Loose Strife

Laura is doing OK. 2nd round, day +5 and she’s still wiped out and generally doesn’t feel well. Her back is worsening again, although she doubled her pain meds recently. But her main gripe is just that she’s tired of the chemo screwing up her appetite and eating. I’ve learned that eating discomfort and lack […]

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October pictures have been added to the photos site. Of course I’ll add in the Halloween shots in a few days.

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I think Laura’s doing much better handling day +1 compared to the first round. She’s taking a special post-chemo anti-nausea drug and hadn’t had any nausea problems. She has been eating similar to before the infusion — which isn’t spectacular — but she’s getting good nutrition and sufficient calories. And maybe Laura also seems to […]

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Just a quick note that Laura and I spent the day in Northampton for her second round of chemotherapy. As is standard practice, Laura’s blood was checked in advance and her white blood cell counts were way up since the nadir a week ago. “Excellent” levels according to her oncologist. So that means she’s in […]

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Some mixed news. Laura has not thrown up most days this week. Coincident with this is that her habitual cough, related to the fluid around her lungs, is now rare. Cough and up chuck were always linked in the morning, so their mutual absence is definitely a positive sign that something might be improving and […]

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Just a quick note: Laura got her blood tested today in advance of her second chemotherapy treatment next week. Her white blood cell count was very low, which is a common effect. This means she’s more susceptible to infections because her immune system is compromised. She now needs to closely monitor her temperature and avoid […]

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Laura asked me this weekend to post a thank you on this website to everyone. Laura’s been accumulating a pile of cards and notes with the intention of sending replies, but it’s got out of hand and probably won’t happen. Being the dolt that I am, it hadn’t occurred to me that I should be […]

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I’ve received a request for an update. (For the record, you all should assume that no news is good news — or at least the same news.) Things are fine in the Kulp household. My mother went back to Virginia last Tuesday. She was a tremendous help during tough times. Laura’s father Joe is back […]

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Doesn’t the word “relax” look like the name of a drug? “RelaX ™, the new treatment by ABC pharmaceuticals, has been approved by the FDA for just about everything.” Laura’s been doing a lot of resting, especially since chemo. But this is now day +7 after chemo and she’s definitely in better shape. In fact, […]

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Saturday was yet another hot and bright day — not exactly what you expect for October in Ashfield. But after two months, it looks like the rain might finally be coming to cool us down and get Autumn going. About 70 people came to our house for a party of sorts — many with kids […]

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