...keeping our fingers crossed...

I was hoping to give an update from home today but as it stands, Northside Hospital, Room 1510 has the Zifchak name on it for at least one more day....

Last week we expected that Jess would be checking out of "Hotel Forum" over the weekend, but her lungs had other ideas. Although she'd been feeling better than when first admitted, chest x-rays revealed more fluid buildup. There are a number of reasons for this to happen and no one was surprised by it, but we didn't expect to see the amount that they gave. This time, the left lung produced 1,500 cc's and the right 1,300 cc's. Yes. Those numbers are correct. Picture a liter bottle+ per lung.....

Chemo last Tuesday went well all in all.....pain meds and antibiotics helped considerably and IV fluids were given around the clock to help flush out her system, especially the kidneys since these drugs are very hard on them. But her body got greedy and kept too much and by Thursday she carried an extra 12 pounds. Drugs were given to counteract the retention and by Saturday 10 of those pounds were expelled. The lungs were drained on Saturday and Sunday and by Monday an additional 11 pounds were lost. (When she was admitted, she weighed about 6 pounds more than normal to begin with.)

Although no new ultrasounds have been done since Friday, we're hoping that the clots are responding to the blood thinners. Jessica's arm is still swollen, but it's nowhere near the size it was before! Thank God! And speaking of Him, Sister Lois from the Dioceses has been stopping by on the days she's here to see and pray for Jess. Yesterday she commented on how she'd love to take Jessica around to see the other patients because her attitude is such an inspiration and with all she's been through she is still smiling. That's our Jessica!! Once again showing her strength and fortitude!! She is truly one amazing young lady!!

Jessica's appetite has been getting back to normal and she's feeling a lot better these days (she's starting to clean this place!), but the chemo dropped her white blood count very, very low and her oxygen saturation and heart rate are not quite where they should be.....so we're keeping our fingers crosssed that tomorrow all will be where it needs to be and we can change her address back to Second Street!