Long Overdue Updates

11/5/2017

As you've seen, I haven't updated in a while...for many reasons, but the biggest being my fingertips are still numb and tingly from chemo and everyday things such as holding a pencil, typing or even using my phone is much more tedious and difficult than you'd think. So theres my excuse, take it or leave it!
Health updates:
I got my first "bad" news on my levels. All my counts were low which is probably why I was tired ALL the time. I was told I was basically on house arrest and not to be around anyone and was given a prescription to take if I got sick or a fever. Also, when you have a 100.5 fever or more you have to be directly admitted to the ER with my cancer (not sure if thats with all)....so it was another fun week in my room sleeping! Because my red count was still low last week it was brought up I may have to have a blood transfusion. I'm assuming this would happen Monday when I start my chemo round. TBD!
On the plus side, Monday is my 2nd to last chemo week!!! December 1st can't come soon enough!

On a work note:
As you know I have been teaching for VIPKID to make some money till I can get a teaching job again. The actual teaching part isn't bad at all, but the being on China time has been killing me! I pull all nighters teaching from 8pm till 8am (yes, 12 hours) then sleep as much as I can during the day. Not my preferable life situation at the moment, but beggars can't be choosers! I have already started to apply for AP and teaching jobs starting ASAP, so fingers crossed!

2 Comments

When Cancer Comes a Knockin'

Timeline

On August 2, 2017, Brianna was diagnosed with Mediastinal Large B-Cell Lymphoma. Beginning Monday, August 14, 2017, Brianna will begin chemotherapy treatments. She will be commuting to Austin for 18 weeks to receive treatments. This site is set up as a donation page to help Brianna and her family cover medical costs and living expenses, as well as a one stop shop to get updates on how chemo is going and even buy a shirt or two in support!

UPDATE:
After getting her final PET scan to confirm the aggressive chemo did it's job, we got the news that it hadn't and that the tumor was still active when it shouldn't of been. Brianna is now undergoing radiation for 5 weeks, everyday in Austin.

UPDATE March 2018:
Brianna begin having the same cancer symptoms as she did this past summer during spring break, except more painful this time. She was sent to get a CT scan which showed her cancer had returned. She then met with her oncologist who planned the next steps which include to do more chemo (a differnt regimen this time) followed by a stem cell transplant.
She thought she was done....she was done.....and now she is having to start the cancer journey all over again...including losing her hair that had just start growing back.

UPDATE
END OF MARCH - JUNE 25th
(at the moment....things have yet to even begin apparently.)
If I didn't feel like I was really dying or truly out of options to live....I do now. Remember I was basically on our plan F and everything was just getting worse instead of better. I really thought I was done these last couple weeks and being in the hospital for another little week vacay. I finally updated by blog since so many people were asking, so you can read the detailed updates.

October 2018 Update:
Insurance has finally approved all of the CAR-T procedure and I will be getting my T-Cells retrieved from my body next week. (Oct 10th if all goes as planned)

MARCH 2019
The first post CAR-T pet scan showed the main mass has shrunk in size, even though still active. Hopefully, the CAR-T will continue to work its magic over the next few months before the next scan.

To donate to Brianna's GoFundMe page, please make sure the donation is made on the GoFundMe Page found here:
https://www.gofundme.com/teambonnet

Kassey

11/5/2017 07:19:50 pm

I continue to think about you and keep you in my prayers. You amaze me with your strength and determination. I will keep rooting in hopes you are able to find a job..

Donna

11/5/2017 09:38:40 pm

So happy for you that you are almost done. You are one strong lady!! Wishing you best wishes in your job search !!

CANCER CHRONICLES