Chemo Week 2, Day 1 November 12, 2024 Tuesday = Treatment Day!
My infusion wasn't scheduled till 11:00 so I was able to travel independently today. Much to everyone's chagrin. It was good though, I needed to show myself I could do it.
So, Matt left this morning at 6:00 while I got up the three crazies and got them off to school. They were dressed, fed and off to school with lunches instruments and nap rolls on time.
I stopped at 7/11 on the way back from the school to get ice for the cooler. This was easier said than done. The cooler was stacked high was neatly placed bags of ice but I have serious doubts that anyone but myself had purchased any in a while since the bags had settled or frozen into place creating an impenetrable fortress of ice that even Elsa would have found impressive. After a few attempts at freeing one of the ice bricks I opted to asking for help from the store clerk. As wiling as he was to assist I was concerned about the effort of reaching he needed to exert as the elastic on his well worn pair of sweatpants appeared to need replacing and threatened to abandon his waistline as any moment. My fears were unfounded in the end since he was able to dislodge one lucky ice bag for me while his pants, thankfully, stayed in place.
I made it home a little passed 8:00 with plenty of time to load my new red rolling cooler. Thank you to my sister Melanie for sending this to me. And my apologies to my brother and sister-in-law for not using yours when you so kindly drove out to us on Sunday. Turns out -- I really need one with wheels. Rob, I hope you didn't mind the wasted drive. I loved getting to visit with you and Little Robert -- who I know Jimmy had a great time with too.
Anyway, I named him Charlie.
Charlie and I, plus my Adidas bag (a left over gym bag from my college days when I actually frequented such an establishment) filled with my turtle blanket (a timely Christmas gift from my niece Amy last year - she and I had no idea how I'd need it), my pillow, Dammit Doll (haven't needed that yet but I can't stay this positive forever), meds, hairbrush (I don't really need that) and sweatshirt in it. Plus my bag/purse with my phone, charger, ear pods, snacks, hard candy, book, Sudoku puzzle and Crossword puzzle books, wallet and journal.
See why I need the rolling cooler?
We all set off at 9:30 for Fairfax Hospital. I parked, walked in and arrived for my Labs on the 1st floor at 10:20 with lots of time to spare.
Nurse Jade, same nurse as last week, called me in at about 10:50 and she and I were both delighted it only took one fish hook to get my port accessed YAY!
I was checked in on the 9th floor by 11:00 on the nose. Not that my lateness would have mattered, I don't think, because boy were they busy. They apologized for being behind and asked me to wait. This didn't trouble me much as I had nowhere else to be, so I settled into a comfy chair and sent a few texts and played on my phone. There were other patients not so tranquil as I was about the wait. But I have found I do not struggle with things outside my control as much as other do. I trust that we are all doing the best we can and let God take the helm.
They called my name just after 11:30 -- not unreasonable I don't think, and I was shown to a chair in the common area. As long as I'm not snoring I don't mind sharing the space. There was a volunteer playing quiet tunes on her guitar and a cheerful gas fire glow. As I didn't have visitors coming today I found the business of the nurses and techs comforting.
My nurse's name was Alison, she wore airplane earrings and told me about her upcoming trip to Key West in the New Year. And she took good care of me.
During my time, my family kept checking in via messenger - my family is BIG on group chats... I slept a little and watched a moved while I wore my ice booties and mittens and cap. But I kept them updated too. Today was a short day, only 2 med bags as opposed to 4 so as Alison hung my second bag I messaged that it was time for my "2nd Feed Bag". I thought the analogy was spot on as it is a bag, it hangs AND it does "feed" into my body. My mother did NOT like it. She said that I was not a horse or any other kind of animal -- as she is ever my champion, I will allow it.
This began a moderately lively debate between myself, my mother and my Aunt Marianne about what should they be called. Mom suggested "Necessary" but as this is an old timey reference to a toilet I was quick to veto that. My Aunt suggested we actually name them and offered her go-to : Fred. I said we might as well name all four. SO henceforth I have infusions from Fred and Ricky every week (Fred is the one I put on my sexy hat and mittens and booties for). They are joined by Lucy and Ethel every 3rd week.
Might as well have fun with it, right? Afterall, they say laughter is the best medicine of all.
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ReplyDeleteA great blog to keep us up to date! Keep faith, humor and laughter. Prayers.
ReplyDeleteKaren
Luuuuuuuuuuuucy you got some splaining to do!
ReplyDelete