Hello Everyone:
Since I have been receiving numerous emails checking whether I was successful in receiving my deferred round of treatment (thank you all for caring), I am elated to let you know that all went as planned last Tuesday. It was very interesting and encouraging to find that my platelet count had increased three-fold during the one week break. I was also sent home with Hermione (my infusion pump), who normally would have remained at Dr. I’s after the first two rounds of treatment. I suspect that Dr. I was trying to counter the one-week break by giving me one more week with Hermione.
So, today, for the first time, “Nurse” Gary had to remove the connections between my port-a-cath and Hermione. Faye, the chemo nurse had walked us through the process at the end of my chemo and had told us to call her if we needed any help. We were provided with a “kit” containing the instructions, one container of saline, one container of heparin (blood thinner), gauze and a small band aid. Half an hour before the time I would normally have it removed, Gary and I started a “dry run” and found that we were stuck at Instruction #1 (of 16). The notes referred to an “upper on/off switch” and a “lower on/off switch” on the pump. We simply could not find the “lower on/off switch”. We promptly called Faye who then told us that my pump was slightly different and that it only had one “on/off switch” so in lieu of the “lower on/off switch”, we had to remove the battery from the pump. Phew!! After that, we were fine with the rest of the process and Gary did a great job with the disconnection.
Dave Roy had gone in the day before for his 3rd round but his white cell count was too low so he had to miss his treatment. Instead, he was given a white cell booster shot and told to come in the next day for some intravenous hydration. Dave had gone through a very rough round 2 and had so many mouth sores, it was very difficult for him to speak so we encouraged him to rest in one of the private rooms especially as he was intent on flying to Maine the very next day. Martha, our 6 year survivor and tennis player, was in the chemo suite. Martha had missed an entire cycle of chemo as a result of food poisoning. She had lost quite a bit of weight but was glad that they had eventually found out the cause of her fever and digestive issues. Martha was given a lighter dosage of chemo to allow her to regain her strength.
After we bid Martha a good week, we noticed a lovely lady who seemed to step out from a summer issue of Vogue. She had a lovely black summer dress – clearly of European design and detail – with just the right sandals to match. I looked at her a second time as she gave me the biggest and broadest smile ever and I realized that it was Francesca Giardini. Francesca was one of the three ladies we met on our first consultation with Dr. I. She is the mother of a 3 year old girl who, when I met her last October, had lost so much weight as a result of extensive mouth sores. She had told me at the time that it was so bad that she often had to write notes to her husband as it was just too painful to speak. Well, Francesca has regained her weight, her hair has regrown to a short pixie style, and she looked the absolute picture of health.
Francesca had to reschedule her usual early morning appointment and said that she specifically asked to have a time close to mine so that we could catch up. It was such a pleasure to speak to her and find out that she is doing remarkably well. Her tumour had wound itself around numerous blood vessels and nerves so that it was inoperable. After nearly 2 years of treatment, the tumour has shrunk sufficiently that Dr. I has suggested she consider undergoing the Cyberknife procedure. It’s a robotic radiosurgery system designed to treat tumours with high dose radiation with extreme accuracy. This procedure is non-invasive and used on tumours that are inoperable or singularly complex. Francesca was scheduled to discuss this further with Dr. I after her treatment.
On Wednesday afternoon, Gary and I found ourselves without any internet. As the building was due to change owners, we discovered that the new owners were no longer going to provide any internet service. As a result, we had little means to explore the various options for internet service available to us. We had a few times when it was tempting to visit a Starbucks to be able to work on our laptops. But we decided that we would wait until we had reached our timeshare unit and in the meantime, enjoy the internet-free time to read, go for our walks, try out a new recipe or two, and then start packing for our week at the ocean.
It was lovely to hear from so many of you after my last update and of course, I do apologize for not having had the time, as yet, to catch up on my backlog with a response. We have settled into a lovely spot in a seaside town called Carlsbad, approximately 30 miles north of San Diego. We overlook the beach and the Pacific ocean from our balcony and always seem to have a nice fresh breeze blowing through our unit. Gary and I have taken some lovely walks along the beachfront as well as into town. There is a Village of Carlsbad with many lovely small stores to browse through and many restaurants to tempt you.
We return to L.A. next Monday and will start the next cycle of treatment on Tuesday. We came across the following quote which we feel so appropriate right now:
Life is like a see-saw ride; full of ups and downs
But when you are down, a good friend will jump on the other seat
to bring you back up again!
Thank you all for being the “good friend” and for always being there for us. We realize how blessed we are to have you all at our side cheering us on. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Maureen and Gary