In celebration of my last chemo, today was my first official outing without my "new hair" as Kile calls it. We had a little fun with the thingy before I put it in it's box. I know, scary how much Kile looks like me. My oncology office was a safe test zone since half of the patients wear hats or nothing at all, though they never saw me without my "hair" until today. One of my nurses actually said, "Wow, cute hair! When did you get it cut?" She's been my pre-doctor nurse since September, just didn't realize I was wearing a wig almost the whole time.
It's really amazing how quickly two-thirds of a year can go. I can't believe I'm to the point that 268 days ago I didn't honestly believe I would see, at least not in apparent good health. Fortunately, I'm alive, I'm WELL (to think that phrase used to just roll of my tongue when people asked how I was... I think about it a lot more now!), and amazingly enough I'm finished with chemotherapy.
My last session went well. It happened to be the clinic's Daffodil Day (an American Cancer Society ritual which is pretty cool.. .the whole place was filled with the yellow buggers), so everything was very festive if not a bit more chaotic than normal.
My labs were decent, white cells down a bit, but still much better than my Girl In the Plastic Bubble days. Meeting with my doctor went well, also. He's cleared me for resuming "normal" activities (like working out in a facility or taking yoga classes) as of a couple weeks from now, going to the dentist (yippie), and scheduling meetings with a plastic surgeon to "finish up." He confirmed that my CT looked basically fine, a little more density around the expander, but he expected that. He did mention I'll need to return to Mayo at the end of the month to meet with my oncologist there, who would also review my CT. He thinks I'll need to be heading up there once or twice a year, but I will still be able to do the majority of my testing in Cedar Rapids. The next appointment there is for a chest x-ray (to make sure nothing has developed in my lungs) in late May.
Ironically, he missed work last week because HE was stuck in the same "hotel" that I had been with pneumonia. We had an exciting conversation about the charm of 4:30am labs and 6am trips to radiology for chest x-rays (the only perk being the warm blankets they give you upon return).
Chemo was no big deal, although my nurses were extra charming. I was apparently successful in Chemo 101, the primary lesson being to make the nurses love you -- they brought me a DOZEN salmon colored roses (which they had to pretend were from someone mysterious so the other patients didn't get jealous). So incredibly sweet... and totally unexpected. I got bubbles and the kazoo version of "Pomp and Circumstance" as they unhooked my IV. I really will miss those girls. In a different time, different place, we all probably would have been friends!
Eric and I spent the evening finalizing our packing as we're planning to head out of town tomorrow after work. We'll spend the night in Milwaukee and then fly out to Las Vegas early Saturday morning.
I still can't believe it's been 268 days. (Nor can I believe I counted them.) This really has been an amazing experience. I know I've learned at least that many things about myself in this relatively brief time. I'm so grateful for the support of all of you... just looking at our blog counter even if there aren't any additional comments reminds me that I matter. Enough mushy. Catch you on the flip side...
Carpe diem. - Trela
