Good morning guys, and thanks for coming back by to visit with us today.
Deb received her first chemo treatment yesterday. It lasted 3-1/2 to 4 hours. We thought initially it was going to just be a couple hours, but this wasn’t the case. She went through this very well.
No sickness, thank God, and even this morning she’d had no nausea so far. She looks good, and says she feels good, so boy I’m relieved too!
She is pretty red-faced and even her arms are flushed, but they told us the steroids would cause this and not to be alarmed. I asked her if she’d been out drinking all night, and she assures me she wasn’t. Also if she’d have left after I went to bed, I’d never known she was gone anyway.
I made her let me smell her breath though, just to put my mind at ease. She passed this examination with flying colors, although I did mention to her that she may want to run on up and brush her dern teeth!
Now let me say once more how much we both appreciate those that have Deb in their hearts, and prayers. We can’t express in words, what this means to us. Thank you guys again, and believe me when I say you all are in our prayers as well.
What a blessing you have been to us!
I also know that unfortunately too many people today are in the same predicament that Deb and I find ourselves in. In the same breath, too many people have lost loved ones to this dreaded disease. To all of you in both categories, our hearts goes out to you all.
For all of you who were like Deb and I, we simply have never been around this disease to speak of, once you do start being around it some, it truly is an eye-opener, to say the least. Heart wrenching as well. We’d been so fortunate to not have been around this prior to Deb’s ordeal.
We’d heard of it, and had acquaintances who’d had it, but never, ever a close family member or friend. I take that back. My Dad was diagnosed with prostrate cancer 10 years ago, and it was found very quickly. He opted for the seed implant, and has never had another problem with it again.
So this experience was very close to home, but wam, bam, it was done and over with, and no recurrence at all…it was history!
Well, our eyes have now been opened, and boy how they’ve been opened!
The children. This is what tears my heart out, seeing the children that are dealing with this. Little fellers who haven’t even had the opportunity yet to see what life really is about. But what brave little people they seem to be.
I know I don’t like what Deb’s under going one bit, but you have to wonder what those little guys are having to go through, and how serious they have to be in their lives, to battle this disease, instead of enjoying their lives as it was intended…as kids.
This is tough on Deb and I both, and I guess the most because we don’t understand what has happened in those little guys bodies, so bad, so drastically, so soon in their young lives? God bless them.
Yesterday was both Deb and my first visit to a room where chemo treatment was given. What a trooper my Deb is.
Mentally, she’s at the top of her game. She understands the diagnosis, she understands the possible outcome, and she understands that we feel we’re doing the absolute best we can in regards to her treatment.
She understands the importance of our lifestyle change in regards to eating and exercise, and what a role our Lord plays in all this as well. It is His decision of Deb’s outcome, but we’re doing all we can as well, and Deb really likes this Doctor.
So personally, medically, and spiritually, she feels she’s holding the winning hand here and yesterday started her “kicking some butt” regime! We’re ready, cocked and loaded! Bring it on!
Back to the treatment room…there are no children in this room, but just walking in and taking a quick look around was a shocker to me. So many were undergoing this treatment, and I didn’t hear the first one complain.
It’s almost as if you’re all part of the same team, and the ones we visited with were very supportive to Deb and I both. They talked about their experiences, and were giving Deb pointers and input as to what to do or what to expect. It was very beneficial to us both.
The nurses were all just super as well. Very, very nice, and open to any and all questions.
Since this was Deb’s first experience, the nurse assigned to us sat with us discussing almost anything and everything we might could think of to ask her.
As a matter of fact she called Deb this morning just to check on her. I thought this very considerate on her part. Deb told her she was flushed, and honestly her arms and face were red as beets, but she told Deb this will pass, and probably by tomorrow.
Well, the nurses and some of the other patients thought I was a nut, but I think I put a smile on most everyone’s face. I know I had one on mine regardless of what the rest of the bunch thought. But again, I’ve lived my entire life under the strong belief that laughter is indeed the best medicine, and besides that…I’m too old to change now!
I had fixed Deb a light breakfast before we went, scrambled eggs and toast, and we didn’t know for sure what to get her for lunch. She had just started the chemo at lunchtime, and I asked her what did she feel like eating?
Hey, did ya’ll get the part about ME fixing Deb a light breakfast? Just making sure you all caught that part! Man, I’m a good guy, huh?
She just said she wasn’t sure how her body was going to react to the treatment, so just pick her up some crackers, and chips, and she’d just pick at them as the urge hit her.
They had told us once we got back home to really pay attention to her temperature, if it gets to 101, then call and speak with someone, as the chemo really runs the immune system down.
So I told her I was going to run to a Walgreens, get a thermometer, and I’d grab her some snacks then.
I picked up a digital and a regular thermometer, because I thought I could use one to check the other with, and know for sure I was getting a true reading.
Deb said I was a nut, but I told her I was just going to be sure in regards to the readings, and she’s lucky she wasn’t her Mama! Cause if so, I probably wouldn’t have bought her ONE, much less two! Well…she got the dern message then!! See, I still wear the britches in this household!
Once I got back, I handed her the bag of snacks and she was digging through them. She had a bag of the Cheez-It crackers, and a bag of chips, and a garden magazine I threw in for good measure.
She asked the lady next to her if she’d like any, and the lady told her no, that she’d eaten right before coming in, and that she’d be finishing her treatment shortly.
Anyway Deb gets to fiddling around in that sack and goes, what is this?? I said I don’t know, what are you talking about? She just says there’s something else in this sack, and to hold on, she’ll see what it is.
Then she pulls out a Chunky.
I just hollered out, “Well where in the world do you think that dern thing come from?” Actually I’d meant to eat it on the way back to the Doctor’s office, but had a couple phone calls, and I’d forgotten about it!
She just shakes her head and starts laughing. You see, we’d kinda made a vow, kinda’ being the key word here, to stop eating very many sweets. I was caught red-handed!
You know what they are, right? The little square, chocolate candy bar with nuts and raisins. Good Lord, I love those little things. I bet I could eat five in a sitting. They are so good! Next time you guys get one, buy two, and eat one for me!
Well, there’s Deb’s update for you guys, and once more thank you for all your prayers, and support for her!
You have a great weekend, and God Bless!
As Deb likes to say, “Keep a smile on your face, and one in your heart!”
Dub and Deb
Still rooting for you, Deb. Take a deep breath and feel the love, both from your e-friends and from the Good Lord above!
Deb and Dub, What great news. I’m so glad your chemo is going okay Deb. I may not write often, but I read these and pray every day for you both, and all your family. Don’t think I’ve let up one little bit. You are in my heart and thoughts continually! And especially when I look out on our garden or have to pull those dern weeds!!! Dub, I agree, your sense of humor is a gift, that lightens so many loads…hope you made new friends in the chemo room with it, and it helps heal their illness. God Bless you both!! More later!! Hugs!!!!
Hey, guys!! So far so good–and if ya’all keep the laughter goin’ I just KNOW, along with the good Lord’s arms wrapped around you, that the outcome will be more joyous than you can imagine. I thank that sense of humor, and my Maker, that I am 19 years Scott-free and just know you will soon be able to start counting years of “free”dom, too!
Happy for you and holding your hand from far, far away.
Pretty scary stuff is it not? But once you get a handle on it and recover your senses and control of your own mind and body you can move forward.
You have made good decisions guys. It ain’t a piece of cake, as it goes on it could become a walk in the park. You just get used to the routine. One of my favorite sayings when I went through it.
Welcome to Phase II. Phase III is recovery.
Lots of us survivors out here that know what you are going through.
Mississippi