My sister, the cauliflower ( Monday, September 4)
We’re now on day four of this new chemo and Kerrie has developed some unusual side effects ( Don’t worry Mom… all info mentioned here has been authorized by Kerrie).
She’s still having more good days than bad days, but the bad days are.. well.. really bad. They’ve got her on all kinds of medicine, to help ease her nausea and pain, so she’s pretty drugged up most of the time. It’s almost kind of funny, when you are sitting with her and the some of the drugs start to kick in. She’ll be talking to you, fighting desperately to keep her eyes open, and fall asleep sitting up and practically in mid-sentence.
Her biggest new side effect is the unusual rash she has developed. In patches, from head to toe, she is red and swollen and looks like she is covered with cold sores. She feels like her body is one giant ich. I keep telling her she looks like a giant cauliflower. Some areas have improved a little, and only have tons of dark, red blotches that look like the chicken pox. Her neck, shoulders, ears and back are the worst right now.. and really, the only way to describe it is a red, cauliflower cold sore. In truth.. you need to see it to believe it.
They’ve been trying to determine what may be causing this and, at first, thought she may be having an allergic reaction to her new chemo, one of her medications or a combination of both. They no longer think this is the case.
Dermotology was here today, took two biopsies and a scrape on her lesions, and said it is probably not an allergic reaction. The Dr. that did the biopsies, and the scrape, said he believes it may be a few different things:
A viral infection
The Luekemia attacking the skin cells and appearing on the skin
An extreme allergic reaction to something ( though he thinks this is least likely)
We should have the results of the biopsies in the next few days.
The Dermotologist came back to Kerrie’s room a little later and asked if he could take pictures of her ears, neck, shoulders and back. Since this is so unusual he thinks she would be a great case study. Leave it to Kerrie to have something the doctors want to take pictures of.. I think she needs to demand royalties when they end up writing about her in medical journals.
We had a pretty good day today. She was alert most of the day, in a good mood and seemed to be relaxed today ( except during the biopsies of course). We took a walk around the unit a few times, ate dinner, watched Shrek and now she’s sleeping. This makes two good days in a row. Hoping tomorrow brings a third!
16 Comments
admin
she might be sleeping, but I’m not.
Mom
admin
Me either… at least one of us is!
Jenn
Aunt Louise
Dear Kerrie,
Hope your skin is not too itchy today. You are a trooper! Just wanted to say “hi” and let you know that I am think/praying for you daily. God be with you!
Love always,
Aunt Louise
Mary Jo
Oh, I am so glad I ate my cauliflower BEFORE I read this. I may never be able to eat it again! LOL!
You’re keeping them guessing, Kerrie! I bet they are sending their M3s and M4s (3rd and 4th year med students) to the library to do research for them!
Much love to you…always!
Aunt MJ
Ron
Revenge of eggplant man!!!!! you have now met his wife Cauliflower woman!!! lol i know its not funny now but just think of later on when ya can sit back and laugh about it when its all over with !!!! hang in there and glad to hear more good days than bad for sure!! god bless
Ron
thinking of ya and sending ya lots of positive energy!
karol
Hi Sweets,
Keep up with your possitive outlook. Prayers are still coming your way and we look forward to the cauliflower picture on the cover of the medical journal..
Love,
Aunt Karol
michele peds
kerrie i am so impressed i know how much you enjoy your veggies! i see miss sandy alot , our partner in crime. i am having fun !! getting computerized ha! ha! miss you lots keep up the faith girl youare awesome!! luv ya michele peds
Marcie
Kerrie
Hang in there and know I am thinking of you everday. OCC got a Microbio. teacher with a PHD in Microbio. I am so screwed. Really missing you in my school stuff. You are currently getting a very complete education, I hope you don’t remember some of it. Love the joke idea. Humor will help so much. My prayers are with you all.
Jack Burns
Seems we have enough legal power in our family – I’d demand royalities too if they were making me a case study – complete with photos.
Although it would seem we also have enough prayer power in our fasmily – Mary Lou and I are keeping Kerrie in our prayers and wish her “great luck.” Have a good day.
Jack Burns
Pam Munthe (Rosenberg)
I don’t think my first entry worked. All of us Rosenberg’s down here in Texas love you and have you in our prayers!!!
Cathy Rosenberg
Hi Kerrie We are all thinking about you and pray that everything well!
Chris
Keep your chin up Kerrie. The Whitney’s are thinking about you every day. Emilee asks about you sometimes. Nathan doesn’t. he’s usually thinking about either a. filling a diaper, b. filling his belly, or c. emptying a bottle. So don’t feel bad. Thinking about you every day and loving you. Chris, Jen, Emilee, and Tater
Judy Gregart
Hi, Kerrie Just a brief hello from your old (and I do mean old) catechism teacher. Keeping you in my prayers.