Dina Update

It has been a little difficult keeping up this blog I know I tried to reach out to many to go to the Caring Bridge site to read all updates that the girls post concerning their mom's progress.
You can go here to sign in and then get notifications of any new blog posts:  https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/dinasnook

But since you are here, I will fill you in!  She is currently back up at OHSU doing the infusion.  She went in last Wednesday and will most likely be able to come home on Monday.  It is a longer stay this time because it is new drugs and some of them have to be given 24 hours apart.  they are also flushing her with a lot of fluid.  Yesterday she told me she gained 10 pounds in 2 days from all the fluids.  the fluids are to help get rid of the dead cancer cells and a very important part of this treatment.

Her hair started falling out last Friday, she said it was making a big mess in the hospital room, on her pillow, in the bed and all over the floor. She was happy to get home and have the kids help shave her head.  She cried.  But her sweet sister in law had a friend come over on Tuesday and give her false eyelashes and boy did her spirits lift and she just felt good about herself, even without hair.

Attitude is half the battle and if this little thing like eyelashes can make her feel better, than I am all for it, I told her to sign me up for a month to help pay for them.  But I just found out the young lady that did them wants to do it for free...it is her way of giving back, especially after she met Dina and came to love her as much as we all do!

She had another lumbar puncture, that is taking out fluid of the spinal column and replacing it with chemo...once again it came back negative for the disease.  Apparently those little burkett cancer cells are clever at finding hiding places...so another important step in eliminating this cancer from Dina's body.

They are also pumping her with lots of fluids to flush out all the dead cancer cells.  She gained 10 pounds in two days!  And she just felt yucky all day yesterday from being bloated and having to go to the bathroom all day long.  Small price to pay for getting rid of those bad boys!

The good news?  After this treatment, she is half way done with chemo!!  She will go back in the end of this month, in a little over two weeks, then she will have two sessions close together and then this long one again.  Her last chemo is scheduled for March 20 (if all goes according to schedule) and she should be released on the 25.  Then she has to wait a month before doing a scan to see how things are looking.

They were concerned with one of the lymph nodes on her appendix, thinking that as it shrunk and released fluids it would feel like a ruptured appendix and she would need to rush to the hospital.  They haven't taken any scans to see how anything is looking.  I think Dina is hoping she is in the hospital when/if that happens!

I think the drugs and side effects have all improved since the last time in 2011/2012 when she had chemo.  She has had nausea, but not thrown up!  The one major pain that she did have last time is the bone pain from the white cell booster shot.  Every time after chemo she has to give herself the shot for several days and it causes severe bone pain, everywhere, including her teeth and jaws.  The chemo kills good cells as well as the bad ones, so they need to give her the booster shot to increase her white cells to help fight infection.

I would say Dina feels hopeful and so touched by the outpouring of prayers.  She definitely feels touched by angels and has had God wink moments during this bout of cancer.

Thank you all for your support and your continued prayers and for any that purchased the Team Dina gear (not necessary at all!, prayers are the most important!)  If you did buy a Team Dina shirt, please take a picture and send it to me, as Lacey is going to put a collage together of everyone that bought a shirt in support of Dina.  I think the last day to order from Kyle is Monday the 11th.

Scott and I took Lily up to see her Mom on Thursday night:  I snapped a pic of the two of them in her bed!

Here is a picture of her family just prior to her losing her hair:

The back of the shirt has this bible verse: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

Thanks for stopping by!  Heart Hugs to you all!