It's not what you may think from the title! This morning is the beginning of the end of my Chemoherapy treatments. This is treatment number 6 of 6. This is a big day, while the apprehension and anxious feelings are there, the same as the first time, it feels so good to reach this point. Sorry for not posting sooner.
We, as a family has weathered it with flying colors. My daughter Rachel has been an absolute trooper. she never questioned the rules as far as contact and not being able to do certain things are concerned. She take it all in stride, goes with it and sees the silver lining. As an example due to PIC line inserted in my arm I am unable to go in our pool ( something we both enjoyed with each other ). she went in herself and suggested I just sit on the side and put my legs in......she said " this will be like your in here with me." What a kid!!!!
Vicki has been my shoulder to lean on, my therapy and the thorn in my side (of course in a good way). In the beginning she would listen to me talk about my fears, and hopes, and be the shoulder to lean on. When not able to do things around the house, she would take over and get it done. Accompanying me to my treatments has been the best thing. Just having someone to talk to, someone to do the small things but most of all to be there and support. All this strength when I know that she is, on occasion, fighting her own emotions with MY disease. She is also the thorn by "reminding" me to do take care of myself, take my meds etc. Couldn't ask for a better thorn. Thank you for being there for me, thank you for being a shoulder to lean on and believe it or not thank you for being my thorn.
My friends and family have also been wonderful, offering well wishes and just plain questioning how things were going. The support is so greatly appreciated.
The staff at KGH have been incredible especially the nursing staff at the chemotherapy clinic. They are quite a group. The professionalism, and attentiveness show through all while being so friendly, upbeat and humorous, making the treatment regime as stress free and enjoyable for me and all their patients. Simply the best. They are a special breed.
While this is the end of my initial chemo therapy treatments, the next phase will prove to be more challenging. Within the next few weeks I will be prepping for a stem cell transplant procedure which will take place at Kingston General Hospital in July. After the procedure there will be recovery time, the length of which is tough to estimate. This time will be challenging, but with the support of our family and friends, and each other, wewill come out the other side.
This procedure, in a nutshell will mean harvesting my own stem cells, recieving a VERY high dose of Chemotherapy to kill any residual cancer cells and consequently kill my immune system. My own stem cells are then reinfused and begin to develop a new immune system and put the cancer in remission. To say I am looking forward to it would be a bigger lie than that told by Bill Clinton! It will be tough, but it is all necessary in the long run. After the initial consult there was some question on if I should go through with it. There were questions about risk .....and the risk of infection is real and could be serious.....the reward and the procedure itself. After some thought, reflection and conversation with previous patients, there was no question....I had to do it, I had to have this procedure to get better, to prolong survival, for me and for my family. In the words of the immortal Larry the Cable Guy (for those of you who know who this is).."let's git er done".
I will blog and keep everyone updated as much as possible in the future.
Onward and Upward
Thank you all for reading and following.
