I have received so many inquiries on how Travis is doing, that I decided to post an update on how things are going. Travis began his third week of radiation on February 25th (a.k.a My 30th birthday).
Week 1 of the therapy went very well. He had no side effects and we were able to change his 7:00 am appointment time to 12:30pm.
Week 2 went well also with some side effects. Travis began losing his appetite and feeling nauseous on Monday and by Thursday was very sick. We spoke with the doctor on Friday and they prescribed him some nausea medicine to help him feel better. The medicine helps most of the time with nausea, but he still has no appetite. Dr. Mahajan suggested that he eat six small meals each day, instead of three large meals. She also said that he could try using supplement drinks (Ensure, Carnation Instant Breakfast, Smoothies, ect.), but that he must keep eating.
Week 3 has just begun and as I sit here writing this email he is in physical therapy downstairs. The physical therapists think Travis is doing really well and is very strong. Many of the patients working in P.T. are struggling physically and Travis has mentioned that it makes him feel guilty that he is doing so well. I just tell him that he is probably an inspiration to those that are just trying to walk.
As mentioned in the last blog Travis can bring a music CD to listen to while he is receiving radiation. Each day I make a new "Mystery CD" for him to listen to. It is a mystery because he doesn't know any of the songs on the CD, only the theme. Themes have included Love Songs for Valentines Day, Nascar Songs, Motorcross Music, Songs of Faith and Jennifer's 30th Birthday Selections. Today's CD is entitled Travis' Favorite Movie Soundtracks. He has really enjoyed each CD. If you can please post your favorite song on the site, I would love to make a "Blogger CD"!
We thank you for all of the support and encouragement you have sent us through phone calls, cards and prayers.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
Radiation Therapy - Day 1
Today was Travis' first day of radiation therapy. He said he did very well. The hardest part for him was lying in the same position for such a long period of time and leaving the house at 5:30 am. This therapy session was longer than the others, 30 min. They scanned the position his head was in twice before they began, just to make sure that they were giving the treatment in the exact place they wanted too. Each therapy session after the initial one will be 15 min.
Travis said that at the beginning of each treatment (there were five) he had a whiff of a funny smell. He describe the smell as if you had taken a large sniff of Clorox. It briefly tingled in his nose and passed quickly. Dr. Mahajan said that this side effect was very common. He also said that even though he had his eyes closed he could see a bright blue light, like a welder's torch. After talking to my mom, she said that the light he sensed he saw was not really a light, but something called "scattered radiation light". This is a common symptom that many brain patients have where the eye detects the radiation beams the brain is receiving as a bright light.
During the treatment they play music and even encouraged him to make a CD to listen to of his favorite songs during the treatment. I am going to try and make him a variety of CD's to listen to, so if you want to send your requests via email or in a post to the blog I would love to add your songs to a CD!
Overall the session went very well. As of right now he is still scheduled for 7:00 am sessions, but the technicians are still looking to try and find a time that would be better for us.
Tomorrow he will have another session of radiation therapy, a meeting with the neuro-oncologist and physical therapy, so it will be a long day.
"I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 3:14
Travis said that at the beginning of each treatment (there were five) he had a whiff of a funny smell. He describe the smell as if you had taken a large sniff of Clorox. It briefly tingled in his nose and passed quickly. Dr. Mahajan said that this side effect was very common. He also said that even though he had his eyes closed he could see a bright blue light, like a welder's torch. After talking to my mom, she said that the light he sensed he saw was not really a light, but something called "scattered radiation light". This is a common symptom that many brain patients have where the eye detects the radiation beams the brain is receiving as a bright light.
During the treatment they play music and even encouraged him to make a CD to listen to of his favorite songs during the treatment. I am going to try and make him a variety of CD's to listen to, so if you want to send your requests via email or in a post to the blog I would love to add your songs to a CD!
Overall the session went very well. As of right now he is still scheduled for 7:00 am sessions, but the technicians are still looking to try and find a time that would be better for us.
Tomorrow he will have another session of radiation therapy, a meeting with the neuro-oncologist and physical therapy, so it will be a long day.
"I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 3:14
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