Turkey's Done

My 3rd or 4th birthday and a much happier time.  My mom loaded that cake with candles, which had me mesmerized.

Finally the end was in sight for my radiation treatment.  It ended not a moment too soon as the symptoms and pain were reaching a breaking point.  At this stage of treatment I had morphed into a red tomato that could hardly walk.  The chemotherapy drug Vincristine was giving me multiple side effects.  The common side effects were expected.  I had hair loss, low blood counts, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, mouth sores, taste changes, and digestive problems.  The less common problem that occurred, put a halt to the drug, as I began to experience peripheral neuropathy. 


Peripheral neuropathy is a problem with the nerves that carry information to and from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. This can produce pain, loss of sensation, and an inability to control muscles.  This side effect had progressed enough that I was unable to touch my fingers to my thumb, have any tendon reflexes, or any strength.  It was also becoming difficult to walk or stand and the decision was made to stop the medication. 

My mom's journal from April 1981.

4/13/81 - 50 lbs.  Phenergan, Proctofoam @ 0800. WBC 1800, HCT 29, HgB 9.9, RBC 3.7, Platelets 547.  Vincristine HELD do to weakness of hands (neuropathy) no deep tendon reflexes either.  Radiation  - lateral sides radiated to cut doses to front & back.  Ditropan 1515, Tylenol 1315 @ school, vit C (9), B&O 2030.  

4/14/81 - Ditropan (used to control urgent, frequent, or uncontrolled urination in people who have overactive bladder (a condition in which the bladder muscles have uncontrollable spasms) 0800, Proctofoam 1515, aired bottom cort. cream applied.  B&O 1820, (9 vit. C), Vitamin, Proctofoam 2330, taking less fluids, appetite poor.

4/15/81 - 0510 proctofoam,  Ditropan, 1/2 B&O 0800, Vit., Mineral oil, during night, lots of pain, poor night.

4/16/81 - B&O, proctofoam, 0445, Ditropan, proctofoam 1530, & 2200, B&O 1845, 0100, poor night.  

4/17/81 - Last Day of Radiation! (was written in red ink) mineral oil 1 1/2 oz., proctofoam x 3-4, B&O 2100, and 0400.  Tom (mom's brother) here for the day - took boys to Star Wars; watched Jesus on HBO & cried.  

4/18/81 - Frequent trips to the bathroom to urinate with much pain.  Ditropan 1515, B&O 1800, 1945 expelled both in toilet, mineral oil 1oz.; Valium 5mg.  Pyridium started again.  up all night except from 0230-0530.  Codeine 0230.  Lots of pain in penis - worst day and night yet!

4/19/81 Ditropan 0840 Pyridium x3, codeine 1900, B&O 2130, nap 1 1/2  hr.  played cards, ate Easter dinner with family, hunted for Easter eggs ate 4 eggs (no yolk), Vit., Vit C x 4, somewhat better day.  B&O and Proctofoam @ 0245 up 4-5 times during night to urinate lots of pain.  Pyridium 0245.

4/20/81 - 49 1/4 lbs.  WBC 1300, HgB 11, HCT 33. NO Chemotherapy.  Macrodantin restarted along with pyridium .  many times to urinate complained of severe pain - screaming.  B&O 1900 (expelled 1945) codeine 1220, B&O 2200 (expelled 45 min. later)  codeine 2300, up 5 times at night.

At this point the train is off the track.  Writing this down reminds me of the phrase "survive and advance" that is often said during the NCAA Basketball Tournament.  Our days and nights had become that phrase....