Day 6 of my journey of hope

Good evening to all you faithful and supportive friends.
My day started out with excerising on my bike and a hike in the hallway several times. Then I had a shower and ate breakfast. I am noticing that the food does not taste as good as it did but that is to be expected.
I can't believe all the preventive meds that I have to take but thank goodness for them. At 2:oo I got the second round of the bad boy chemo. It made my mouth seems like it was on fire and it wouldn' t go away-- it made my cheeks rosey red and the glands in my neck started to swell. They even put me on a low dose of morphine. Rodney went to do the laundry and while he was gone I slept -- my phone rang and I didn' t know if it was 7 am or 7 pm ! I do feel better now.

One of the guys that Rodney works with (John) took him out to dinner this evening at the Comfort Resturant-thanks John for taking him out to get his mind off of me. He talked about
how good the meal was. John told Rodney that is important at a time like this to take care of the caregiver also. Thanks I think that is very true.

Now I need to brag about my wonderful caregiver -Rodney- he has been through alot with me and now we have one more journey. I will miss him when he goes home on Sunday, but I konw that this is something that needs to be done. As I have said before "THIS TOO SHALL PASS"

Hope to write more tomorrow,

Please say a big prayer for me in the next couple of weeks until my bone marrow infusion starts to take over and do its job and the flu-like syptoms that I was told to expect goes away.


God Bless All Of YOU!

Gloria

Update - Day 5

Gloria is unable to post an update today... it's been a little rough. This morning, she started on her first round of the more intensive chemotherapy, with several more following. They also started her on the drug that keeps her body from fighting off her donors' blood cells. It didn't take long until she felt the affects. She had flu like symptoms along with some other side affects. They gave her some medicine to help her rest and she has been sleeping most of the day.

Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.

Rodney

Sunday Sept. 7 on my journey

Hope that everyone is having a wonderful day -- the weather looks beautiful. I have tried to see if they would let me out to see how beautiful it is but they are not buying it. I have completed my 13th chemo treatment and I still feel fine. God is so good! Rodney and I are here just chillin' watching the Richmond race.

I wanted to introduce you to some of my caregivers here at the hospital. Len has been my head nurse and she is wonderful --so caring and stops by to see if there is anything that she can do for me or Rodney. She is so thoughtful that she took my laundry home with her to wash them since we 2 hrs. away from home.

Reggie is studying to be a nurse --he also is Philipino and he is so bubbly. He bounces in the room and he can't do enough for you. He fixed our computer cliche and then he showed Rodney Clark Air Force base ( where Rod was stationed for 16 months). They were like two little kids on the computer.
Reggie came in my room at 2 am this morning and said that he was a little down because the other patients didn't seem to be happy with his care and I told him that I was sure that it wasn't anything that he did wrong but some people when they are not feeling well they don't know how to deal with being sick. I told he to tell them "THIS TOO SHALL PASS" He left the room more cheerful. He tries so hard.
Annie (also Philipino) teaches young people at her church and they pray for her patients and she said that they would be praying for me now too! I told you that God is good.

I have found out that I can have some visitors -- just make sure that they are not sick or been exposed to anyone that has been sick or has recently had a vaccination. They also have to wash their hands.
For those interested my address for a while is Gloria Hildebrand
VCU Medical Center
1300 E. Marshall St.
North Hospital, 10th Floor
Room #10-733
Richmond, VA 23298

My hospital phone # is 804-649-5112

Later,
Gloria

My 3rd day on my journey

Good evening,

The nurses call me the "new kid on the block" because I still have hair. On Monday I will start a another kind of chemo and this may be not so pleasant. They have meds for the side effects but not for the part about losing my hair-- but I have been there and done that before and I can do it again.
I am waiting for my 11th chemo treatment and I am still feeling well. God is amazing!

The food here is very good and is prepared totally on the transplant unit and is served in all throw away containers.Everybody has to clean their hands before they can enter the room. Rodney can not eat in the room. He can have a drink in the room but it has to have a lid on the cup. Before I got in the room I was given new pillows and telephone out of sealed bags and I can take them home with me or they will be thrown out when I leave the hospital. Everyday I have to take a shower and while I am in the shower they completely clean my room and linens. They even put up a new shower curtain everyday. The air in each room is filtered and there can be no more than 4 people in the room at the same time so the air can be filtered properly. My computer had to be wiped down and even the cell phones. They are very serious about this and this will continue when I leave here and go to the Candlewood Suites and even when I get home. My life depends on everything being clean.
I sure appreciate Barbara being willing to set up a caregiving training session for my caregivers-- the date has not be set yet but you will soon being hearing from her.

Thanks for continuing to keep us in your thoughts and prayers. I feel them!

God Bless all of you,

Rodney and Gloria

Update - Day 2

I finished 7 rounds of chemotherapy today and I'm still feeling good. I was able to ride the exercise bike for a little while in between the nurses coming in. The nurses are taking good care of me and I had the same one as yesterday. The hospital is having some problems with the wireless Internet connection, so I am not able to check email very often. Once they get it fixed, I should be able to check more regularly. Tropical storm Hanna is starting to reach us and we've had some heavy rain already. That's it for today. Thank you for your continued prayers.

My first day of my journey

I arrived at MCV this morning at 6:30 am and got settled into my room. Wow what a room! The only room available was a child's room and it is painted up with fish and turtles swimming all over -- I feel like I am under the ocean.

They immediately started to do lab work and then at 10 I got my first round of chemo. Then another round at 2 pm and my last round for today will be at 10pm tonight. After each round of chemo they take several vials of blood that is flown to Washington state for testing tonight -- I told them that I won't have any blood left.




My nurse today and tomorrow is Len from the Phillipines and she is wonderful. Her and Rodney was on the same page since he spent 16 months there. They had a big conversation about the food.

I still feel well and still have a postive attitude but I miss everyone. I thank all of you for your continued support and prayers. That helps me to get through this journey.

God Bless,
Gloria

The journey begins

Tomorrow afternoon Gloria checks into the hospital for some pre-tests. She will then come back on Thursday morning to begin chemotherapy and her hospital stay will begin.

During her time there, we ask that you check her blog for updates and not call her as she may be very tired. You can post comments here on the blog or send her emails at glorod@verizon.net. Please be patient with her as she tries to respond. When we have a mailing address, we will post it here.

We love you Mom and we are praying for you.

Your blog team,
Scott and Ryan