As most of you know, we came home Sun afternoon, May 1st, from the chemo trip. On Weds nite, May 4, Jo was too sick to stand up or even get out of bed; I called an ambulance to get her to the hospital. After several tests and dr opinions, it was determined that the ifosphomide has affected her brain stem causing severe problems with her equilibrium. Dr. G says it will take some time to get better.

Although we finally got them to agree to take out the picc that's been hurting her since they put it in on April 15th, the arm pain has not gone away. I fear some permanent nerve damage; she has told them all since the beginning that it wasn't in right, but couldn't get anyone's attention until May 14th. Because it's a constant pain and has been for so long, it keeps her down. She's taking several meds right now for various reasons, including pain meds every six hours due to the arm pain. Our next appointment is May 31st when we will discuss a new drug; however, her physical condition will need to be in better shape before we will start something new.

To all of you who participated in any way with the fund raisers that were held for Jo, we cannot express our appreciation enough. Most of you know Jo's long-term disability was denied because of "pre-existing"; therefore, our income is quite limited right now. Your generosities in giving of your time, resources, cards, calls, texts, thoughts and prayers are the most precious things to us and your efforts help keep us going. "Thank You" to each of you and God bless and keep you, every one.

It's Mom ... we got home a little while ago. Took us awhile to get the cardiac, renal, infectious disease and oncology doctors to all "sign-off" so we could come home, but we made it. Jo still looks like she has a really bad sunburn from the allergic reaction to some medications. Fortunately, we had a really nice infectious disease (I.D.) doctor this time and she was reasonable. And, Dr. Kahn (the onc dr on duty for April and the one who prescribed the four new meds at the same time back in October '08 and kept us in the hospital for 16 days) didn't fight us when we said she was allergic to the med he had prescribed; he just stopped it and called I.D. Dr. Kahn's resident had started another antibiotic before that which we thought Jo wasn't allergic to; however, it seems she was; but the ID dr stopped that one immediately and started giving her daptomycin which was the drug we came home with last December. She had four bags of blood and two bags of platelets during our stay. We are still closely watching her potassium (for her heart primarily) and her creatinine and bicarbonate (for her kidneys). We brought home oral meds for both of those problems. Her counts are now acceptable and her appetite is coming back. She's easily fatigued, of course-having spent the last 13 days and part of today in bed-, but she was more than ready to come home. This is our first hospital visit where she has helped me pack our stuff to come home.

We have a dr's appt w/onc nurse practioner on Tuesday; a blood draw appointment on Thursday and an appointment with onc Dr. Godwin on Monday the 9th. We are hopeful Dr. Godwin will have more news on the Japanese drug and Peoria on Monday. I'm not sure Jo will do another ifosphomide since they told us last Friday her reactions will just get worse.

Thanks to all of you for your prayers and thoughts; and a special thanks to those of you who so faithfully visit and/or text/call. We cannot tell you how much we appreciate all of you. God bless every one.