Chemotherapy #7

Today was Chemotherapy # 7.
8:00 a.m until about 1:30 or so.

All went fine.. just one needle poke.

Before the steroids wore off, and in case my feet start hurting or getting numb, I wanted to get a load of laundry done.
So that is done!

Karen and Anna and Russell also brought over a thoughtfully prepared dinner. It is especially fun to see them, as it is also a little time to visit.

We also had a lovely "Meet & Greet" with a group from the congregation last night, graciously hosted by Josh and Liz. I had to leave early though when I remembered I was due for a dose of steroids at 8 p.m., 5 tabs 12 hours prior to chemo. The second dose was at 2:00 a.m., 5 more tabs 6 hours prior to chemo.

By now, my face is starting to feel the "chemo burn".

Tomorrow I return to the clinic for my Neulasta shot (for bone marrow protection). Then I expect to feel more aches and for my feet to be affected. However, I do expect to feel much better in about a week!

In the meantime, my Homecoming/Class Reunion events are thrown in the mix. I will be glad to see everyone!

Looking Back at Two Days

Looking back to Friday's doctor's appointment and spending time with the Waiting Room Gang.

I usually bring John, plenty of reading material, a snack, my phone, and now, plans for a walk. I hadn't planned, or was sure I wanted to, make new friends in the waiting room. Some of the other patients might be pretty sick, and I wasn't sure I wanted to hear about all their struggles. (I am reminded of a study John and I led last year, A Mile in My Shoes: Cultivating Compassion by Trevor Hudson. I did not expect to connect so closely. )

But sometimes we do chat, and this past Friday, after John left to do the wedding, a couple asked if I had children and how old they were. So I moved closer to them. Including patients and support persons, there was a whole little group. Sometimes we paid attention to the TV nearby, including a news item that Randy Pausch, author of The Last Lecture, had died. I knew something about it, but had not read it. I asked them if it was very depressing. They said it was very uplifting. But of course, it was very moving. I commented that we all know this life does not last forever. And one responded "And we knew it a long time ago." Tears came to my eyes and I brushed them off my cheeks. A few more overflowed. I am usually pretty chipper there, but I realized my feelings, in general, must be about skin-deep right now.


Looking back to Saturday evening's sermon

John connected two texts: one was "Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you." (Matthew 7:7) The other was about Abraham taking Isaac to be a sacrifice, and then God providing the lamb. I thought as I listened, that questions may come out of our situations (other worship practices may have included child sacrifice). But God provides the answers. (No, God did not want child sacrifice as part of their worship.)

Always, God provides the answers, whatever the source of the questions.

Doctor Appointment

Yesterday, I saw Dr. Malviya in preparation for Tuesday's chemotherapy. No problems were found.

I always bring something to read while waiting. I also chatted with Mom & Dad and Bonnie on the phone. But I also dressed for a walk, and walked around the block that Providence covers. Then John needed to leave to do a wedding, and I chatted with other patients and families for a while, including Linda and Al, who were there for her 4 1/2 year check-up. James and Sarah came to sit with me a while. Then John came back in time for going into the exam room. We were done by 9:00 p.m. (there about 8 hours). Again, no complaints. Just glad to be here.

I asked Dr. Malviya what time his day started.
4 a.m.

Catching Up

My Dad

Where did we leave off, and where do I need to fill in?
My dad was in the hospital in Bay City, after having emergency surgery 7 a.m. July 7.
My sister Bonnie came up and stayed with my mom in a Bay City motel.
John and I drove home late Monday, July 7.
My brother Allan left that night as well.
And that is when Carrie wrote a blog entry for that day.

That Wednesday, Bonnie drove the folks back to their house and helped settle them in. Then on Friday (July 11), she drove herself home to Erie, PA . Dad is quite sore, but thankfully, seems to be continuing to heal. He saw the doctor on Tuesday July 22.

I know that many people prayed for him and we appreciate that very much. Thanks too for dear Jan M. who drove Mom to the Bay City hospital and stayed with them and took good care of them while the family was getting up there.



Real Moving Thoughts

Recalling thoughts from the farewell activities.... I very much appreciated the goodness and kindness there, and realized that the good and the bad in a situation do not cancel each other out. They are all real.


Gifts
Food Gifts, Unpacking and Cleaning Gifts, Yard Gifts

Gifts of Food
We have been welcomed with "yummy" (as Karen C. says) meals from new friends Amy T., Donna Y., Joan J., Florence F., Shirley S., and Carol M. and Karen C.! How appreciated!

Before Chemo # 6, I realized that I was walking around the house or working in the kitchen humming. Humming! I am quite sure that without all the loving prayers and generous help, I would not hum so easily. Thank you!

Gifts of Unpacking and Cleaning
Debbie V. and Chris came over on June 30 and helped unpack and organize and shelve some books. They even brought lunch! (So glad to hear Debbie's daughter Laura is home from her year in Argentina now!)

July 11, Carol B. came all the way from the Lansing area to help. She cleaned and helped me tackle kitchen area things that were out of boxes, but had not yet found a home. She also walked with me. It was wonderful to see her, and she helped me get a step further.

Yard Work
Kathy and Bill C. (and others) have been over countless times, planting and caring for flowers and doing other yard work. How beautiful and welcoming!

You can see why I might hum!


Nesting
I sometimes find I am into "nesting" mode, making a new home for myself and my family here. The boxes are more concentrated now, but even when they were all over, more than one person commented that there seemed to be a sense of serenity here. Yes.

The Otts
To add to the fun, our first overnight guests Bishop Don and Jan Ott visited and participated in a welcoming ceremony at church two weeks ago. How fun to see them! He (who considers April 1 a holiday) did, however, introduce himself to my new neighbors as .. well, they still are unsure who he is. ;)


"Meet & Greet"
The church has organized home gatherings for our family to meet with small groups of church members. I understand the first scheduled one has been rescheduled for September, as we ended up out of town that day. The first one we attended was at the home of Patti and Noel, who it turns out, also know classmate Mary Ann W.!

This week, we gathered at the home of Pam and Andrew. What a lovely way to begin to know people! I do not remember all the names, but I am learning some.




My Medical Month

Tomorrow it is time for my monthly doctor appointment already, and am not caught up on last month!

I saw Dr. Malviya on June 27. I overheard another patient on her cell phone say she was at her "A.D.D., All Day Doctor". Ha! Indeed, I was there about 8 hours, but without one complaint.

Sheuli's Gifts
When Dr. Malviya came into the exam room, he immediately noticed my new purse on the ledge, a farewell gift from Sheuli that she brought back from her family visit to India. It is beautifully embroidered with beads and sequins and little tassels. I knew he would appreciate it!

As I remember Sheuli, I also remember that on her face, there was another gift: her gift of tears.
Dear Sheuli, I love you!


Each month, I type up a list of questions for my doctor visit. One was to help me understand better the number of cycles of chemotherapy. At first, I thought there would just be six cycles (with one infusion every four weeks). He explained that six was the basic number of cycles. After that there is about 10% more benefit. So it sounds like if the toxicity becomes too much, then the basic benefits are still done. (But for now, I think I am looking at 8-9 cycles.)

He said to watch for neuropathy of hands and feet, and he also suggested vitamin B6.

Basically, so far, so good with how I am doing.

Chemotherapy #6
It was scheduled for Wednesday, July 2, but a nurse called Monday night and asked if I could come Tuesday instead. Of course! Last time, day #3 was my hardest. So I figured this would give me an extra day to recover before Sunday. Plus, if I kept the Tuesday schedule, I would have an extra day to recover after chemo #7 before my Class Reunion on August 2.

I suppose I have been noticing some of the cumulative effects more this month. Thankfully, there was no nausea. But I may be more tired, and I did notice more numbness, especially in my feet. I am not sure if "numbness" is quite the right word. My feet ached, but did not seem to appreciate the usually very welcomed massage from John. Thankfully, my feet seem to be mostly better as the days pass.

I need to keep moving. I have been moving my fingers, and playing the piano some. As for my feet, I have not established a walking habit since moving in. Maybe I am afraid of getting lost and running out of energy! Anyway, I need to keep moving!

One small exercise. When I thought of things I would miss and things I would not miss, I listed my first-floor laundry. The laundry here is in the basement. However, that has worked out well so far, as it gives me more reason to go up and down stairs!

Tomorrow
Tomorrow is my next doctor's appointment already. Last time, it was a good opportunity to walk. I asked Maureen the receptionist, and she said he was not in from surgery yet, so I had plenty of time. So I walked for a while outdoors, then walked the halls of Providence Hospital (the Cancer Center is on its campus, but is a separate building) , as I did not want to get sunburned.

John has always been with me. He brings his computer and gets work done, or maybe he reads a book. He recently finished a biography of Harry Truman by David McCullough. Tomorrow, he will be with me for a few hours, then has to leave for a wedding. I think James will come to sit with me in the meantime!

James, by the way, took us to dinner last night for our anniversary!

Best Anniversary Ever

Today is our anniversary! #31
I am behind in writing here, as other things have been priorities.
But I plan to catch up soon.
(Sorry and thanks for patience.)
But for now, I am going to dinner!

Keeping Up With Grandpa

Hi all,
This is Carrie, Laura's daughter.

Today Mom and Dad spent the day in Bay City, MI and are now on their way home for the night. They got a phone call this morning that my grandpa (Mom's dad) was in the hospital for some pain he had over the weekend. He drove himself to the hospital in West Branch. (That's my grandpa!) When they couldn't help him, he was driven late last night / early this morning by ambulance to the hospital in Bay City. He had surgery that helped his symptoms, but we're not sure yet what was causing the problem. He'll stay in the hospital at least overnight. Please keep him in your thoughts.

A family friend, Jan, who is also Mom's classmate's wife, drove Grandma to the hospital. Grandma and Grandpa's other kids, Allan and Bonnie, came up to Bay City as well. Bonnie will stay in Bay City overnight with Grandma.

Love you, Grandpa! Keep strong, feel better, and get the heck outta that hospital!
- "Frank"

Chemo #6 Schedule Change

A nurse called late Monday afternoon to ask me to come for Chemotherapy #6 on Tuesday rather than than the scheduled Wednesday. So we went Tuesday. (I was planning to write my class newsletter and other writings, which I will have to catch up on soon.) Today, we went back for the Neulasta shot. So my next chemotherapy is on a Tuesday as well. Good idea. Now I will have an extra day to recover!