My pancreas has improved. I'll get liver enzymes tested this week along with a ton of other things looked at. I feel like my liver has also improved. I've lost ground on pain and fatigue. I've been needing naps and sleeping too long at night. I don't have a lot of energy. I'm still in better shape than before I left for Oregon, but not like I was when I got home. So, I've "been worse, been better." I'm thankful for any improvement over my lowest point. I just hope I don't return to that again.
We are still doing IV's. My doctor wants to kick it up a notch and do more intensive treatments. I am already struggling to get them in once a week. If I do all that he wants me to do, it'll be three days a week of IV's. More stabs, more time sitting doing nothing, more fatigue (it always wipes me out) and more money spent. If I do a full treatment with all my IV's, it takes 6 hours to run all the bags. I have to change bags so many times that I can't really sleep. Afterward, I'm exhausted. So, it pretty much wastes the whole day. If only there were guarantees the time and money spent would profit us something, it would be easier to do.
We had a calf born two days ago. Baby animals born healthy and lively on our farm are one of my favorite things in life. We lost two calves this summer to the heat and extreme drought- our first and second pure Scottish Highland calves born here. It was really disappointing. This little bull just born is roughly half Jersey and half Scottish Highland. He's doing well and we are happy he's doing so well. He is only nursing one side so I went out and milked the other side out today. Hopefully he will "find" those teets now too!
I appreciate all the thoughtful prayer and consideration for us. Many have asked how we are doing and we appreciate it. If you are inclined to pray for us, the things I think of are: a smooth school year for our kids, Jim's safety at work and continued employment which is making it possible for me to treat my diseases, that we make it through this winter without losing power and have no animal trouble in the cold, my upcoming blood work, direction in what to do next based on the blood test results, continued cooperation with my Oregon doctor who is helping me with my home care so it's affordable for us to continue to do.
FYI- Though I may have to go back to Oregon for a follow up, or a treatment I can't do at home, I can't afford to do lengthy treatments in the Oregon clinic anymore. Our insurance agreed ahead of time to pay 70% of most treatments there. We paid cash up front, then were to wait for reimbursement checks to come back. After reimbursing $500, they decided they aren't covering anymore. So, about $5000 we expected to get back from them based on their word (several times) isn't coming back like we were told. We are thankful for our insurance and that the did pay for my port surgery and have covered most of my lab bills 100%. So, we are focusing on being grateful for that! The clinic is expensive though and without the insurance agreeing to pay for a good portion of it, I probably would not have gone. I am glad I went and I'm sure God had His own plan at work here, but I can't afford thousands more.
More later- scroll down to see Finnegan!
Thank you.
