A wicked storm passed through our neighborhood last night and woke me up…twice. I vaguely recall Tim mentioning the beautiful light show, but I was too tired to open my eyes and watch. I could see it through my eyelids with each bright flash. I kept hearing it get closer and closer and closer and then BANG!
I was thankful for the rain, and the slightly cooler weather it provided. It has been HOT here in Texas. Over 100 degrees several days in a row. I was supposed to get a walk in, but that didn’t happen either. Tim had a meeting and we still have one car. We have the bikes, but rain is not their friend ðŠ. Our plan was for him to drop me off at a restaurant for lunch, and I would walk to my appointment from there. We changed our plans since the weather was so unpredictable. I could wait in the clinic just as easily as in the restaurant anyway.
This wasn’t meant to be a weather report. ð I’m sitting here at MDAnderson getting the drip. They got me in early. It is true I still have chemo whether it is raining ð§, sunny ð, or otherwise. Every three weeks this thing rolls around. (Has it been 3 weeks already??? ðĪ ) Some people ask me when/if I am finished with chemo. The answer is always the same…I’m a lifer. I am on maintenance chemo until the day I die. That may sound grim, but I plan to be on chemo for a very long time!
A man just rang the bell. It is a tradition here at MD Anderson (and in many other centers as well). It means he is finished with chemo. Yay! I’m happy for him. I am reminded of the time I rang the bell when I finished radiation. It was a remarkable, emotional moment. I was allowed to have family there with me, but this gentleman had to ring it with only staff by his side due to all the COVID restrictions.
Reality is, I will never ring the bell again. And I am okay ð with that. I am so happy ð that I have treatment that is working. God is watching over my body to keep me stable. The nurses here are like family to me, and this center is like home. I walk in and things may look a little different (e.g. new PPE or longer lines), but there is something comforting about going to a center you understand, routines, and knowing there is always someone there to care for you, and care about you. They take a genuine interest. Nurses know me by name, and ask me personal things, like how is my book coming (yes, they remembered!).
Just a few more minutes and I’ll be finished, so it’s time to wrap up this blog. I had an extra 15 minutes of drip today as it was time for my bag of Zometa. That’s the medicine that helps my bones ðĶī ðĶī stay strong. I get it every three months. Even still, it seemed to go by pretty quickly. Spending time with you, my readers, has helped. Thank you for sharing my journey!
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28 (ESV)
à la prochaine…until next time!