Always Doing What I Can!

Since the last update I wrote myself, I’ve completed three immunotherapy infusions and I’m also taking a daily tablet. Fortunately, I haven’t experienced too many side effects this time around. I do deal with muscle and bone aches for about a week after each treatment, and I’ve also been having some intense headaches.

We believe the headaches are due to the treatment causing my body to lose important nutrients—especially sodium and magnesium. As you know, I was actually hospitalized for a few days so the doctors could figure out what was going on and create a treatment plan I could follow at home. Thankfully, they discovered that my body was running low on these key nutrients. After receiving an infusion of sodium, magnesium, and potassium, the headaches became noticeably less severe and didn’t last as long—at least for a couple of weeks.

Unfortunately, as those nutrients become depleted again, the headaches come back. So now, I get an infusion about every three weeks to help manage the cycle. While the headaches are definitely unpleasant, and the body aches aren’t exactly a joy either, I’m grateful that these are the worst of my side effects.

My next treatment is scheduled for May 8, and I have scans on May 12. We’re hoping they’ll show that my tumors are stable—or, even better, that they’ve started to shrink. If that’s the case, I’ll continue with the immunotherapy. If the scans show tumor growth, I’m not sure what the next steps will be. For now, I’m focusing all of my mental energy on stability and shrinkage—leaving no room for any other outcome.

Feel free to join me in that intention. I truly believe the mind holds incredible, untapped power. So I’m visualizing the results I want, trusting that my body and brain will listen and respond accordingly.

On a very good note, my parents and I came to Idaho to see Emma finish her softball career.