For Erika

UPDATE: Tuesday 1/23: I got a bit of a scare last night when I tried to call Erika several times and no one answered. Earlier in the day when I talked with her sister, she was sleeping but doing well. It turns out her dad had disconnected the phone and she is doing okay. Yesterday, they removed one of the chest tubes and last night Erika got chemo. She didn't sleep much last night but is resting comfortably this morning.

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UPDATE, Monday 1/22: Between respiratory therapy and a fever last night, I didn't get to talk to Erika yesterday but I spoke with Chris, her sister, and her oldest friend. Erika was doing well early in the day but spiked a fever last night. She was resting comfortably though after a nice dose of Tylenol. Things are holding steady for the time being. The swelling in Erika's arm was from IVs and should resolve on its own. No word yet on when Erika will start chemo, particularly with this new fever.

A little Adrienne update: She started classes last week. She decided to take three classes since the Research Methods class counts as two credits. The new medication is making her a bit tired but nothing like before she started the thyroid replacement. She also has some small bumps on her face, which should go away as her body gets used to the drug. She was itching a few days ago (a common symptom of Hodgkin's Disease) but thankfully that was better yesterday.

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UPDATE, Sunday 1/21: Erika's pain is under good control but she's sleeping a lot with the fentanyl. Respiratory therapy and oxygen are helping her to breathe better and she is comfortable. The shingles have dried up and Erika is hoping to get chemo this morning. She has a lot of swelling in one arm and they think she might have a clot, which complicates things a bit. The dogs are being looked after and they have plenty of home cooked food. A lot of people have offered to help but Erika and Chris say they are fine and thank everyone for their offers.

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UPDATE, Saturday 1/20: I was actually able to talk to Erika on the phone yesterday. She was more awake and her pain is under good control. Unfortunately, she now has shingles which doesn't help the pain situation. She spoke to her doctor yesterday and would like to try chemo again if the lesions can dry up quickly. The chemo only has about a 5% chance of working but she wants to try. That's our Erika. She is still asking that people not come to visit her. Please e-mail me at alison95070@yahoo.com if you have more questions as we don't want to bother Chris.

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Adrienne and I met Erika more than 3 years ago at a Team In Training event. Adrienne was six months out from her second transplant and Erika just a few months out from her first transplant. We became fast friends and had instant bond. Adrienne and Erika would sit very closely talking about how this drug or that procedure felt while the rest of us looked on, feeling like outsiders, but we didn't mind. Over the last few years, we've spent many days together having fun with our dogs, cooking, discussing decorating tips, whatever interested us. And we've shared the tough times with both Adrienne's and Erika's relapses and sharing our hope for a cure. When we moved earlier this year, we all cried but we remain as close as ever, talking on the phone or sending e-mail daily.

Erika's disease has progressed very quickly over the last months. She has been in the hospital since just before Christmas trying to figure out a problem with her lungs: infection or disease. Yesterday I visited with her and her family, arriving just a little while after the doctor was there to tell them that Erika's lungs are full of tumor. Erika will remain at Stanford for her remaining few days with her family at her side. She is getting plenty of pain killers as well as transquilizers to help her stay calm, but she is aware that we are all there. She is not up to visitors and her family has asked that people stay away for now.

Many of you who read this blog know all of us. Erika is tiny, just 5 feet tall and about 75 pounds, just the right size to be Mickey Mouse at Disney, which she did during her summers at college. She has more spunk and drive than anyone five times her size and she has fought this disease with everything she has. Please pray for her and her family during this time that no one should ever experience.