The day started quite early Friday - something I am totally unused to. It's strange to no longer be an early morning person. In law school I was up at 04:00 every morning reading and then going for a run - mostly so that I could goof off all day. When I worked before children I liked to be at the office before 07:00 to get in alot of work before the disruptions began. Even after I had kids, we would all get up early and spend hours cuddling before I headed into the office. (I realize this is my memory playing tricks on me b/c I'm sure the hours were also filled with dirty diapers, dressing kids, feeding kids, fighting with snowsuits and finding lost mittens - but it is the cuddles that I remember the most.)
For the last ten years or so I only slept about 4 hours a night, and so pretty much any time after midnight was fair game. I remember once sleeping 8 hours and feeling so great the next day. Imagine how nice I would have been had I gotten that much sleep regularly? Now, rolling out of bed at 08:00 after nine hours of sleep seems like cruel and unusual punishment and there are many days that I never get out of bed except to eat!
So, you can understand how difficult actually being at the hospital for 08:00 was - but it was also very exciting to be going in for the last treatment. Sydny, always ready to play hookey for the day, came with me. She's still complaining about the early hour as well. Laurie volunteered to spend the entire time with me but I managed to talk her out of it. Really, I sleep alot of the time and it's FIVE hours long. Syd was great at first - but it wasn't long before she crawled into the bed and left me only a small sliver on the edge to which I clung, hoping not to fall of and rip out my PICC line before its time.
We arrived at the hospital only minutes before 08:00 and registered. I got sent to Pod 6 - my fave pod. Syd chose the bed closest to the windows and we settled into bright sunshine. I had managed on Thursday to make about 100 mini cupcakes as a thank you to the wonderful nurses and so we took those in with us and they took them to the staff room. (there were spice cake and lemon cake ones all covered in cream cheese icing - yum! - yes, I tasted tested them!)
My first nurse was Maureen who I've had before and she is a lovely woman. We got all set up and did the vitals, etc. while Sydny played bored. As we had not had time for coffee in the morning, Syd did make a trip to Tim's for some refreshments and it was nice to have someone there to do that for me. Other than that, Syd sat in a chair beside my bed, with her feet draped over my legs, and read and asked, "Are you high yet? Are you high yet?" However, when I did get high, I had the impression that Sydny was very disappointed in my behaviour. I'm not sure what she was expecting, but other than feeling light headed and unsure on my feet, I usually try to close my eyes and rest to avoid saying anything stupid to any of the poor nurses.
One of the worst things about receiving bags and bags of fluid through IV is the frequent need for the washroom. This is how Syd managed to work her way into my bed. I returned from a trip down the hall and there she was, well ensconced. And so the day passed with good tripping, frequent trips down the hall and much negotiation and maneuvering for bed space.
Around 12:15 JMc showed up and kept us company. She was followed shortly be KB, and then brother Bill and Laurie. Laurie brought a huge bouquet of purple and turquoise balloons, including a butterfly balloon and fake champagne (aka sparkling juice, aka champagna) for the celebration. Shortly after that Mon and C showed up - which was great for Syd as she and C swim together. The party began!
Maureen came over to say good-bye and good luck as she was off on break and Cathy took over. It was wonderful symmetry as Cathy was my nurse during my first chemo treatment. She never lost her patience as she struggled to work around the boisterous crowd gathered round my bed - drinking and playing with balloons. My fellow Pod 6 residents were very gracious and patient with the ruckus, taking photos of the gang and wishing me the best of luck.
N.B.: I have video of Syd and C as well as video of the PICC removal that are both hilarious to watch. Unfortunately, Apple has removed the save video function from its Quicktime and is compelling users to purchase QuickTime 7 Pro for $30 in order to be able to save video taken on an Iphone. After 51 minutes on the phone with two of the most obtuse persons I have ever had to deal, I realize that I can't get no satisfaction from Apple. Sadly therefore, these videos (including renditions of "I'm about to lose control" and "Follow the yellow brick road") are not currently available. And I was thinking about purchasing a MAC. Hah!
After warming my arm in hot towels and heating pads, it was time for removal of that damed PICC. Cathy had assured me that it would be nothing - but I couldn't look. Syd was blissfully distracted by C which was great as Syd tends to pass out at the slightest provocation (like when I can home after surgery and she took one look at me and down she went!) I couldn't look at first but as I realized that I wasn't feeling anything at all, I slowly screwed up the courage to look. Singing ensued:) Cathy apologetically put yet another bandage on my poor arm and warned me to not let it get wet for 48 hours. She also gave me extra bandages, knowiing damned well that I was going to rip the first one off and let my skin get some air. After 14 weeks under water-proof, air tight bandages, my skin was in pretty bad shape.
There was now nothing between me and that bell. The whole gang meandered down the hallway for ringing and posing and laughter. A seriously grand way to end chemo. It took a while to get Syd out of the frame - but we managed eventually. Seriously, who's the star here?
The only hitch now is that the chemo lab sent me a letter with another chemo date...........I need to call them asap to get that sorted!
I still have to go back for shots for the denosamab clinical trial - but that's nothing compared to the 16 weeks of chemo. I go for markings on April 23 and radiation begins on May 7. My plan is to walk to the hospital and back each day (roughly 4 km each way) provided that my skin doesn't burn so badly that movement is painful. On the other hand, as it is now legal for women to be topless in Ottawa, you may just see me cycling topless to get a beautiful breeze cooling off my skin after radiation:)
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