Mom and Dad arrived at Freodert at 6:00 this morning for blood work. Her white cell and platelet counts were normal. But, her vitals were poor. It was soon determined that Mom was dehydrated so they hooked her up with some fluids. Mom got very discouraged, thinking that they were not going to be able to proceed with treatment. Then, her nurse said something that made a profound impact. It was a very simple statement that we have all heard before. But today it took on a whole new meaning for Mom.
She said, "Don't worry. You will get your treatments today. This is just a little bump in the road." And, she was right. In fact, because they started the fluids immediately, Mom actually was finished with her marathon chemo by 3:15 and whisked off to radiation. By 3:30 she was on her way home.
When I saw mom after work, I was surprised at how well rested she looked. The past few days she has been very drained. And, the first day of chemo is always tough. Today she seemed much more energetic and was so happy to have been able to eat a turkey sandwich at lunch. (The only thing she has been able to get down lately are shakes. So, eating the sandwich was a major victory!)
I expect that Mom is going to have some challenges this week. But, she has some wonderful things to look forward to. First, Friday and Monday the radiation department is closed. So, after Thursday, Mom will have four days of rest from treatment. Second, her last day of scheduled radiation is Tuesday. Then she will have at least three weeks to rest before reporting back for more tests. Finally—and this is a big one—her new bluebird house may have tenants! They may not be blue, but they are definitely birds. Hey, you can't have everything, right?
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