chemo starts tomorrow

[onethatcares]

and my wife seems to be in very good spirits. We go for orientation at 8 a.m Florida time and she'll be there for about 4 hours according to our oncologist. He's discussed the case with the surgeons and they feel she is a good candidate for beating this damn thing.

All the prayers and thoughts have been a Godsend. Thank you all so very much, especially Solly Mack and slipslidingaway : .

Please take a minute to hug those near you.

[Ruby the Liberal]

1. Best wishes tomorrow

Make sure that she gets plenty of rest when you get home! If she is anything like me, she will try to fight it and stay awake, but the body heals during its downtime - and chemo is incredibly draining.

Here's hoping for a smooth outcome tomorrow!

[Solly Mack]

2. Best wishes and please know you will both be in our thoughts!

I got great advice from the people in this group. They are caring and compassionate.


to you both.

[onethatcares]

3. thanks, the doc says

she should be ok on thursday and friday but the weekend will be a wash out or sleep in, whichever you chose. She's to have chemo every other week which should make some of the symptoms drag out

I'll post what I learn as it progresses. If anything it may help someone else out. We're all on this big blue marble together, it's a shame so many people don't realize it.

Love ya.

[Hoyt]

4. Please keep us informed of her and your progress. Take care.

[slipslidingaway]

5. A positive attitude goes a long way ...

and I wish you both the easiest possible journey in the weeks ahead.

[Uben]

6. It's a journey, stay strong

...and make sure you take especially good care of yourself so you can be a good care-giver. It can be tough at times.

Best wishes!

[slipslidingaway]

8. Hope you are doing well and have found some peace and strength :) n/t

[Uben]

9. Thank you

I have found some peace and strength. I am doing pretty good. The past couple of years have been tough, emotionally, but I have established routine that keeps me humming along. Still feels as if I am waiting for something, don't really know what. Maybe that's the norm.
Truth is, I've spent more time worrying about others well being than my own. Youngest daughter is still struggling to land a good job, best friend finally found some employment, albeit not great , but he can survive on it. Parents are doing better at this point than anytime in the past couple of years, so they are not requiring as much assistance.

Its fall, and at my place that means leaves, lots of leaves! I'm a yard guy, and I plant rye grass every winter so I have a pretty green lawn when everything else is dead and brown. Lots of work, but that keeps me going.

[slipslidingaway]

10. Appreciate the update and glad things are becoming easier ...

and you have found things to keep you busy, even if that means worrying about others. Just do not neglect yourself!

I can only imagine the idea of waiting for something, I'm sure you spent countless hours waiting. For now it sounds like you'll spend many hours working outside and that can be a wonderful thing IMO.



Let us know how you are doing when you can.

[slipslidingaway]

7. Check in and let us know how you are doing when you have time, thanks. n/t

[onethatcares]

11. I am OK

my wife, well if you were to see her today, you would think, "that woman isn't sick at all", but she tires quickly and has a bit of a time keeping up with the day.

I guess it's what the start of this does. So far the doctors have seen it to a tee, chemo on thursday, up friday, starting down on Saturday and then the hit the bottom on Sunday. This is all acceptable to her and me. She wants to keep working in order to keep our insurance and to qualify for FMLA and both short term and long term disability. She's one hell of a strong woman, I don't think I'm cut from the same cloth.

Her blood work two weeks in is holding well and within parameters, she'll be tested again this Thursday and as long as they stay stable, she'll get her chemo again.

I could not imagine going through this without a sidekick, no freaking way and I pity anyone that has no one to share the dark thoughts with. I am writing a side novel in my mind about how your world comes to a stop as far as long term planning goes and what you do to
keep your spirits up no matter. It's an amazing thing to deal with.

On a great note, our grandson came down when he heard about this and is taking a lot of the weight of housecleaning, etc off both of us. FOr a 19 year old he's a gem, growing into a good man. He's one of our treasures.

You folks fighting this damn disease and you folks helping others fight are great.

[slipslidingaway]

13. Thanks and ...

I think it is a bit reassuring that the docs have so far been able to chart her path forward, at least you are not totally in unchartered waters.

As my sister told me in the early days of our journey, you find out quickly who is in your lifeboat and who is not. It can be a surprising journey to find out who is in your lifeboat! Your grandson sounds like a real gem

Wishing your wife well this week with her counts and chemo ... one step at a time.

[wordpix]

12. I just finished chemo & it wasn't as bad as I thought

I got a load of supplements recommended by a naturopath that helped, I think. Also went on and am still on an organic diet 100%. I wasn't working and that helped too b/c in middle and later rounds I had problems and no employer would have liked the amount of time I would have taken off. The fatigue was incredible.