Savannah is feeling kind of yucky today due to the chemo but as usual, she's a real trooper!
Jeff, Donna, Lilly, Rose, David and Aparna all came for a visit today. They arrived with armloads of food perfect for lunch on a cold winters day. We had a wonderful time talking and catching up with each other. I wish they lived in Arkansas so we could spend more time together!!!! hint, hint....Anyway, Rose has been sick for a few days and I am getting something so while the rest of the group went to visit Savannah, Rose and I went up to our room and did nails, make-up and hair......what else? It was a nice day.....except.........I am sick! I'm not sure what it is....bad cold, sinus infection...who knows...but I need some major prayer because not only can I give Savannah something but all the people here have family or friends that are in the hospital and everybody has a compromised immune system. Please pray it will just go away!
Right now, Danny is in Savannah's room kicked back in the lounge chair watching the Razorback Basketball game with her......IF she can stay awake.
If she feels like it, we plan on having a Super Bowl party in the family activity room tomorrow evening. GO GREEN BAY!!!!! (that's what Danny says anyway.....I have no clue)
Hope everyone stays in where it's warm and safe. Cuddle with your kids!!!!
Love to ALL
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
Chemo day
Yesterday, we walked into Savannah's room and found her looking somewhat like a smurf. They had put her line in and used blue antiseptic...I guess....anyway, she makes a cute smurfette! She was in a little discomfort due to the incision on her neck but otherwise good and happy. The doc said she shows traces of some kind of infection, UTI or maybe sinus etc....I don't think it's enough to stop them from starting the chemo this afternoon like they plan. When we left her last night she was frantically trying to get her homework done that she has gotten behind on.
No real excitement till chemo this afternoon or early evening.
I'm feeling like I could be coming down with something........sore throat, coughing, runny nose.......please pray for me that I can stay well enough to function for Savannah's and Danny's sake. Also, when she gets nutrapenic (no immune system) I won't be able to be around her at all if I'm sick. We can't have that!!!!
More later! love!!!!!!!!!
No real excitement till chemo this afternoon or early evening.
I'm feeling like I could be coming down with something........sore throat, coughing, runny nose.......please pray for me that I can stay well enough to function for Savannah's and Danny's sake. Also, when she gets nutrapenic (no immune system) I won't be able to be around her at all if I'm sick. We can't have that!!!!
More later! love!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
"Houston, We have a Patient"
Savannah has arrived!!!!! We should have organized a parade!
She was scheduled to fly out at 3:30 pm yesterday but after a few delays etc....she finally landed last night around 11pm. She rode the Metro over to NIH and Danny picked her up at the shuttle station. She went straight to the hospital and checked in. They started her tests, scans, etc. at 7 this morning. Can't wait to get over there and see her beautiful smiling face!
While waiting on Savannah to arrive yesterday, Danny and I went "junkin'". They don't have the same idea of flea markets and antique shops as we do but it was a nice way to spend the day til Princess arrived. We learned that Danny and I - together can totally confuse a piece of high-tech equipment like our friend- Tom Tom He had us turning in places that didn't even exist. Bet y'all can't do that!!! We did get to see some new neighborhoods and scenery!
Many of you tell me that you appreciate the email reminders about updates to the blog but because they have changed the format of yahoo I can only send out 20 emails at a time. Since my address book has grown far beyond that, it has become too time consuming to send emails out every time I update the blog so....I will post on face book when I update. While we're here I will probably be updating every day so if you choose, you can put it in you favorites or....something like that! Remember.....I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to "computer stuff"
We love you! Thanks for the prayers and EVERYTHING else!
She was scheduled to fly out at 3:30 pm yesterday but after a few delays etc....she finally landed last night around 11pm. She rode the Metro over to NIH and Danny picked her up at the shuttle station. She went straight to the hospital and checked in. They started her tests, scans, etc. at 7 this morning. Can't wait to get over there and see her beautiful smiling face!
While waiting on Savannah to arrive yesterday, Danny and I went "junkin'". They don't have the same idea of flea markets and antique shops as we do but it was a nice way to spend the day til Princess arrived. We learned that Danny and I - together can totally confuse a piece of high-tech equipment like our friend- Tom Tom He had us turning in places that didn't even exist. Bet y'all can't do that!!! We did get to see some new neighborhoods and scenery!
Many of you tell me that you appreciate the email reminders about updates to the blog but because they have changed the format of yahoo I can only send out 20 emails at a time. Since my address book has grown far beyond that, it has become too time consuming to send emails out every time I update the blog so....I will post on face book when I update. While we're here I will probably be updating every day so if you choose, you can put it in you favorites or....something like that! Remember.....I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to "computer stuff"
We love you! Thanks for the prayers and EVERYTHING else!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
No Patient!
Seeing as how we Dutton's love drama so much.....Danny and I are here in Bethesda at NIH. We are all warm and tucked in our nice lodge. So.....let's see.........we have the parents, the doctor's, the nurses, the medications, the hospital room waiting for the patient but.....NO PATIENT!!!
We drove out of Greenland early Monday morning and arrived this afternoon (Tuesday). We were on the phone much of yesterday with the NIH travel team trying to change Savannah's flight from going through Chicago to Dallas since Chicago was almost at a stand-still due to blizzards etc....! Who knew that at 6:40 this morning when she was supposed to be flying out of XNA that all flights in and out of Dallas would be cancelled......not to mention the XNA airport closing. There was also another winter weather advisory out for this area but fortunately it didn't do anything. Savannah was on the phone all day today trying to get a flight out. As of this moment, she is scheduled to fly out tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 through Dallas. We are really praying they can get the airports in working order so she can get here. They have her on a very tight schedule and the difference in a day or two can throw a kink into the whole plan.
Oh my my..........never a dull moment.
Oh....did I mention we have all of Savannah's luggage with us? We thought it would be best if she didn't have a bunch of heavy bags to check and tote around, so we brought them with us...which.....if everything had gone according to plan, would've been a good idea BUT....all of her books, pc and school stuff is packed in our car and she is stressing a little about getting her assignments done on time especially since she will get behind during her treatment.
Never a lack of things to pray for.....????!!!!!!!! Love to ALL
We drove out of Greenland early Monday morning and arrived this afternoon (Tuesday). We were on the phone much of yesterday with the NIH travel team trying to change Savannah's flight from going through Chicago to Dallas since Chicago was almost at a stand-still due to blizzards etc....! Who knew that at 6:40 this morning when she was supposed to be flying out of XNA that all flights in and out of Dallas would be cancelled......not to mention the XNA airport closing. There was also another winter weather advisory out for this area but fortunately it didn't do anything. Savannah was on the phone all day today trying to get a flight out. As of this moment, she is scheduled to fly out tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 through Dallas. We are really praying they can get the airports in working order so she can get here. They have her on a very tight schedule and the difference in a day or two can throw a kink into the whole plan.
Oh my my..........never a dull moment.
Oh....did I mention we have all of Savannah's luggage with us? We thought it would be best if she didn't have a bunch of heavy bags to check and tote around, so we brought them with us...which.....if everything had gone according to plan, would've been a good idea BUT....all of her books, pc and school stuff is packed in our car and she is stressing a little about getting her assignments done on time especially since she will get behind during her treatment.
Never a lack of things to pray for.....????!!!!!!!! Love to ALL
Thursday, January 20, 2011
It's ON!
NIH contacted us and said they want Savannah there on Feb 1st. She will fly out the morning of the 1st and check in as soon as she arrives. They want her there to run all kinds of scans, tests and to put in a port/line. Her chemo will start on the 4th and she will receive the TIL cells on the 10th and the Interluken a few hours later. They have her scheduled to return home on the 24th....IF....the counts on her immune system are high enough. If not, she will need to stay a few extra days. Danny and I will be driving. We will leave a day or so before Savannah to give us time to get there before she arrives. Danny can't miss a whole month of work so he will come back after she is through the worst part. I will stay the whole time and ride back with my very dear friend, Susie, who is coming out to "take care of me" after Danny leaves.
Thankfully, we will be staying in the Safra House which is such a blessing. It's right across the street from the hospital. It's like a little mansion but yet it's warm and cozy and has an awesome eat-in kitchen where you can cook or order in or whatever. Best of all they have a cappuccino machine that's on 24/7! The kitchen is also the "meeting place". Everyone there has someone in the hospital and you kind of get to know some of them and hear their stories. Some of the stories are so awful that it makes you realize your problems aren't so bad.
I know all I do is ask for prayer but......it's the only thing that works so.....
Please pray for Savannah - that the treatment will work, for traveling, etc....
Danny and I - that we'll have safe travel (as well as Susie), we'll all stay healthy (physically & emotionally) and for our finances through all this.
Thanks again for all the support. We would be NUTS without it.!
love you ALL !
Thankfully, we will be staying in the Safra House which is such a blessing. It's right across the street from the hospital. It's like a little mansion but yet it's warm and cozy and has an awesome eat-in kitchen where you can cook or order in or whatever. Best of all they have a cappuccino machine that's on 24/7! The kitchen is also the "meeting place". Everyone there has someone in the hospital and you kind of get to know some of them and hear their stories. Some of the stories are so awful that it makes you realize your problems aren't so bad.
I know all I do is ask for prayer but......it's the only thing that works so.....
Please pray for Savannah - that the treatment will work, for traveling, etc....
Danny and I - that we'll have safe travel (as well as Susie), we'll all stay healthy (physically & emotionally) and for our finances through all this.
Thanks again for all the support. We would be NUTS without it.!
love you ALL !
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Latest News on Savannah
Well, of course Savannah didn't put me on speaker phone....."the appointment happened too fast and she didn't have time".....right!......
The news could be better but it could also be much worse. The tumor on her adrenal gland is still there and has grown a little bit but the good news is that it hasn't spread, and all other areas are still cancer free. It looks like we will be returning to NIH for another TIL Cell therapy and Interluken 12 treatment.
We don't know how this differs from the Interluken 2 that she had the first time. Apparently it has different qualities to help with the kind of tumor she has now.
If everything they said holds, she will probably be scheduled in the next 2 or 3 weeks and we will be gone 3 to 4 weeks....( I think )!
Thank you for the prayers and sweet comments!
The news could be better but it could also be much worse. The tumor on her adrenal gland is still there and has grown a little bit but the good news is that it hasn't spread, and all other areas are still cancer free. It looks like we will be returning to NIH for another TIL Cell therapy and Interluken 12 treatment.
We don't know how this differs from the Interluken 2 that she had the first time. Apparently it has different qualities to help with the kind of tumor she has now.
If everything they said holds, she will probably be scheduled in the next 2 or 3 weeks and we will be gone 3 to 4 weeks....( I think )!
Thank you for the prayers and sweet comments!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Prayer Request
First of all, ....Sorry for the -empty- email a couple weeks ago. If I ever send you an email that doesn't have a message attached or is messed up in any way......It probably just means there is a new post on the blog! Have y'all forgotten how technologically challenged I am?
I'm asking for prayer for Savannah today. She is on her way to Maryland for her appointment at NIH. She is driving (w/friends). I wanted to go with her to be there for the scans and results but she said she could just put me on speaker phone during the clinic appointment and I could hear everything the Doc said. ---NOT the same as being there! :( Anyway, they left yesterday, her scans are on Wednesday and Clinic is on Thursday. That sounds like plenty of time but they're having to take it slowly due to the bad weather throughout the South and East. From what the weather station says they are headed straight into the worst of it. Please pray for their safety and that nothing will keep her from getting to her appointment.
Also that when they receive the results of the scans - there will be no tumors ANYWHERE!!!!!!
Meanwhile the rest of us are just trying to stay warm cuddled up with our fleece blankets in front of our new IMAX theater. Well....it's not REALLY an IMAX theater.....it just looks and feels like one! Danny has a very generous friend that gave him a BIG - HONKIN' TV !!!!! This would not really be a problem if we had a Big Honkin' room to put it in. Instead, it is in our little sun room--- which --- gives you that IMAX experience since loud noises make the room vibrate like surround sound and the screen is so large that it envelopes you. I (lovingly) used the term "ghetto" to describe it to someone and totally offended Danny but "ghetto" or not, it has made my little 27/29 ? inch TV in the living room seem very insignificant and hard to see. It goes against every decorating instinct in my body but Danny says it kind of makes up for all the floral walls and pink stuff he's lived with for years....the jury's still out! ???
Thank you ALL for your prayers! Stay safe and WARM! Love Y'all
I'm asking for prayer for Savannah today. She is on her way to Maryland for her appointment at NIH. She is driving (w/friends). I wanted to go with her to be there for the scans and results but she said she could just put me on speaker phone during the clinic appointment and I could hear everything the Doc said. ---NOT the same as being there! :( Anyway, they left yesterday, her scans are on Wednesday and Clinic is on Thursday. That sounds like plenty of time but they're having to take it slowly due to the bad weather throughout the South and East. From what the weather station says they are headed straight into the worst of it. Please pray for their safety and that nothing will keep her from getting to her appointment.
Also that when they receive the results of the scans - there will be no tumors ANYWHERE!!!!!!
Meanwhile the rest of us are just trying to stay warm cuddled up with our fleece blankets in front of our new IMAX theater. Well....it's not REALLY an IMAX theater.....it just looks and feels like one! Danny has a very generous friend that gave him a BIG - HONKIN' TV !!!!! This would not really be a problem if we had a Big Honkin' room to put it in. Instead, it is in our little sun room--- which --- gives you that IMAX experience since loud noises make the room vibrate like surround sound and the screen is so large that it envelopes you. I (lovingly) used the term "ghetto" to describe it to someone and totally offended Danny but "ghetto" or not, it has made my little 27/29 ? inch TV in the living room seem very insignificant and hard to see. It goes against every decorating instinct in my body but Danny says it kind of makes up for all the floral walls and pink stuff he's lived with for years....the jury's still out! ???
Thank you ALL for your prayers! Stay safe and WARM! Love Y'all
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