It's me again...I just thought of something else you might want to know now. My family was not told this by the doctors or hospital...a relative who is a doctor told them this, and it helped them tremendously.

RE: The steroid treatment
Some people (and I was one of them) go through a "steroid psychosis." It can be real scary for observers. From my family's point of view I appeared drunk, extremely talkative, giddy, and said things (including profanity) that I normally wouldn't say. My sister made the comment that she got tired just listening to me. Hubby referred to me as "Chatty Kathy" (a doll that our generation is familiar with, pull her string and she talks). From my point of view it was euphoria, "the real me", and I never slept. I actually sat in my hospital bed listening to music on earphones, reading magazines, watching TV, and talking to friends ALL AT THE SAME TIME. Then after the patient tapers off the steroids at home there can be a period of depression. This is not the time to make any life decisions. Amy needs unconditional love and support through this. I had tremendous support from family, zero from my place of employment.

That's all I can think of now. Soon you and Amy will know more than anyone else around you.

{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}

Mary