Let me introduce you to E.R.I.K...

This is E.R.I.K. short for Emergency Response Information Kit. In this kit I have written all of the emergency numbers for our doctors in Winnipeg, as well as all local emergency numbers. The purpose of E.R.I.K. is that if I ever need to call 911 then the ambulance and other emergency personnel who would be coming to our house would see the little red sticker on our door and they know to go to the fridge and look for the Emergency kit that is mounted there with a small magnet.

Inside the kit is a list of all the meds that Wes is on, any allergies, medical history, medical numbers, where all his meds are stored and the name of his health care proxy.

This small plastic package has become a very important line of defense for us if we ever need it (I'm hoping we never do!) But, I have been impressed with how the medical community has thought everything through. It might sound strange, but knowing that the worst case scenario has been covered does give you a sense comfort.

This past weekend I spent some time updating this little package, carefully writing in all of the names of the meds that Wes will be starting on Wednesday, January 14, 2009.

We brought Wes' prescription to the Drugstore in Superstore on Saturday morning so that they could order in the new chemo and anti-nausea. Drugstores never have these medications on hand and so we knew we needed to get in there as quickly as possible to make sure that we would have what we needed to be able to start on time. Today we picked up enough for the first five days and will be getting our second prescription after his bloodwork at the end of the month. The dosage to start is approximately twice the amount that Wes took during his radiation.
While on his radiation Wes took one anti-nausea pill, Metoclopramide, first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and that was followed by 160mg of Temozolomide (chemo) also on an empty stomach.
His new dosage will consist of 2 tablets of a different type of anti-nausea called Granisetron, which according to our pharmacist here in Winkler is supposed to be the cadillac of anti-nausea pills. Then he will take 350mg of Temozolomide per day also on an empty stomach (with his spoonful of peanut butter - we're hoping that really works!). This will continue for five days in a row. Then after the 28 day cycle they feel that his body will have adjusted to the new dose of chemo and they will then up the amount by another 100mg bringing his amount up to 450mg per day for the rest of the year.
This is now almost triple the amount of chemo per day than he was taking during radiation which is why they only have him taking it for a five day stretch and are giving his body a three week rest in between. We will still have the Metoclopramide on hand if he has any need for nausea management. This can be taken every four hours as needed.
Danica, our clinical pharmacist at HSC, did not seem to feel that nausea should be too much of an issue, but did warn him that he would go back to feeling much of the same extreme fatigue that he felt during radiation. So, at this point the doctor was not encouraging him to go back to work, so he will probably stay off of the truck for the entire year during his treatment.
Well, Wednesday is coming and with it comes a few concerns and ok, I'll admit a few sleepless nights, for me at least, because Wes still sleeps like he doesn't have a care in the world! And I'm glad about that because he needs his rest before the treatments start again and he will need that ability to rest easily throughout the rest of this year.
Please pray that his body will adjust to this new regime of chemo and that he will be able to rest as he needs too. Please pray for me that I will also be able to find rest so that I can be the support that he needs during this time.
Thank you for your notes and words of encouragement. I read them over and over again and they remind me that you are out there carrying us through this with your prayers.

"If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" Ecclesiastes 4:10