John is getting better :)

Hi!  I hope everyone is doing well.  Gee, I haven't had a chance to read ya'lls' journals because I've been too busy. 

Things seem to finally be turning around here.  I can finally really breathe a sigh of relief.  I really don't believe John is going to die now, for the first time.  I wasn't sure before.  But now he finally seems to be responding to treatment for the Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia.  The Hemotologist/Oncologist team told us yesterday.  And I believe it because John hasn't required as much blood in the past few days, and his lab numbers have been better.  Yay!  That doesn't mean he doesn't have a long way to go, but I know he will make it!  I just know it! 

The treatment that seems to be doing the trick is chemo that is called Rituxin.  He had a dose last night at 9:30 PM and he was done at 11:45 PM.  Why they did it that late I have no idea.  I stayed around because it has been known to have side effects.  I got home at midnight. 

This was John's third week of the chemo drug.  He could possibly need seven weeks of it.

This morning John is having dialysis.  I feel really bad for him.  He does not tolerate it well.  He shakes and shakes afterward.  He also has a feeling of general malaise, and a sort of feeling of disassociation.  He gets headaches and his chest hurts.  He explained these symptoms to the kidney specialist, and was told that perhaps they are running the machine the wrong amount of time.  Dialysis effects your body chemistry.  They said they would check his labs, and see if they would need to change the length of his dialysis.  John said he feels like his dialysis goes on fifteen minutes too long.

On days that John has dialysis, he is sick and very very weak for the rest of the day.  Today is going to be hard.  I had better get geared up and go over to the hospital to see how he is doing.  He is usually up by this time!  

By the way, John is having trouble walking.  I know I said I walked with him in the hallway the other day, but the physical therapist told me not to do that again.  She walked with him the past couple of days, and he started to fall over several times but she caught him.  But I am not worried, because he is getting stronger everyday.  He sits up in the chair in his room now a lot to build up his strength!  I know he will be able to walk soon!

Okay, it is off to the hospital!  Love you all lots.

Krissy :)