I'm thankful for and humbled by the amazing support system around me. My phone was blowing up with encouraging messages. With each message, my confidence grew but the tears started to roll. This journey has been an emotional roller coaster but I'm often reminded of how lucky I am to have all these incredible people in my life.
Chemo #3 went well!! Could have just been a coincidence but I was assigned to infusion room number 14 which just happens to be right outside the nurses' station. Mike and I joked with my nurses, Diane and Anne (from the first treatment) that I was trouble and needed to be in their direct view. I learned that they refer to me as the 'shaking girl!' We all had a good laugh.
Based on my reaction to the Benadryl last week, the decision was made to reduce my dosage from 50ml to 25ml and slow drip it over 20 mins. I definitely felt the medication -- it made me sleepy and a bit groggy. But, I'll take this reaction over what I experienced last week. This treatment was by far the quickest and most uneventful. I'm ecstatic and remain hopeful. Since the diagnosis, the four letters H-O-P-E have provided me with a lot of comfort to make it through this journey.
This week, I have started noticing a lot of hair loss. I was warned about this and knew it was inevitable, I just didn't realize it would happen so soon. On my ride home from telling my parents a few weeks ago, Carter actually brought up this very topic. I remember him asking..."mama, what is it that you have again? Are you going to lose your hair like MyMy?" We have pictures of Carter and my sister when he was a baby so he knows she lost her hair during her cancer treatment.
Carter goes back and forth on being ok with this. Sometimes he will say things like "It's ok, mama...it will grow back!" Other times, he gets mad and says "NO, I don't want you to lose your hair!" I try to explain to him that if I lose my hair that it will grow back kind of like him losing his teeth. He seems to be ok with this answer, for now anyways. Katherine is obsessed with the Disney princess, Rapuzel, so has said she wishes I can get hair like Rapuzel! I know once the kids see the physical changes, it will get a lot harder.
Mike and I went wig shopping in preparation for this after my last treatment. My suggested I check out Windows of Hope at Beth Isreal. The sales ladies were so incredibly nice, compassionate, helpful and just a joy. I tried on a bunch of wigs but I'm pretty plain Jane and wanted something easy to maintain and most resembled my natural hair. The sales lady, Linda, was worried that the wig I picked would be too hot for me during the summer months so suggested I look into a halo wig. Halo wigs only cover the back and sides of the head so I'd have to wear a hat or a bandanna to cover the top. It was really hard to envision myself without hair so I told her I would consider it and come back. Linda knew I was struggling with the idea of losing my hair and after a long day of treatment, she insisted I get it. She was so insistent that she just gave it to me! She said this was a gift for the kids. I was incredibly touched.
We got home from the hospital today to yet another awesome surprise from our incredible neighbor, Christina. She checks on me frequently and pops by to drop off things for me and the kids regularly. She's a sweetheart and we are so lucky to have her and her family in our lives. This week, she prepared for us a delicious dinner of chicken lettuce wraps. She's thoughtful to the point of including a detailed list of ingredients (because of Carter's food allergies) and activities kits for the kids! We love you Miss Christina!
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