Hello again everyone! Thanks so much for your wonderful messages!
Two new items for today.
First the Chemo port was placed and the chemo has begun. She is still feeling fine and should continue to do so at least for several more days before she begins to experience any side-effects. She can have visitors and would love to see you. An iced caramel frappachino would be a lovely thing to bring her if you'd like... ;o)
Secondly, she was moved to a different room: room 434, which is bigger and will accommodate more seating and a big recliner chair. It also has a different orientation for the bed so that she can have her curtains open without being in the hot sun during the day. All much better for entertaining! :0)
More tomorrow! Thanks for your continued love, support and prayers.
Marcia's family
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
About Marcia
Hello Scrapbook Pad Fans and Marcia's many many friends!
As some of you know, recently Marcia has been dealing with some pretty significant health challenges. Because there are just not enough hours in the day to manage all your wonderful and sincere telephone calls and inquiries into her current status we have decided to start this page for and about her so that you can get all of her current news whenever you like.
In February Marcia went to the emergency room for some severe leg swelling and bruising. At that time it was discovered that her blood counts were way off and she was - after a lot more testing - initially diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. She began receiving treatment through oral medication. She improved so much and felt well enough to take a month long trip to Denmark, Norway and Paris with her sister and cousin in May. She did well and had a good time on her trip however by the time she returned home the medication was no longer effective.
There were, of course, more doctor visits and more diagnostic work. She is being seen at Fred Hutchinson and the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and they are working closely with her regular doctors to find a solution. So far, even with all of that clinical experience combined, there are some unusual anomalies with her situation and the exact diagnosis has become less certain. It is definitely a form of Leukemia, however the exact type is not known and it's proving to be pretty aggressive. So far an effective course of treatment isn't clear.
Another course of oral medication was tried however it did not work as well as the first round initially had. On July 7th she was admitted to Northwest Hospital for a pretty substantial round of chemotherapy which unfortunately did not have the desired effect. She has been at Northwest since then, during the course of that chemo.
Today she is undergoing testing in preparation for another very aggressive course of different chemotherapy. She will be having a chemo port surgically installed on Friday or Saturday and the chemo itself will begin shortly after that, perhaps as soon as Sunday. She has been told that she will remain in the hospital for at least another month for this course of treatment.
This weekend, August 1st and 2nd please feel free to visit visit visit or call Marcia at Northwest Hospital, 206/364-0500, room 440 (for a few more days - then she will be moving to another room sometime next week).
Beginning on Monday, August 3rd the doctors and family are requesting that visitors please call her before coming to visit because she may be somewhat ill and because of the high risk of infection and her current vulnerability to it. We are also requesting that phone calls to her or to us about her status be kept to a minimum because - although we understand that you all love her and are concerned about her - there are not enough resources to individually keep everyone updated and we are going to be focusing all of our time, energy and effort on her, on taking great care of her family, and on her wonderful pride and joy - The Scrapbook Pad!
Thank you for your loving care and concern. Please keep checking back for updates and do drop into the store to shop or chat or just cool off. We know she loves you all and really appreciates your concern and your prayers.
We hope to update this site with a daily report and we'll try to let you know if visits are a good idea on any given day. Feel free to add a comment here for her and/or her family - she has her laptop with her and will be able to see what you post or send.
Thanks again!
The McNulty Family
Marcia & Pat
Tina & Jeff
grandkids Brianna & Justin
Shawna & Chris
grandkids Alexa & Cameron
As some of you know, recently Marcia has been dealing with some pretty significant health challenges. Because there are just not enough hours in the day to manage all your wonderful and sincere telephone calls and inquiries into her current status we have decided to start this page for and about her so that you can get all of her current news whenever you like.
In February Marcia went to the emergency room for some severe leg swelling and bruising. At that time it was discovered that her blood counts were way off and she was - after a lot more testing - initially diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. She began receiving treatment through oral medication. She improved so much and felt well enough to take a month long trip to Denmark, Norway and Paris with her sister and cousin in May. She did well and had a good time on her trip however by the time she returned home the medication was no longer effective.
There were, of course, more doctor visits and more diagnostic work. She is being seen at Fred Hutchinson and the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and they are working closely with her regular doctors to find a solution. So far, even with all of that clinical experience combined, there are some unusual anomalies with her situation and the exact diagnosis has become less certain. It is definitely a form of Leukemia, however the exact type is not known and it's proving to be pretty aggressive. So far an effective course of treatment isn't clear.
Another course of oral medication was tried however it did not work as well as the first round initially had. On July 7th she was admitted to Northwest Hospital for a pretty substantial round of chemotherapy which unfortunately did not have the desired effect. She has been at Northwest since then, during the course of that chemo.
Today she is undergoing testing in preparation for another very aggressive course of different chemotherapy. She will be having a chemo port surgically installed on Friday or Saturday and the chemo itself will begin shortly after that, perhaps as soon as Sunday. She has been told that she will remain in the hospital for at least another month for this course of treatment.
This weekend, August 1st and 2nd please feel free to visit visit visit or call Marcia at Northwest Hospital, 206/364-0500, room 440 (for a few more days - then she will be moving to another room sometime next week).
Beginning on Monday, August 3rd the doctors and family are requesting that visitors please call her before coming to visit because she may be somewhat ill and because of the high risk of infection and her current vulnerability to it. We are also requesting that phone calls to her or to us about her status be kept to a minimum because - although we understand that you all love her and are concerned about her - there are not enough resources to individually keep everyone updated and we are going to be focusing all of our time, energy and effort on her, on taking great care of her family, and on her wonderful pride and joy - The Scrapbook Pad!
Thank you for your loving care and concern. Please keep checking back for updates and do drop into the store to shop or chat or just cool off. We know she loves you all and really appreciates your concern and your prayers.
We hope to update this site with a daily report and we'll try to let you know if visits are a good idea on any given day. Feel free to add a comment here for her and/or her family - she has her laptop with her and will be able to see what you post or send.
Thanks again!
The McNulty Family
Marcia & Pat
Tina & Jeff
grandkids Brianna & Justin
Shawna & Chris
grandkids Alexa & Cameron
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