First Great Weekend

I had my first new round of chemo last Friday. It took longer for the first time so they could see if I was going to have a reaction to the new chemo. My dad from Odessa came down to take me. Once again, I am so blessed to have my parents take care of me so Gary and Travis can work. Unfortunately, I did have a reaction. My left side started twitching, like my arm and leg. Once they gave me meds to stop it, I was asleep for hours. I scared my dad so bad because I looked so bad. I'm glad no one was around taking pictures because I'm sure my head was hanging down with my mouth wide open. When I have chemo, my memory is terrible. I can't remember names, and I couldn't write in my date book when I was leaving. I WAS in bad shape. Thank goodness Gary left work a little early and came by to see how I was doing. I think that relieved my dad.

The next day, Saturday and Sunday, I have never felt so good. Especially since December. When I began feeling so bad in January, I would rest and try to recuperate on the weekends so I would feel like working the next week. It did not work.

On Sunday I felt like going to church for the first time in months, went to Lampasas so I could see where Travis was living, went out to eat, and did a little grocery shopping. The shopping did me in, I was tired. Gary did go with me to the grocery store so I wasn't at the store by myself. I usually have a babysitter with me.

I'm sure the chemo is helping, but every time I see people out around town, they tell me that they are praying for me. The last chemo I had, I thought the side effects were going to kill me. My attitude was horrible. I give God the glory to everyone who is praying for me and my family. The next time I go to MDAnderson is on my birthday, Nov. 8. I'm praying for GREAT news.

Thanks again for your cards, letters, thoughts and prayers. Have a great week.

Susan Hall

Since late August and first of September I've had a rough time with the side effects from chemo. The chemo was going to cure me or kill me. I would go three days for chemo every three weeks and my body couldn't keep up. My electrolytes, magnesium and potasium were very low. I was even in the hospital to get infusions. The only good thing was I got a unit of blood. The longer I was in the hospital the worse I felt. I was a HORRIBLE patient. I thought I would have my doctor, but they have hospitalists now, which I don't like.

I did go to MDAnderson last week and received a good report. When I go, I get a blood test, then I go for a scan of my abdomen, which you have to wait for hours. They have a huge waiting room and it is absolutely full everytime I go. Then, I had a day off. We went to the Cheesecake Factory and mall which was fun. I walked a lot for me. In fact, I was sore. My doctor, Dr. YAO looked at my blood test and had me go to the emergency room for an infusion of magnesium. This was before the Cheesecake factory. We didn't get home until 3;30 am. Very tired. I fell into bed. We stayed at the Marriot and they have great beds. The next day we saw Dr. Yao and he said my tumors in my liver are shrinking. He never says how much, but at least they are not growing. He did change my chemo to one day a week. I will have two weeks off before I start again. I was super excited about having the time off. I've just got to have my body keep up with the chemo.

I even went to a Bible study at our church on Wednesday and it was so nice to go somewhere besides a doctor. I was very tired afterwards, but came home and took a nap.

My parents are home and are taking care of themselves by going to their doctors and keeping up with their appointments.

Thank you for your cards, thoughts and prayers.
Susan