Still here

Hi everyone. We just wanted to send a quick update. Sandi is doing a bit better the past few days. She had a couple of mornings that scared us last week. The breathing issue has gotten better but she had a few days where she was unresponsive and difficult to rouse. She has been better the past few days and we are very thankful for that.

A few days ago the Bell choir from her church came and set up in her room to play for Sandi. They played beautifully and she really enjoyed the music. As both of us play it was kind of difficult to sit by and listen without participating but we really appreciate all of the trouble they went to so Sandi could hear them play. They are very talented and the staff and other patients enjoyed the concert too. We were very happy to have such a big room as they filled it up quickly with all of the equipment. Pardon the pictures, they are from my phone because I didn't think ahead and bring my good camera.


I think we have finally gotten settled in here, the staff has finally mostly gotten used to us doing most of Sandi's care. I think that was probably the hardest thing for us to get used to. We are so used to helping her with most of the day to day care and they wanted to do that! We are still getting visits from the nurses and aides from the other hospital too and we love to see them!

I will try to keep this updated more frequently, I know that I haven't been doing so well lately! I will try to do better!

Kristi

New Digs...

Sandi has been over at Walnut Lawn in their transitional facility for a week now and things are starting to go a bit smoother. At first it was a really big challenge due to the fact that we were so used to the staff and procedures on the other floor and we had a lot more freedom to do things for Sandi without having to always ask for permission or help. There we had a kitchen at our disposal with a microwave and ice and water and refrigerators stocked with things Sandi could eat without having to go through the hospital cafeteria. Here we have to ask for ice and only have access to the cafe when it is open which is kind of limited. We were able to bring in a refrigerator so we can keep drinks and yogurt and things for her which has made this a bit easier but it is still a bit restrictive for our likes! We are getting to know the staff here a lot better and they are very accommodating and friendly. They are just not used to patients in Sandi's condition and we all had some acclimating to do.

Sandi is doing well. She is recovering from an infection which has meant a lot more medication to treat but those should be done soon which will be nice so she doesnt' have so many iv changes and alarms going off when they are done! She began having more trouble breathing once we got over here but she had a procedure on Thursday called a thoracentisis which removed a great deal of fluid from the space around her left lung which was keeping it from being able to fully inflate and was making her very uncomfortable and unable to breathe well. We hope that this will last for a while because the process of getting over to the hospital again for the procedure was quite a challenge and is not something we wish to do frequently. She is resting more comfortably now and is still doing pretty well.





We do have a MUCH larger room here. I am going to post some pictures of the room and all of the posters and cards and flowers that have been put back up. She feels right at home with all of this and those of us that stay with her each night appreciate that she has an extra bed so we no longer have to sleep on a cot or the couch!

Keep her in your thoughts and prayers. She hopes that all of her students did their best on their MAP testing last week and that you will try your hardest on the rest of it! She really wishes that she could be there with you and wants to hear that you all did the best you have ever done! What a great way to honor your teacher than to do your best!

Hi all, This is Sandi's Mom, she wanted me to give you all a brief update. She has been moved to Walnut Lawn Skilled Nursing or Transitional Care facility. She is in room 304. The room is very nice and tho the move tried her terribly she thinks she should be very comfortable here. Visits from close family and friends are welcome and appreciated , but she tires quickly so we are asking that your visits be short and kept to the afternoons or early evenings. We thank everyone for all of your thoughts, prayers and good wishes.

Update from Sandi

Hey everyone, it's me updating this time! Kristi hasn't been around for a while, so she doesn't really know what's going on. She'll have to read this along with the rest of you.

Not a whole lot has changed , but there are a few things to update you on. Today I finished the last of my six radiation treatments. I guess that's something. The radiation was not designed to shrink the internal tumors that are crowding my abdomen. I don't know if that had been made clear in earlier posts. We did very shallow electron radiation to shrink the tumors that are causing some open lesions on my skin in two places. I suppose it could possibly have some benefit on those beneath the skin, but we really radiated a very small area. I heard someone say they thought the radiation was to heal the tumors in my abdomen, and someone else mistakenly thought I was having chemotherapy treatments, and neither of those is the case.

The radiation was not unpleasant or painful in any way. Each day a transporter (his name was Joe, and he was incredibly nice and very accomodating. We had some interesting conversations!) would come to my room and wait patiently while we disconnected various tubes and things, then would move me to a very hard gurney, try to make me comfortable, then take me down to the first floor of the building across the skywalk where the radiation was conducted. The procedure itself took only a moment; I counted the seconds each day out of curiousity and none of the beams lasted longer than 60 seconds. Then we would return to my room get me back in my bed and get all my tubes and whatnot reconnected, and that was the end of it. It seemed like an awfully big effort involving a whole bunch of people for such a short treatment. I guess that's the job those techs and nurses are paid to do, though, so I probably shouldn't feel bad.

We have seen some improvement in some of the sores, and the radiation oncologist said that we will continue to see improvement for the next ten days or so. There are not supposed to be any side effects, either.

Don't know if it was mentioned in the last posting or not, but another milestone in my healing is that as of last Thursday, my naso-gastric tube has been removed and I no longer resemble an elephant. The tube was inserted upon my arrival to empty the contents of my stomach, and it continued to draw intermittently for the next several weeks. This was because my system was not moving anything through, but now that it seems to be healing, we don't need it anymore.

It had rubbed a very sore spot in the back of my throat, which made eating, drinking and even talking very painful. Removing it has allowed the sore to heal, which allows me to eat a little bit now. I still have to be careful. We don't know yet what my system can handle. We're taking it very slow. I'm thrilled to have it out. The tape that kept it in place was driving me nuts, and the whole thing was just a nuisance. It's so much better now!

Now that the tube is gone, radiation is finished, and I am so stable, there may be talk again of moving me to the Walnut Lawn facility, but we haven't heard anything yet. My doctor plans on leaving me here until the insurance company begins to complain. We will keep you posted on that.

Don't really know what else is going on with me. My days are pretty much the same each day. My mornings are busy with doctor visits, vital signs, breakfast, bandage-changing, physical and occupational therapy, and those kinds of things, then after lunch I almost always feel ready to rest. Most of my family has gone home, so it's a bit quieter than when my family and friends were camped up here making sure I was okay. I really look forward to their visits now that I have become used to having them here. I am blessed to have so many loving friends and family members.

I hope you can see in the picture I posted (sorry, not a great picture. I took it with my phone!) that my students at school have sent me a new poster celebrating Easter and reminding me that they still love me and miss me. Thanks, guys. Your notes and posters and cards are really a bright spot in my day. It has been so hard to be away, regardless of the fact that I am sick. I just miss doing the job I love. I hope you guys try your hardest on your MAP tests! Don't let your teachers down! Preparing students for that test is something I poured a huge amount of time and energy into every year. I'm sorry to have to miss it this year. I feel like I've let everybody down. Darn cancer! I know it's nothing I can control, so please, don't everybody comment and tell me that! I just felt the need to express that thought.

I know this whole thing is in God's control. I'm continuing to believe that healing is happening, and all I have to do is keep believing, keep trusting God's perfect will, and do my part to eat and get stronger. It's hard to have such an uncertain future, but I try to use each day to do something important. Even though I'm stuck in bed, I try to let the Christ-light shine through. As long as I'm here, I want to continue to do the work the Lord has called me to do.

Well, I've probably rattled on long enough for tonight. I'll update again in a few days or whenever something interesting happens. Till then, keep the comments coming; they're fun to read and it's good to know that someone is reading this stuff! All your prayers are appreciated too. Lots of love and blessings to all of my friends, family, and students. Love, Sandi

Change in Plans

Well, I may have been premature in telling all of you that Sandi was moving to Walnut Lawn. Sandi's doctors have decided that perhaps some targeted radiation would help her reduce a few of her tumors and that would be too hard to do from farther away so she is staying here! YEAH! We were dreading having to move everything and leave the staff here! She is comfortable here and it doesn't matter to her where she is so this works for now!

I know that I asked for Posters but I think that what we need now is a card shower! I know that a lot of you would like to come up and visit but in many cases that is not possible and would be overwhelming but thoughts and cards are a great way to let her know we are still thinking of her even though she has been here for over a month now. The hospital address is Cox South Medical Center 3801 S. National, Springfield MO 65807

I will try to keep up on the blog but I am heading home today and will keep up on Sandi's condition for all of you, unfortunately my family wants to see me for a few days so I am off to spend Easter at home!