Chemo day, with a port placement
Becca and I are sitting in the waiting room, waiting for her blood to be drawn.. Once they draw the blood, we'll go up to radiology where, once the blood test results are back and they are sure her white counts are high enough to support healing, they'll do surgery on Becca to place a port under rhe skin in her chest, so that she can have future blood tests and chemo without having to have IVs. Although we had originally decided not to have a port, assuming 8 total chemo treatments, the revised chemo plan has 16 total treatments, so we changed our minds. After the port is placed, Becca will recover from the anasthesia in the chemo room, where they will do her chemo today with two new drugs, taxol and carboplatin. Taxol will be weekly for 12 treatments, and carboplatin will be every three weeks for four treatments, beginning today. We expect she'll be woozy for a while today after the port placement. Our oncologist will see us in the chemo room about 11:30. Our friend David Levine is visiting and will come to sit with Becca after noon so I can get a break. They'll drive home together when she is done, which we estimate to be around 4 pm. Becca's shiatsu practitioner is coming to the house at 6:30 pm to hekp support her healing, and someone is bringing us dinner. Because these drugs are new, we don't know how Becca will react to them, so Becca has cleared the decks of work so she can relax and heal this week, and we can roll with any side effects that appear. David is keeping us company until Thursday morning. That covers the facts, to make the Sergeant Friday in us happy. I seem to be a bit nervous about the procedure and new drugs today. It's hard to just swing with the constant changes. So I don't sometimes, and that creates some suffering for me. It helps to do my practice every day, make sure I find social outlets (mostly Buddhist events), and get some exercise. But I am noticing that the journey is feeling long lately.
Comments (16)
You'll be my focus of loving kindness today Don. I wish you both happy healing and peace. Love you guys
The two of you are such an amazing team! You really balance each other beautifully. I cannot imagine any other family handling this challenge quite so smoothly. It is still a challenge though and will continue to be so. I am thankful that you both are honoring that and each finding ways to take care of the spiritual and emotional pieces for yourselves individually and together. Sometimes it's not "keep on keeping on!" Sometimes it's "sit down and rest."
Thank you for sharing so vulnerably Don. I am moved by reading this window into what life is like for you. In some ways each of us truly is alone and in others we are never alone. I see you being with your humanity, and that is beautiful.
And something like 80% of life is showing up. Just. Showing. Up. Which you are. And then some.
Sooooo much for you both to be dealing with. I am humbled. Don, you both have shared so much more than the facts. As much as this sharing helps you, it also helps us. Thank You. Virtual hug.
Sending loving kindness to you and Becca. This is unbelievably difficult. I trust your mutual decisions with your doctors for these changes... which are not easy.
One day at a time. There will be rough moments and peaceful moments. If you feel like doing something because you will enjoy it, do it. I hope everything goes as well as it can. Our thoughts are with you. Please call if you need anything.
Don, the role of primary caregiver is a very long road for sure, and hopefully you too know that you have those willing to walk with you, or simply hold you in our hearts.
Don, thanks for sharing. Your role has its unique challenges, and your practice holds much benefit. I'm thinking of you, and Becca, today as you face this new twist on the path.
You are both also in my metta today, Don. It was important to hear your voice and your vulnerability.
Sending you both loving kindness and presence to be with the unknown twists and turns that the day may bring...
Don, We're thinking of you and Becca - hang in - trust the process and the strength you all need will be given. Love, Art and Sue
Dear Don and Becca, Thinking of both of you with love and caring. May today go smoothly for both of you and may you be supported by the love and wisdom surrounding you. I'm away until mid June . Hope to visit then. Love, Bilha
Hope it is going well. Please send my love to Becca and to you both I will pray for you to have strength, fortitude, patience and most of all success....
Thx Sergeant Friday! It all sounds rather grueling and "long," and I can imagine at times the whole thing becomes quite wearing, to say the least. Glad you have support. Glad to hear your voice, Don, as I've been wondering how you are. I can imagine it feels lonely for you at times, and I hope that you too are willing to ask for and receive support in whatever way works for you. I celebrate the love that brought the two of you together and which I know sustains you and which radiates from both of you, individually and together.
Don, I am keeping you and Becca in my heart. I will call you.