Chemo #12 and concluding hyperbaric for now

This past Wednesday Garrett had impressive blood counts, hemoglobin up at 9.0 and shockingly high white blood cells, which is a continued sign of chemo affecting the bone marrow cancer and a boost from his blood transfusion a few weeks ago. Since the numbers were so strong he went ahead with another chemo dose marking the third to last appointment where adriamycin will be used to fight his cancer. Our usual oncologist was out of the office this week, but we hope next time we will start talking about the next drug up. Garrett has been eating often the last week or so, but was only mildly rewarded for his efforts by maintaining weight this time. We hope for gain in upcoming weeks.

After two weeks of making the daily commute to Tacoma for hyperbaric oxygen therapy Garrett decided he was at his limit. We’ve put further sessions on hold until he feels mentally and physically ready to tolerate more. The daily routine was wearing him down day by day, but since deciding to suspend he has had much energy to work on eating multiple times a day and adding activity as he is comfortable to do like our recumbent bicycle with full back support. Putting more effort into these behaviors will no doubt help him feel well and tolerate continued chemotherapy!  He has already been feeling better making these changes to his routine.

We’re finally feeling summer time heat here in the pacific northwest, but Garrett is lucky to have air conditioning at home and in the new travel van! His body doesn’t regulate temperature well so having a/c available at all times makes the change in weather bearable. Olive on the other hand is basking in the sun, loving every minute! We drove the van down to Centralia on Thursday, taking all the pretty country back roads to get there, for the grand opening of the Centralia Deli & BBQ a new sister to the Chehalis Deli!!! We had a great dinner with Garrett’s parents and hope the Deli family and staff had a good practice run for their public opening night tomorrow!  Good luck!