"Feel Better First"

..... That was the final set of directions that Emily received from her St. Louis University Saintsations Cheer Coach Lori P.  yesterday.


Lori and the NCAA travel squad of Saintsations visited her yesterday at the Cleveland Clinic.  After the Billikens posted their victory over Memphis on Friday night in Columbus, Ohio, the Athletic Administration granted the squad and Coach to travel on their charter bus from Columbus to Cleveland .... to see our sweet Emily.  It was a two hour and fifteen minute excursion and they arrived in sunny 75 degree Cleveland ON ST.PATRICK's Day.


Since Emily was still resting, MOMMA and DADDY-O bought them a round trip all day RTA pass to ride down to attempt to see the parade, via escort, sister Mackenzie.  It was a nice thought, but over 100,000 people were downtown riding the public transit... some challenges but it worked out.  Our friends and Emily's employer, PIZZAZZ, provided some pasta, salad and pizza for the girls in a conference room here at the Clinic.  Late after noon, they all tip toed into Emily's room and there was not a dry eye in Room 4.  The girls visited in shifts and had some time to catch up in their off day from the tournament.  Coach Lori had some quiet time with Emily too.


Since Friday, March 16 at 5:00 am, Emily has displayed some difficulties in taking deep breaths without pain.  As that day's blog said, ALL results from a battery of tests were good.  No alarming, or obvious, problems in the "major" category.  That is a blessing, but not totally comforting, when we have watched Emily live with body aches, pain on inhalation, racing heart beat and dipping oxygen levels when moving. She has had a low grade "fever" but not a clinical "fever".  We have learned that 100.4 is the magic number and she has not posted that at least 2 vital signs in a row.  Hovering there off and on since Friday.  Limiting tylenol due to therapy drugs and reaction.  Had a breathing nebulizer with some slight improvement, but no "aaaaahhhhh" moment.


Today is a rest day, still at the Clinic under wonderful care.  Em slept beautifully, with the help of one small boost of morphine.  She was up moments ago and practiced breathing in a little air device and made GREAT improvement over yesterday.  She is not in as much pain, and we find that relative to her breathing.  Our focus is to keep her pain low, muscles relaxed so they will take deep breaths.  When she is hurting, her body does not want to... then her heart races.... and on ... and on...


As you enter your day of rest, keep sending good thoughts, prayers and energy to Emily.  This is a time when it is most needed.  This is one of the windy curves in her road map to wellness.  We knew when we started, this would not be a straight line.


Thank you to everyone... cannot even begin to list names, but this weekend special shout out again to SLU the Saintsations, Men's Basketball and the Athletic Administration ... Go BILLIKENS... beat the SPARTANS (Sorry C.Cook)  ....   we had hopes to drive to Columbus today to watch the game.... but that is not on our agenda .... thanks to Mackenzie, Joe on his special feast day (today is St. Joseph's Day) ... friends Sherri and Jenn who did some extra running around for us .... and congrats to MOMMA's parents, John & El who celebrate 62 years of marriage this day.


Let's keep lifting each other up and as Lori said.... feel better first.


Go Emmy!