Home Again

Dear Friends,

I am home.   As you know from my last blog, I was in the hospital for awhile.  We thought it would be just a few days, but I ended up being there 10 days.  I came home on Friday evening ready to see my family, and bringing a lot of baggage with me.

As you know, the shadings in my lungs turned out to be some kind of pulmonary infection.  They are treating it with steroids, which affect my blood sugar, so Matt and I check my insulin before every meal.  So far, I have been within the guidelines and have not had to have a single injection since coming home!  My diet is now a low salt, low sugar, low carb diet, which is good for me but is a challenge to plan, and so on.  I apparently lost a lot of weight wihle in the hospital, so am working on maintaining that, but still trying to learn to eat differently and get in all of the little meals I need to allow for the blood sugar changes.

I have an oxygen tank here and a LONG length of hose that has the run of the house with me.  I still have moments of fear at not getting deep enough breaths, but I am working through those, and realizing it is okay to be afraid, just not to fall into the depths of that fear and stay there.  Matt has been a rock in this area with me, supporting me and encouraging me.  I also take breathing treatments every 6 hours.  We skipped one since I got home, and we realized that can not happen, as I really did need it.  I am still fighting a bit of a cough, which is aggravating and sometimes clogs me up, so the treatments really help open me up.

We have some friends who have loaned us a recliner that we set up in our front room, and this is bed at night for now.  I still cannot lie flat as I feel a pressure on my chest and heart and it makes it harder to breathe.  But this chair is very comfortable and is working very well for me.  The pulmonary specialist says that this whole process will possibly take up to two to three months before it may be healed, so this is a long road ahead.  I think I am getting stronger each day, and probably will not need the oxygen for that entire amount of time, but will stay on the steroids and many other drugs they are finding necessary.

I see the cardiologist on Wednesday for an update on my heart and on the medications she has placed me on, then Matt and I will go to UCSF on Thursday to meet with the oncologists.  That will be the first time we will havae spoken to them since my hospital stay, although my other doctors have been in contact with them somewhat.  We have a lot of questions to ask and pieces to try and place together.

I want you to know just how overwhelmed and blessed Matt and I and our kids have felt by all of your help and encouraging words.  Many of you have sent cards, stopped by with meals or treats, called to check up on what you could help with, and many came to see me or called at the hospital.  We are blessed.  Matt's parents have been here regularly, as has my RN nurse sister-in-law, who would not leave until she was sure we knew what we were up against and how to check my insulin, give the shots (Matt practiced on an orange!), and had meals for my new diet under control.  God has blessed us with her training, her merciful heart, and her availablity.  It is very hard to be beholden to others, even family, but God is working on my heart in this area.  Please know how thankful we are for each of you, and that we treasure and lean on your prayers.

Danene and Family
January17, 2010