Chemo Rounds 7-9

There is a good chance if you're reading this post, you've read the previous two about my chemo adventures!

Fun fact: before every round of chemo I have to have lab work done to ensure my blood cell counts are OK, and make sure I am healthy enough to receive chemo.  There were a few times some of my counts were border-line but I still received treatment.  Unfortunately, however, on 12/22 when I went in to receive treatment, that was not the case.  My white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets were all in too low of range to get treatment. In addition I was running a low grade fever (bad news if you are on chemo), and had a cold.  Hurray for being immune-compromised!  I had my work holiday luncheon that day, so fortunately because I did not have treatment, I was able to make the entirety of my holiday party! In addition, Tyler had come with me, and was able to go to work and be paid for half a day!  (Which was nice since FMLA hours are unpaid, so my checks are scary!)

So, round seven was postponed because of my lab work.  I still posted a photo to social media explaining, and rather than a photo from an infusion room, it was a photo of my holding a gift I'd received in the mail along with an explanation that I wouldn't be receiving treatment that day.  Luckily, through the entirety of treatment, this was the only time I had to skip. 

Round seven came the following week.  Beth came with me again, and Gabby, my other sister-in-law was on winter break and decided to also come!  The lovely Marsha sat in our infusion room with us, and Beth had met her previously so it was actually a really great time.  Gabby asked a lot of questions about our diagnosis process, as she was getting ready to write a college entrance essay.  As per usual, I posted a photo to social media, but asked Beth and Gabby to be in the photo with me.  Marsha took the photo for us.  

Side note: the previous round of chemo which had been 2 weeks prior, Marsha was also with me.  My mom had been there that round and was able to meet both Marsha and Marsha's mom.  Have I mentioned how much I adore Marsha?  She's hilarious, fun, and it just feels good to be around her.

Round seven was a carbo week.  I was expecting to feel pretty down over the weekend, but by some miracle the weekend was not half bad!  It was the best I had felt after a carbo infusion since chemo had begun!  Happy New Year!

If I am being completely honest, I can’t remember much about round eight.  I am taking that as a good sign.  Things I do remember:  Shelly (MIL) came with me, my hat matched the infusions chair I sat in which made for an awesome social media photo (important things), I received Reiki and fell asleep during it, and my friend Laura named one of her chickens “Brave Betty” in honor of me.  It was only a taxol week, so I assume the side effects were minimal.  Honestly, the Reiki probably relaxed me so much that there wasn’t much TO remember about that day.  Sometimes that is okay.

A few days before the ninth round of chemo I registered for the Relay for Life walk/run for the American Cancer Society.  I added this to my social media post and asked for donations or for friends to join my team.  A few donated, a few joined my team.  As of today the walk hasn’t happened.  It’s in two weeks.  This was a taxol only week, and over the weekend I was tired but overall felt half-way decent.  The other Beth Gramz came to this round of chemo with me again, and honestly it was a lot of fun just hanging out with her and talking.  It seems strange to think, but Beth and I have discussed how despite this being a scary situation, we’ve grown a lot closer from it.  It’s been pretty great becoming more than just “family”!  I would say we are truly good friends now. 

There is still time to donate to my American Cancer Society Relay for Life walk on 4/6/19:  http://main.acsevents.org/goto/bravebetty

Thanks for reading… more to come!