Monday, April 30, 2012
Done. Now Beginning.
What a week! What. A. Week.
Last Monday I had a port study done. Dumb thing hasn't cooperated at all. So I do this study. Radiologist tells me that it shouldn't be used. Oh. Great. I was to have chemo #7 on Wednesday.
Wednesday came. I showed up for Rituxin meds. I was able to get that med because it's not a chemo med. Had a consult with Dr. Z and he agreed not good to use port- there is a clot at tip which acts like a dam when nurse tried to draw blood and my obnoxious veins. He also told me I would get a PICC line done on Thursday. Again. Oh. Good.
Thursday. We went to FL Hospital and met two ladies who do nothing but PICC lines all day. Weird. I didn't care for the procedure. At all. It didn't hurt but I was fully aware and didn't love the pressure on my arm or the trouble the tech was having getting this thing in. After about :30 it was decided again that my veins are uncooperative all over my body.
I had the best cry in the hallway. Full blown sob. While walking over to clinic I just kept talking...praying. Then I was told no chemo for today. Thursday night was awful. I was scared. I was confused. I was completely unsettled.
Friday. I had a consult with oncologist to figure out what in the world we do now. Dr Z came in and told me my PET scan was clear again. That was great news. Dr Z then said "that's it- you're done with treatment". What? That was not the conversation I had played out in my mind. Dr went on to talk statistics with me. I have the best lymphoma to have. What. Ever. I responded textbook like and this crud is gone.
Praise God.
I can't "go there" emotionally yet. I will. One day at a time....
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Not So Much DONE
I am having blogger issues. Hopefully this posts though.
It's April. Just finished round 6- which I really was hoping would be the end of treatment for now. BUT it's not.
My very dear Cristy Jean arrived a week ago to take on round 6 with me. So blessed! Her big kids (Z is 16 now!! and G 14) gave their blessing for their momma to head to FL during Holy Week. And I was so blessed by this act of love!! Cristy was my college roommate for 2 years in IL and then we both transferred schools- she to WI and I in NY. So really the 22 years that we have been best frieds has been long distance. I love my time with Cristy. She makes me want to be a better person. She makes me think. She makes me LAUGH!!
So Cristy and I headed to chemo. It's overwhelming for a friend to walk into "this" live and in person. She was great though. I was getting upset- she held my hand...pulled out Mad Libs....or just made me laugh. I had port troubles and Cristy was very defensive for me....my mother cub. Friday was disturbing though- with all the flushing and trying to get a blood return from port when the nurse took needle out...the blood came. All over my shirt. So gross. So disturbing. But we high tailed it out of there, flew home so I could change, C grabbed Panera lunch, picked me back up, and we headed to see "Mirror Mirror" so we could enjoy some Julia (we would watch Pretty Woman over and over....and our phrase is "take care of you").
It was a different Good Friday and Easter weekend this year. I had a beautiful 5 days with my friend though. Cristy was great- dyed eggs with the girls, took them outside alllll day so I could snooze a bit, made sure we all ate and drank, and generally just helped with the every day things that I don't have the energy for right now. It was a blessing and a treat to have her here. Lina had to sing at the sunrise service so having Cristy here that morning was so helpful getting everyone up, dressed, and out the door before 6AM was so nice. (and my Lina had a beautiful little solo that made me tear up)
I hated saying good bye. We talked about our next get together- and hopefully this summer Lydia and I will get to WI for a long weekend. Then again Lina will want to go also.....and really we should all vacation together : )
After a tearful good bye at the airport we headed over to Casa de Ramiz. We usually go for an afternoon swim on Easter but this year nothing is like we used to do so I didn't even think about it. We didn't pack suits or anything because we were just going to stop by quickly. Welllllll, it was like normal times and we chatted and laughed and didn't just talk about cancer or chemo...it was soooo nice. I finally caved and just let the girls swim in their clothes. They had a great time with that and Laura and her sweetie Bryan were good sports swimming with the girls.
Girls were sound asleep before 7PM and that was my goal : )
Then Monday rolled around. Bigs had school and Lila was home with me. I was doing some picking up and we had just started lunch when the doorbell rang. And when I went to the door.....there was little Abigail and William Lunden like they lived down the street. Allll the way from NY. And there was my Dianne and her hubby Scott hiding. Crazy. They took the auto train from NY and surprised me. Yes, they did. They are here all week. Dianne. My Dianne. I have known Dianne forever. Her aunt lived across the street from me and we always played together as kids. We are 2 years apart in age. HS we may have drifted a little, but since I was probably 11 years old she has been my bff. They are staying at a hotel nearby. The kids played so nicely after school yesterday. Going to lay low today- maybe swim after school. And I think we may play hookie on Thursday. ; )
It's April. Just finished round 6- which I really was hoping would be the end of treatment for now. BUT it's not.
My very dear Cristy Jean arrived a week ago to take on round 6 with me. So blessed! Her big kids (Z is 16 now!! and G 14) gave their blessing for their momma to head to FL during Holy Week. And I was so blessed by this act of love!! Cristy was my college roommate for 2 years in IL and then we both transferred schools- she to WI and I in NY. So really the 22 years that we have been best frieds has been long distance. I love my time with Cristy. She makes me want to be a better person. She makes me think. She makes me LAUGH!!
So Cristy and I headed to chemo. It's overwhelming for a friend to walk into "this" live and in person. She was great though. I was getting upset- she held my hand...pulled out Mad Libs....or just made me laugh. I had port troubles and Cristy was very defensive for me....my mother cub. Friday was disturbing though- with all the flushing and trying to get a blood return from port when the nurse took needle out...the blood came. All over my shirt. So gross. So disturbing. But we high tailed it out of there, flew home so I could change, C grabbed Panera lunch, picked me back up, and we headed to see "Mirror Mirror" so we could enjoy some Julia (we would watch Pretty Woman over and over....and our phrase is "take care of you").
It was a different Good Friday and Easter weekend this year. I had a beautiful 5 days with my friend though. Cristy was great- dyed eggs with the girls, took them outside alllll day so I could snooze a bit, made sure we all ate and drank, and generally just helped with the every day things that I don't have the energy for right now. It was a blessing and a treat to have her here. Lina had to sing at the sunrise service so having Cristy here that morning was so helpful getting everyone up, dressed, and out the door before 6AM was so nice. (and my Lina had a beautiful little solo that made me tear up)
I hated saying good bye. We talked about our next get together- and hopefully this summer Lydia and I will get to WI for a long weekend. Then again Lina will want to go also.....and really we should all vacation together : )
After a tearful good bye at the airport we headed over to Casa de Ramiz. We usually go for an afternoon swim on Easter but this year nothing is like we used to do so I didn't even think about it. We didn't pack suits or anything because we were just going to stop by quickly. Welllllll, it was like normal times and we chatted and laughed and didn't just talk about cancer or chemo...it was soooo nice. I finally caved and just let the girls swim in their clothes. They had a great time with that and Laura and her sweetie Bryan were good sports swimming with the girls.
Girls were sound asleep before 7PM and that was my goal : )
Then Monday rolled around. Bigs had school and Lila was home with me. I was doing some picking up and we had just started lunch when the doorbell rang. And when I went to the door.....there was little Abigail and William Lunden like they lived down the street. Allll the way from NY. And there was my Dianne and her hubby Scott hiding. Crazy. They took the auto train from NY and surprised me. Yes, they did. They are here all week. Dianne. My Dianne. I have known Dianne forever. Her aunt lived across the street from me and we always played together as kids. We are 2 years apart in age. HS we may have drifted a little, but since I was probably 11 years old she has been my bff. They are staying at a hotel nearby. The kids played so nicely after school yesterday. Going to lay low today- maybe swim after school. And I think we may play hookie on Thursday. ; )
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