christmas cheer and chemo chairs

Picture this: It's Christmas morning, but instead of unwrapping presents by the tree, I'm unwrapping IV lines in a cozy chemo chair. Talk about a plot twist, right?

A Holiday Like No Other

The hospital was eerily quiet, the usual hustle and bustle replaced with a calm serenity. The nurses, bless their festive hearts, were decked out in Santa hats and reindeer antlers, spreading cheer even as they administered my final doses of my previous month's partners in crime: Taxol and Carboplatin. Soon, I'll be enduring the Red Devil, a Chapter I am all too familiar with - yikes.

The Gift of Resilience

As I settled in for my last Taxol and Carboplatin treatment, I couldn't help but think how surreal it all felt. I decided to embrace the uniqueness of the moment. After all, what better time than Christmas and New Years to start a journey of hope and healing with my switching between my chemo companions?

Deck the Halls with Humor

The cancer center had turned the place into a mini Christmas wonderland. We had a tiny tree adorned with IV bags and tinsel, and my IV pole sported a string of twinkling lights battery operated lights. Those of us sequestered there laughed and swapped stories, turning the sterile environment into a place of joy and love.

Frosty the Snow Feet & Hands

I also got a huge bag of ice, not for a snowman or ice castle. There was no let it snow song blaring around... only a bit of let it freeze happening with my hands and feet.

I had Taxol/Carbo during my 2013 treatment and it gave me nerve issues. Instead of waiting to see how much more damage it could do, I was being preventative. This holiday was spent with my hands and feet freezing for a few hours as I slept a nice Benadryl nap.

Wrapping Up the Day

As the chemo dripped its way through my system, I felt I had the greatest gift of all: the unwavering support of my care team. My family, as well as the many nurses who are there on the holidays deserve our gratitude and love. I left the day with a big smile, knowing that this Christmas, and other holidays we take treatment on the gift that make all the difference.

Thank you to all my nurses and doctors who take care of me!

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my longest hardest day yet

Get ready boys and girls... today is a doozy. And a long post too! But before we begin on one of the toughest days I've ever done, let's recap. Mon: Irritating Onc day where I was not told about suspicious fluid around lung/heart in time to get a biopsy & I got contradicting info from his NP the week before. Tues: Spending the morning getting Immunotherapy and 2 Chemotherapies before going straight to the airport to fly to Houston and enduring long rental car lines and afternoon heavy traffic. A few more checks off this weeks list... a few more to go: Now back to my Wednesday... the Humpday I would like to forget! So, after 8 hours of cancer treatment, flying, and travel in congested Houston the day before, I didn't have much rest because we had to start Wednesday early. My husband and I decided to walk to the medical center since our hotel was close. However, it was not necessarily the easiest or closest walk - tons of traffic, intersections, and some strange indivi...

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My Second Battle with Chemotherapy They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. But sometimes, it feels like the journey to strength comes with a hefty toll. Facing the “Red Devil” a second time, I was prepared for some of the more notorious side effects—hair loss being the most talked about—but I wasn’t quite prepared for the onslaught of additional challenges it would throw my way. As the clock ticked past midnight, signaling the dawn of a new day, I found myself wide awake, grappling with the weight of a familiar foe. This is my second time undergoing chemotherapy, and the dread of the "Red Devil" has once again become a part of my reality. For those fortunate enough to be unfamiliar, the "Red Devil" is a nickname given to the chemotherapy drug Doxorubicin, known for its potent and aggressive nature. Back in 2013, the first time I faced chemotherapy, I was filled with a mix of fear and hope. I clung to the belief that the treatment would work, that the side...

TaTa Wars

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