April 24th

Hello!

I hope this finds you all doing well!

I apologize for the lack of updates, but the past couple weeks have been something. Started my chemo and radiation two weeks ago this past Thursday. Besides irritated lips and some stomach issues, I had been feeling pretty good until late last week when I started experiencing some pretty major upper body pain. I didn't know if it was muscle fatigue or what. All the doctors agreed that it must have something to do with the chemo, but we just chalked it up to my body adjusting to the chemo. This past week, the pain was getting a bit ridiculous. I was having problems sleeping, breathing and moving around. On Thursday, my chemo doc ordered some tests on my port, and it turns out my port had a hole in it. I was immediately taken off the chemo because instead of all of the chemo going into my bloodstream, some of it was escaping from the catheter into my chest cavity. The chemo was burning my chest tissues, and this is what was causing all the pain. The existing port was removed and a new port was put in on other side of my chest Friday. I'm on furlough from chemo for the weekend and have been doing nothing except sleeping and popping ibuprofen since I got home from the hospital yesterday. I am already feeling some relief from the "chemo chest pain"... thank God! From what I understand, the chances of something like this happening are extremely rare, but why, oh why, couldn't I won this past week's Power Ball if I am going to have rare things happen to me? I guess I have too many teeth... you'll understand what I'm referring to if you've seen a picture of the recent PB winner.

I wanted to thank everyone again for the special thoughts, prayers and everything! I love hearing from everyone!! As before, many of you have asked if you can bring dinner or whatever. Following is a link to a dinner calendar: http://www.brownbearsw.com/freecal/Lusk?KW=Lusk;Op=ShowIt&Date=2010-05-01 Again, do not feel obligated!!!!!

Talk to you all soon and take care!

Jenny