First week of treatments

Dear Family and Friends,

This past week Mandi started treatments.  I will try to explain in the best way I can this first weeks accomplishments.

Monday afternoon Mandi had her first appointment to get a pet scan.  First we went to the nurses station and accessed her port, for blood draws, and the IV for the medication.  And then she went directly to the radiology for the scan.

While in one of the waiting rooms a lady sat about 10 feet away, and Mandi started choking on her smells.  I'm not sure how this will effect her career as a sentcy consultant.

During that time I was shown around the hospital meeting with doctors, nurses, and insurance, and trying to navigate my way around the hospital.   After the scan was complete, we went to the food bistro to get a bit to eat.  It was good to see Mandi eat a pretty good meal where she has not had the appetite to do so lately.   We were delaying a bit, due to the fact there was not a room ready for her when I went to see where she would be staying during her treatments.  After her meal we headed for the patient rooms, and they had one available.

We understood they were starting treatments that Monday evening, but due to timing and some other details, we were informed that the treatments would start the following morning.  The doctors and nurses took some time explaining what to expect during her stay.  Things like vital checks every 4 hours around the clock, blood draws each day, the medication that will be used and the schedule that they will be infused.

Mandi was able to order french toast with fresh strawberries and cool whip,  and got a pretty good rest the first night besides the 4 hour vital checks.

Tuesday was the first 12 hour infusion, which was explained as what I would call the demon.  The doctors and nurses told us that people commonly react to this medication, and that we should expect the possibility of any number of reactions, and that during this  infusion vitals would be taken every 15 minutes which took the majority of that day.  This drug attaches to the bad cells allowing the treatments to be more effective. During this first cycle the only reaction was a slight fever towards the end, and I think it was caused because the room temperature was to high.   But I was probably wrong.  Regardless she did have the temp turned down a couple degrees.  This possibility of reaction is mainly for the first treatment and the concern should not be as high for future treatments.

During the day we were visited by many specialists from doctors and therapists, to nutritionalists,  which was very comforting to know that there was not one rock unturned.  And due to our lack of understanding all the details of this disease, we know we are in the right place for Mandi's treatments.

Tuesday evening, she started a combination of three meds, which is a 24 hour continuous infusion for four cycles, while along the way making sure she is hydrated.  She had lost about 25 pounds and is feeling the fluids and steroids are replacing the loss.  She is not as happy about that =(

Thursday Deaken and Mayci had parent teacher conference, and we are proud of their efforts in school.  Taeden increased about 20% on his math grade, which is amazing.  Wednesday he went snow  boarding at Cherry Creek Peak with his YM group and had a crash.  Hopefully it doesn't affect the learning portion of his brain.  We love that kid!!!  Right when he got home we were in the middle of a lizard hunt.  Apparently Mayci can not resist feeling the texture of lizard skin, and the lizard was less than willing to let her.  As she went in for the feel, the lizard intercepted by biting her finger.  The reaction of pulling her finger away while the lizard was still attached, ejected the lizard from it's home, and started the chase.  Since Taeden does not currently have a door on his room due to another incident, the lizard escaped a very frantic little girl who was breaking a promise that was made earlier in her life.  Glad that's over!  Harli is also here, helping and planning the next event with her friends.  This past week has been a frantic one, and we thank all those have helped where needed.

We were hoping we would have Mandi back at home Saturday evening, but the the 3rd cycle took longer than expected and was not started till around 10:00 pm Friday.  She has been a bit tired, but her spirits are up and thanks to FaceTime we have had chances for our family stay connected.     Thank Apple!

As of today we feel the process towards wellness is moving along.  Minus a couple fevers she has had, it is good to get started on the road to being healed.  We are not sure what all to expect as we get closer to the end only what doctors and nurses had told us.  We know that Mandi will have a low immune system and fatigue, and the doctors and nurses have told us the importance of a clean house.  Which means washing hands a lot,  and doing all we can to keep bad germs out.  After talking to her today, it sounds like our already high level of cleansing will be stepped up a couple notches.  The kids are pretty excited.

We are very excited to have her back tomorrow, and I know she is excited to squeeze her babies.  Hope I get one to?

Thanks again to all our Family and Friends who have shown concern, helped where needed, put names on lists, and included Mandi and our family in their family and personal prayers.  This is an experience that we can not make it through without the help from others.  We truly feel loved, and want you all to know that feeling is mutual.  Thank You!!

     We hope this will not be an unreasonable request, Mandi has asked that this link is not attached to any social media accounts.  We hope that this blog will be kept within our circle of family and friends.

Love, The J&M Poulsen's