Chemo Round One

Well, getting it isn’t as bad as I expected. The Barcolounger Lounge is really set up very compassionately. They are in small cozy rectangles of 6 or 7 loungers each that encourage interaction among the patients and their companions. Each Lounger is equipped with a small TV with all the cable stations, there are really good snacks and drinks available, and the new people each got a lap quilt made by volunteers plus a fleece lap robe from a drug company. Those were needed. They keep it cold in those rooms. Lots of personnel around from the social service ladies to the nurses and aides. It was well staffed and we got more handouts and info than we really cared to know.

All ages. A young man of 22 was the youngest in our group. He has to come every week for Hodgkins disease but was sent home yesterday because his white blood cells were low. His father was very talkative about the adjustment the family was enduring. The oldest was in her eighties (if not nineties) who had her son and granddaughter with her but was too busy playing crosswords to give them or anyone else much mind. One lady had a feather headband that was just too crazy but it went with the rest of her outfit. “E-Bay Head to Toe,” she announced. Another who kept a bit aloof from the rest of us with designer shoes and purse and gold climbing up her arms...I think she was still in shock about being there.

Aunt Jan watched Gavin while we were six hours at the Cancer Center. We came home to cheerful flowers that perked us up. So much has come in from friends and family. Tess keeps her files of cards close at hand and reads and rereads them. They are so appreciated.

Tess was fine yesterday. Appetite good even with the metallic taste and went for a short walk. Today she has been down almost all day with flu-like symptoms. Very sleepy and poor appetite. She has been diligent about the fluids and food and we’ll walk tonight. All in all, pretty much what they told us to expect but tough on the kids who went from hale and hearty to boring and uncomfortable and unfun plain old sick.

Gavin and I went to the park and got our workout. Jamie got the yard watered and did a real workout. Quiet day.