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Follow my unexpected cancer journey...the good, the bad, and the ugly!
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​CANCER CHRONICLES

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Nurses

8/24/2017

2 Comments

 
It takes a special person to be a teacher, I am obviously biased but agree, but mannnn does it take a special person to be a nurse! First off, I'm a fainter. Not just getting my blood either....all the time. The pure sight of hospital rooms, iv's, blood, and even just the talking about it makes me go 2 sheets to the wind. I don't know how nurses deal with all they do, not even just the medical side, but the constant caring and concern they do nonstop. Nope,  I couldn't do it. Just like there are special teachers such as our amazing special education group and behavior unit, I feel like there are special nurses like cancer nurses and hospice nurses (yes, they are all wonderful, but it takes an even more special individual for these roles.)

I have been lucky enough to have AMAZING nurses at my oncologist office. My one main RN, Cynthia, is probably my age and the most amazing person/nurse I could ask for! Being a cancer nurse, you know that some of your patients unfortunately aren't going to make it, as with hospice, but yet these people give their all to make your last days a little bit more bright and less stressful. I've been brainstorming what gifts I can start bringing her, although I'm sure (like teachers) sweets may be overdone so I gotta get creative! She makes my chemo and lab trips bearable which takes a lot! 

As for my personal, in-home nurses, my parents. Poor things, this year has been a complete crap chute for them when it comes to me! First, in February I broke my foot and had to get a screw put in and wasn't able to walk for months and had to live with them for several weeks since my apartment is on the 3rd floor. Then I had a tonsillectomy and even though I only stayed with them a night or two, they still had to do the whole hospital fun with me. And now cancer....till at least January. By the time the year ends they should be honorary RN's : )
This week was thankfully just a lab/dr week. Tuesday after my appointment I was having some pretty brutal pains in my chest and throat so my dr called in a couple prescriptions which thankfully helped tremendously. Unfortunately, one of the many symptoms from chemo that I've had lately is bone pain. I'm just sore all over...but I guess I'll take that over throwing up any day!

I'm crossing my fingers my levels will be ok and my mass a little smaller soon to finally get my port put in! We shall see...
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The last picture is my Care Box delivery. It includes lots of medical, comfort, and drink items that should help me the next few months. If you haven't heard of Care Box and are looking for something to donate to or be a delivery driver it's definitely a great program to look in to!
2 Comments
Margaret Whitetree
8/24/2017 05:14:45 pm

You have such strength within & let me tell you it shows in every word you write . I know God is watching over you & also your family . You are special. Your Mom & Dad are wonderful.

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Wanda Henry
8/24/2017 11:47:45 pm

Hi Brianna. I heard about things and just wanted to say I am praying for you and for your family too.

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    "You either get bitter or you get better. It's that simple. You either take what's been dealt to you and allow it to make you a better person, or you allow it to tear you down. The choice does not belong to fate, it belongs to you."
    ​~Josh Shipp

             

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    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
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