Update on Ferdousi (by Selina)

Hi Everyone,

Last week we spent the week in Michigan with Ferdousi and my parents.  I'd like to give you an update on her condition.  When we got there the first day, I was so disappointed to see how weak and fragile she looked.  I was hoping to see my sister looking stronger than when she left Minnesota.  She had been feeling better the first two weeks in Michigan.  However, since the start of her chemo treatments in early March, she’s been dealing with all of the horrible side effects again.  The chemo treatments have changed in substance and frequency.  The combination of drugs is primarily made up of Erbitux & Irinotecan.  The frequency has changed from every two weeks (46-hours each) in Minnesota to every week (2-3 hours each) in Michigan. 

I was able to take Ferdousi to a chemo treatment, a cancer support group meeting and a doctor’s appointment in the week that we were there.  The nurses at the Infusion Center were very nice and the Oncology Fellow seemed very smart & competent and genuinely caring.  The cancer support group meeting was really an eye-opener for me.  What an amazing group of women – even with their tragic stories they all exuded hope and strength and so much affection and support for Ferdousi.

My sister is still 76 pounds but at least we are thankful that she’s not losing any more weight.  She’s eating regularly even though it is in very small amounts.  My mom and aunts are always cooking her favorite foods but it’s sad for everyone when she can only eat a little bit of it.  Ferdousi has not had a CT scan for some time now.  Next week on March 28^th she will receive CT scans of her chest, abdomen & pelvic areas.  On March 30^th, my parents and sister will find out the results of those scans.  We’re all praying the new chemo regimen is helping to fight this extremely aggressive disease.  Ferdousi or I will provide an update to let you know the results next week.  Please keep the prayers, messages, and good wishes coming. 

On a happy note, we were all so glad that for one evening last week Ferdousi was feeling good and staying up to visit with family & friends.  It was the evening of Nadia’s baby shower (our little sister) and we weren’t sure how Ferdousi would feel that day.  She happened to be feeling well that evening (and also perhaps hiding her pain well).  She was up for hours talking and visiting with family and friends.  My parents were so happy to see this – their whole outlook each day is dependent on how Ferdousi is doing.  Another fun thing we did was to arrange for a Henna Artist to come to the house and put henna on Ferdousi’s hands.  It turned out just beautiful and Ferdousi was very happy about that.  

Lastly, before we left Michigan I gave my sister a goal.  She is to try to get herself as strong as possible so that we can do a cancer walk together on Memorial Day weekend.  It would be such a great achievement for her and make us all so happy.  That’s all for now.  I hope that next time I post an update it will be positive news. 

Good night,
~ Selina