Salt Of The Earth

Ashtyn is currently half way through her chemotherapy round. (Two weeks down, two weeks to go.) When she went to clinic yesterday morning, labs showed she was extremely immunocompromised because chemo kills good white blood cells. (I’m grateful she remained healthy at home and didn’t get sick from being on an airplane.) Arriving at clinic she was also on the verge of tears because of nerve pain, a side effect from the chemo drug Vincristine. (While home the neuropathy got worse and worse with each day. By the time we flew back to Seattle the burning, pins and needles, and numbness was at a level where I had to wheelchair her to the gate and request wheelchair assistance when we landed in Seattle. Before boarding the plane she texted her doctor in Salt Lake City, Luke Maese, and ask for suggestions on how to manage the pain so she could continue taking Vincristine, giving her the best shot at getting cancer free this month.) Adam Lamble, her oncologist in Seattle, was relieved she was back in town safe. He came into her clinic room with nurse practitioner Jen, palliative care and pain expert Dr. Beck, and a palliative care nurse. Dr. Lamble had received an email from Dr. Maese addressing the pain issue Ashtyn experienced in Salt Lake City.  Everyone in the room was there to find a solution to decrease pain. After an hour discussion, a plan was in place. I was in awe and so touched by how much love and attention Ashtyn gets. How did I get so lucky to witness and be associated with such salt of the earth people? The oral narcotic Dilaudid was prescribed and was soon effective at bringing the pain level down to a comfortable level. If there ever comes a time when Dilaudid alone doesn’t do the trick, we have more options to add. The fact that chemotherapy was given as scheduled, an awesome pain management plan was in place, and I got to chat with such super cool people made for a really great day. In the evening Ash started redecorating and cleaning our room and said, “It’s a lot easier to be happy when I’m not in pain.” Life is pleasant. Please pray for continual health during the remainder of the month with cancer free results in July.