Boy, this has been SOME month! It couldn't be more bi-polar. Losing mom, but finding that my daughter may be heading for remission soon.
A couple of weeks ago, some family friends offered for my daughter to come out and visit them in Illinois. They would take her to Chicago so she could see the Steppenwolf theater.
Back up three years: My daughter was so sick, that sitting up on the couch, with two foam pads and a pack of pillows was the most she could do. This lasted for almost two years.
When she started treatment, she would gauge her progress based on how long it took to get ready for the doctor's appt. She would have to take Meclizine just to ride in the car without getting sick.
She would sit on the couch and cry that life was passing her by and that she should hang up her dreams of ever leaving home and having a life. She stopped talking about attending classes at the Steppenwolf theater, or even getting an education.
This is to give people hope: She now has 50 credit hours under her belt. She has been given a personal invitation to be on the speech and debate team (memorize a ten minute speech? YEP) The speech team will travel. Next spring, Berlin.
But, this is the biggie. As she boarded the airplane BY HERSELF to fly to Illinois WITHOUT MOM! It's been seven years since I haven't been by her side taking care of her.
TODAY, she attended a play at the Steppenwolf Theater. She sat in a car for three hours to get there. She went to the Navy Peer tonight (she was exhausted, but she did it).
Tomorrow, free day to see Chicago. She will be home Wednesday.
She may have to be wheeled off the plane when she arrives, who knows? But, she hasn't called me at all since yesterday morning. That means she is busy and having too much fun to think of mom.
And that's a good thing!
She also may have grown two inches since her autoimmune titers have normalized. That can mean she is now producing human growth hormone, which will repair muscle and lessen her pain. We'll confirm with the doctor.
If this doesn't set her back too badly, she may be heading for remission.
Three and a half years to get to this point. Yippee.
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
Sharing with you and your joy.
I hope she had a great time.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by lymephobic (Member # 17556) on :
That is a wonderful story!
I have tears in my eyes reading...
Wishing you and your daughter a Happy & Healthy future!
Posted by Jane2904 (Member # 15917) on :
Yes, tears of Joy!!! Wonderful, thanks for posting.
Hugs to you also, Jane
Posted by CD57 (Member # 11749) on :
how about that!
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
Kelmo,
That is wonderful. I hope that everything continues along the present path. You must be overjoyed.
Feelfit
Posted by fighter (Member # 20170) on :
thanks for sharing, kelmo.
it gives me hope.
i hope it's okay for me to ask: how old is your daughter now? when did she get sick?
fighter
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
what a great story kelly! thx for sharing xoxox
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
Kelmo,
This is great!
Carol
Posted by Zebco 33 (Member # 18376) on :
Kelmo,
I am so very happy for you. Yay.Yay.Yay.
Your such a brave and wonderful mom and I'll be giving God prayers of Thanks for you both.
Peace and Hugs....Connie Posted by Michael_Venice (Member # 17254) on :
I'm so happy to hear this.
And Steppenwolf is such a great theater group.
Congratulations.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Keep us posted on her progress! Here's hoping she gets through this just fine and is on her way to remission!!!!! Posted by John S (Member # 19756) on :
It is nice to see someone beat this.
Posted by kelmo (Member # 8797) on :
She will be home in a couple of hours, so we'll see if she has a big let down from the adreniline rush over the past couple of days.
I spoke to her yesterday and she said she has had a consistent pain level of about 2. She takes three Tramadol/daily, which is a step down from Vicodin and percocet, which she took for a year.
She said she walked miles around Chicago because her friend kept getting lost. She took care of herself and listened to her body.
Our friends said she made a remarkable improvement over a year ago when they last saw her. They said they had to keep reminding themselves that she was sick.
Hoping that next year will bring total remission.
Keep you posted.
Posted by DaveNJ (Member # 17362) on :
awesome story....
Posted by Dekrator48 (Member # 18239) on :
It warms my heart to hear how well your daughter is doing.
She obviously has a fighting spirit and great determination.....
and of course, a wonderfully loving Mom!
Congratulations!!!!!!
Posted by venus (Member # 16991) on :
Thanks for sharing. It gives us all hope!
Kathy
Posted by kelmo (Member # 8797) on :
She has been home for 24 hours. As soon as we got home, we changed and went to the funeral home for my mother.
Today, we were up early for the funeral. It's almost 9pm and we just got home.
She had a full week of nonstop, and she still has a smile.
She had to take her tramadol three times a day, but she has not take her antibiotics for a week.
She's starting back up, however.
This is GOOD.
Posted by just don (Member # 1129) on :
Great news Kelmo,,give her an atta girl!!
I have been away so I missed your mothers passing,,,be sure we are all thinking of you and your loss.
Posted by kelmo (Member # 8797) on :
Don....thank you so much.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
kelly, that's great she is doing so well!!
this sad day is over, and so emotionally draining; best wishes in the days, months, and years ahead! xox
Posted by kelmo (Member # 8797) on :
Because I have been running on adrenaline the past two weeks, it caught up with me today. I couldn't move. Felt a little weepy.
Daughter is doing okay...we just veged on the couch.
She didn't get to eat well back there. The friends only eat out, no food at home. She had also given up meat for a while, so her diet was limited.
When I saw her she had gray shadows under her cheekbones. She looks a little better today.
She said she really felt bad on the plane flight. Is that normal?
Posted by kelmo (Member # 8797) on :
Daughter started back on antibiotics the day after she got home. (5/27)
Herx hit today! I sent her back to bed.
So...she had a good week.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
glad you are resting up from the stress of the last 2 weeks...
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[group hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)