One Down, 33 to Go!!

           We arrived safely yesterday afternoon at the Hope Lodge on the Clairmont Campus of Emory University.  We were greeted by Breanna and quickly accomplished paperwork and moved in.  We have a nice room on the third floor with a covered veranda just outside our door.  The evening proved to be a whirlwind of activity, meeting fellow residents, enjoying dinner courtesy of the staff, grocery shopping and generally getting accustomed to our new “digs” for the next seven weeks.  It was all kind of familiar to me from the many travels and new situations I encountered during my Air Force days for schools, training, etc.  

 

One Kitchen Bay at Hope

The Dining Room

  

Prep Areas

           

           

          And, speaking of the Air Force, I received a phone call last night from Dave B. and his wife Suzie, both friends from high school and Dave is also a retired Air Force Lt. Col.  They called to express their support, more blessings.

            We met just a few of the folks here at the lodge last night, but there’s quite a representation from around the country.  And each person’s story is different yet similar.  I continue my education into the experiences and terminology that is cancer. 

            As I lay awake last night my mind considered the idea of this being the beginning of a transformation in my/our lives.  It is readily apparent that our lives will never be the same again after this experience.  I don’t know how the changes will necessarily play out, but I am anxious to see and learn and experience.

            We were up early this morning.  Apparently, when folks have been doing this routine (I say routine, but none of these treatment plans are routine; they are all quite different.) for awhile, the tendency is to set appointments for later in the morning.  Part of the reason for that is that the shuttles don’t run until 9:00am.  So, having a 7:30 appointment, we had to drive.  It’s only about three miles, so it’s no big deal…unless you get caught in the Emory traffic going to work and school.  OMG!  It’s terrible around here from about 7:30-9:00.  So, we were out the door at 6:45 and we were in the waiting room by 7:10.

            I was thinking I was anxious about the events of the morning, but when the assistant took my blood pressure it was 125/76.  Then she led back through a very large room with bays of recliners set up for infusions.  I’m guessing the capacity of this room is 56 individuals receiving infusion at simultaneously.  I don’t know if Emory has the staff to support, but there is a lot of capacity here.

            I was taken to my assigned chair, had an IV inserted and Diana (47 years of nursing experience!!) started administering more drugs than I’ve ever wanted to have injected into me.  Benadryl, steroids, Compazine and then the chemo drugs, big bags of chemo drugs.  They pumped so much liquid into me I had to go to the bathroom several times!

My Cute Care-Giver

Lovin' this Quilt!!

            I was very, very appreciative of Joyce W.’s quilt today.  The infusion room gets really, really cold; plus, the nurses are filling you with all kinds of cold, cold liquids.  THANK YOU JOYCE!!

            But, it all went very well,  No side effects, no ill effects, no reactions.  I’m thanking God for His favor that I’ve tolerated my first day of chemo so well.  Then, this afternoon came the radiation.

            Muggy got to come into the treatment room with me initially.  There’s another big, honkin’ machine in the middle of the room (not a CT machine) and a table strategically placed so I knew at once that was to be my position.   

Particle Beam Weapon

As we entered the room, we passed all the “masks” hanging on the wall and I’m pretty sure Muggy was beginning to think this all pretty weird!  Travis brought my mask in and placed it over my head, face and chest and then he and Erica began to tighten it down.

I AM IRONMAN!!

            There was one other time in my life when I know that I stood on the precipice of panic.  When I became scuba certified I was taken down to about 25 feet.  I was kneeling on a platform and we had to open our masks to let them fill with water.  The intent was to be able to clear your mask when it accidentally fills.  When I tipped my head back to let the water in, I saw the surface of the water way too far up for me to be messing around like that and I experienced a nano-second of panic that I needed to swim for the surface, (some folks did).  It passed and so did I.

            Well, today, when the techs started tightening that mask, and believe me, they tighten it pretty securely; I experienced a similar nano-second of panic.  And then, it too was gone.  Muggy took a couple of pictures and then left the room.

            The set-up today was the tedious part.  The radiation machine began off to my left and then rotated up to a position above me.  It made two passes and I was sufficiently radiated.  The radiation only took about ten minutes.  So, now my tongue glows in the dark! 

            I met with the radiation oncologist, Dr. Higgins, and her nurse practitioner, Ulrike, after the radiation session.  I honestly think I have the prettiest radiation oncology staff in Georgia!  

We discussed that all these treatments are 100% necessary because as sure as there was cancer in the tonsil and the lymph nodes, there is still microscopic cancer in the area.  The radiation and chemo will ensure that the rest of the cancer is eradicated.

            We had a very fun rendezvous with the Schwartskopf Family from our church.  They spent the day in Atlanta at the Fernbank Museum and then met us at the Smoothie King place just off Moreland on Caroline.  Smoothie Kings are SO GOOD.  It was really fun to see the family!

            And Erick showed me what my soon to be future in terms of hairstyles looks like!!

            All in all, it was a rather quick and easy day.  I know more challenging times lay ahead.  I met MaryAnn in the dining room tonight.  This is her third week.  She said for the first two weeks she thought this was all a piece of cake; now, things are becoming much more challenging.

            But, we are in good hands from the medical staff at the different treatment facilities.  And, we know that God is in control and we in His hands and under His grace.

            Thanks for reading!