How to get a free t-shirt, free food, and MORE!

In the past couple of weeks, I have started the new immunotherapy clinical trial. The first infusion was on October 9, the same day I started the pills. The pills pump up my immune system, the IV chemo seeks out a specific mutation that all GBM cells have, and then the ramped up immune system attacks the cancer cells. A couple of days before the first infusion, mom and I walked 6 blocks to the Breakfast Klub in Houston for breakfast. As I was eating I started to feel nauseous, which was weird considering all I'd taken was my seizure med (although this was not the first time that med has made me nauseous). Why is it that you can never remember where the bathroom is in an emergency? I stood up, told mom I needed to find the restroom, and then projectile vomited onto our table and plates. A wonderful woman working there ran over, put a wet rag on my face, and walked me to the restroom. She then ran a person off who was in there and put me over the toilet. As my mom was cleaning up my clothes and getting me calmed down, Miss Jackie whipped together the staff to start cleaning up the mess I'd made (there was a trail of vomit all the way to the bathroom) and then came back with a free(!) t-shirt to change into! Everyone was so awesome! They gave us more breakfast to go! Jackie and I even took a selfie together as she told me about another GBM patient who frequents the Breakfast Klub. Moral of this story? Vomiting in a restaurant can result in a free t-shirt and new friends. 

I (we) cannot express how grateful we are for how promptly the village responded with offers to come help during treatments in Houston. I cannot imagine how hard it is on my mom to watch her child go through this, I imagine that she needs other people around as much as I do. It really helps to have someone to just shoot the sh*t with (am I showing my Kentucky roots now or what?) and to just feel loved and supported. We've already had Emily and Jane from Austin as well as my dad and Fabyan from KY. Also very grateful for Cassie, who stays in the downstairs when we are not there, often gives up her space when I have visitors there, and drives us around when necessary. If you have signed up to visit, please look at the calendar on this site to ensure that we have you down for the correct dates. If you are still interested in coming but haven't signed up, look on the calendar to see if and when there may be open dates and let us know! In the next couple of days mom and I will ready ourselves to return to Houston for more appointments. Next IV chemo infusion is Wednesday, 10/23.