problem.  They monitor his blood pressure and temperature throughout the whole deal to make sure his body is tolerating it.  What to expect?  After the shot tomorrow, he will have achy bones and muscles and hip joints.  The steroids will make him feel pretty good for a few days and then he will feel like a truck ran over him.  Nausea can be a problem but they have given him anti nausea meds this morning and a prescription if he needs it.  Guess it’s a wait and see as to how he will do with all of this from day to day.  I have to check his temp every day and a nurse will come in twice a week to check his vitals.  Think for the next couple of weeks we will keep him away from crowds to avoid any infection and he can’t drive and I don’t intend to let him stray far from the house at all at first.  Want to protect him from those flu germs and anything else that might be flying around out there.  He sure can’t afford to catch anything.  Have to keep him well nourished and make sure he drinks plenty of fluids so I have every imaginable juice here at his disposal.  His appetite has certainly decreased since his hospital visit.  Can’t believe that today it has been exactly one month since he had surgery.  Goodness how time flies.  My calendar is full and think it will remain such for a while to come.  Otherwise, we are doing fine.  Lots of family support and so much love and prayer coming our way.  We are blessed, that’s for sure.  Ross’s twins from California and his son from Washington were here for a few days and we had a wonderful time.  They were very helpful, kind and considerate and such a blessing.  Ross said it was the best medicine he could have.  Course Craig was here at the hospital with us also and that was awesome so he could share all the medical stuff with us.  Deb will be here as soon as she can free herself from her teaching jobs and probably be next month sometime.  Have had a lot of help and boy things would not have gotten done without that assistance for sure.  So, it looks like it is going to be one day at a time and I am not going to take any chances as we don’t need any complications.  So, keep up the prayers and send positive thoughts our way.