More Infusion

On Friday September 19th, we did the third infusion of chemotherapy.  Same drill: access the port and take blood for testing.  Once the go-ahead is given we start the first 1000 ml of hydration dripping fast, but it still takes an hour. Some anti-nausea med is dripped in.   First bag of chemotherapy med.  Second bag containing a different chemo drug.  Last bag of hydration.  I visit the restroom with the IV pole at least three times during all this dripping. The port is de-accessed and we are free to go.  

Oh, and I should mention that Kath bought me a cinnamon roll from the restaurant at the Huntsman Cancer Institute.  It was yummy, but I've had better.

This time Dr. Gilcrease visited us at the chair.  Had his own questions about how we're doing.  That always throws me, because how do you answer this one when you have cancer?  My answer was pretty well, for someone with cancer.  He listened to my heart and lungs and answered our questions.  He went through the detailed results of the base-line CT scan and allayed fears that it was already showing up elsewhere.  Kath asked him about a new therapy stimulating the immune system to fight cancer cells.  That will be the emphasis of a clinical trial that will start within two months and we will be invited to participate.  It is promising -- but is still unproven for my type of cancer. We're excited and I keep reminding myself that even with bad statistics, there has to be some who make up those low percentages of survivors.

The ward brings a meal on the day before chemo and on chemo day.  We have lots of kind neighbors providing this food that is too much to eat all at once, so there are leftovers.  Thanks, neighbors and friends for being part of our support team.

Today we participated in the re-dedication of the Ogden Temple.  It was a nice spiritual experience and we had the extra blessing of being with Julie, Dee and Aaron in the temple (an extension of the temple in our own stake center).

I also got the first interview accomplished with our bishop to renew my temple recommend that expires at the end of the month.  He's a really great man and I like him a lot. The renewal should be complete Tuesday evening.

I'm staying positive, but feeling tired.  I am doing all I can to stay active and so far have been successful.  We take walks around the block, sometimes in the dark, but it all counts.  It is great to have so many people who are part of a large team supporting me and my family in this hard time.  Thanks so much for that support.  I cannot adequately express how much it is appreciated.