Lula Belle gets checked into the Hospital

I just thought I would send out a quick update on Lula Belle. Since I wrote this past Monday, things have moved faster than originally anticipated. On Wednesday Val took Mom back to the clinc for additional blood tests. While they were there, Dr. Wallentine called, having received priliminary results from the bone marrow biopsy, and confirmed that the disgnosis was indeed AML (Acute Myelogenous Leukemia). He told her to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner and to be ready to enter the hospital Friday morning. Thanksgiving evening we gathered at Katie's to give Mom and Dad blessings and to discuss the best options for Dad's care while Mom is in the hospital and even beyond. (Dad will be staying with Pat and Merlin for a few days until Laurel comes into town next Thursday.)
This morning (Friday, November 23, 2007) Val and I went with Mom down to the Utah Valley Regional Medical center and got her checked in. She has a nice, oversized room that she will call home for the next few weeks. We had hoped to meet with Dr. Wallentine's assistant this morning before we checked in, but she was not available. But when we got into the room, the chemotherapy nurse was very helpful in answering questions. We peppered her with questions for about an hour on topics from how Mom would likely react to the medication, to whether or not we could decorate her room for Christmas. She indicated that Mom would probably feel OK for the first several days of treatment, and then would start feeling the ill effects of the chemo. That would last a week or so and then she would start to feel better. There are a couple key measurements that need to be achieved before she can be released--one is the white blood count (must be over 1.5) and the other is the neutrophil count (which should be 1.5-2.0).
As far as the events of today are concerned, they inserted a triple lumens (sp) picc line and then did an xray to make sure the line was proprely in place. They pulled blood to establish baselines for the key measurements and were scheduled to do an EKG to make sure her heart was strong and to also establish a key baseline. They were going to start a IV solution of sodium bicab and potassium that acts as a buffer for the kidneys against the chemo. That has to run for at least 24 hours before the chemo begins. So that should probably start tomorrow afternoon or evening.
Dr. Bott, an associate of Dr. Wallentine, will check on Mom in the morning and give the orders to begin treatment. The chemo treatment will likely consist of two medications--Cytarabine that will be administered with a constant IV drip for the next 5-7 days, and Mitomycin which will be delivered by injection through the IV each day for about three days during the other treatment. This represents phase one of the chemo treatment. During the following three weeks or so, Mom will be closely monitored against infections and to see how the blood levels improve. The picc line will remain in for several months and will be used to draw blood and administer subsequent phases of chemo on an out-patient basis (primarilly Cytarabine in lower dosages). These treatments will occur on about a monthly cycle.
Mom is in good spirits and continues to amaze the people she encounters--they can't beleive she is as strong as she is and in such a good frame of mind. Mom is convinced that she will do better than most in her treatments and recovery because of her postive mental attitude. She has things to do to keep her occupied at the hospital--she took her computer and has internet access so that she can do some geneology and other things she has wanted to get to. After a few days they will tightly monitor her visitors. I think Val is identifying all kinds of ways to decorate her room and make things nice for her.
Please don't be mad if anything here needs to be corrected. I am just trying to recall as best as I can the things we dicussed and the process going forward as I understand it. Val may be giving more information later, since she was the one taking careful notes during out discussions today. Keep Mom in your thoughts and prayers.
Udell