Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Day +10

Matthew 21:21 Jesus answered them, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will be done. 21:22 Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive."


If ever we have needed your prayers, it is now. At about 6 this morning my mom began breathing heavily. Her heart rate has been around 150, very high. She lost consciousness but luckily my dad stayed the night last night so he was here for her. Her stomach is still huring and is very swollen. She has gained a lot of weight from retaining fluids. They have her stabalized now an she is on oxygen since she is having so much trouble breathing. She is able to mumble a little but also seems a little confused. We are all here now with her and my aunt Alicia and uncle Dennis are still here. My aunt Wendy is on her way. Dani is at school and we obviously don't want to upset her or have her worry.

So the current plan is to move my mom to ICU where they can closely monitor her. They will be slowly giving her a diuretic to get the extra fluid out of her body, which will hopefully get rid of the fluids in her lungs. They are also going to do a sonogram on her liver to tell if she has a complication called veno occlusive disease of the liver. It seems she may have this because her liver enzyme levels are heightened. They also see a slight change in her kidneys. Her heart sounds good and strong though. The breathing is what is causing the high heart rate we think. If this is VOD, her doctor said he has a lot of experience using a drug to treat it. The drug is not approved by the FDA in the US but is use in europe.

My mom is a fighter. She is tough and is still trying to get herself to sit up. She does have a lot of anxiety obviously, as do we all. She is such an amazing, wonderful, beautiful person who does not deserve to be going through any of this. We all love her more than words could ever say. Nothing is impossible with God. So please ask him to pull her through this.

Update: The doctors don't think it is VOD because her liver looks healthy. They now think it is some kind of infection or the mucositis that has caused her intestines to become "leaky." They see that fluid has leaked from her stomach and or intestines into her body, which is probably why her lungs have fluid in them. She is in a lot of discomfort so they have decided to intubate her, meaning she will be on a breathing tube. She will be sedated during this so they can do all the tests necessary and give her medications. Please continue to pray.

14 comments:

  1. Lots and lots of prayers for you, mrs spicer! Keep fighting through this.

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  2. Stay strong Mrs. Spicer, we are all here for you. Keep fighting<3

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  3. Please know that the folks at Sterling Regional office in Virginia are all thinking of you and your family during this difficult time.

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  4. Dear Spicer Family,
    Thinking of all of you and sending prayers to get through this bump in the raod. Hang in there and keep being strong.

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  5. Stay strong<3 Praying for you all<3

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  6. Thinking of you and praying for all of you, Melissa.

    <3
    Jules

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  7. Praying and holding good thoughts that there is no bump you can't overcome. Fight with everything you have. Stay strong. My thoughts are with all of you.

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  8. This is Sakura Lin kinomoto. I am sending you prayers. Be strong and believe. You are a strong family. Keep your heads up. Dad was sent to the icu several times during treatment also. Be aware of your surrounding tho, icu is not very friendly with people on chemo. All the love to you

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  9. I am so sorry this is happening...Tom, please let us know if there is anything you need and we'll bring it up tomorrow. There is nowhere else in the world she would be in better hands then in Boston. My family and everyone involved with RAL are thinking of you guys!

    David Lash

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  10. Praying for your family today and every day.. Sending my love <3

    -Dara

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  11. We are here for you if you need ANYTHING!
    Praying! My mom has her friends at church praying also.
    Love Dave & Heidi

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  12. Praying for Julie now more than ever <3
    You are so amazingly strong and I have so much faith that you will keep fighting! All of Emmy's roommates are thinking of the whole family constantly and wish there was some way we could help. If you need anything, I am always available. I can be anywhere you need me.
    Love you guys!
    Kelsey

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  13. Hang in there Julie. We pray for your swift recovery every day.

    Mark, Shelli, Jacob, and Joseph Harris

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  14. Erin, Matt, & Sean FiffieldMarch 7, 2012 at 1:23 PM

    I am undescribably sorry for your loss you are all in my thoughts and our families prayers. Matthew 21:21 is a beautiful and powerful verse, we have it on our refrigerator to remind our family that in times of sorrow and struggle a mere ounce of faith can carry you through. Know that your mother was loved by many and is now in the eternal grace of god. <3

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