Chemo Resumed

Up at 6:00 AM to get to UCI for a blood test before the ritual doctor appointment that precedes each chemo session. After the blood letting we set out to get some breakfast. Unwisely we heeded the recommendation of the “vampire”, foregoing our research that had identified a Starbucks and Corner Bakery as options open at “The Block” at that hour. Having “consumed” that negative lesson, we walked over to the Block to case our original choices. They were there, available, and our destinations for return visits. Pat found a few places, not yet open, that might serve as venues for targeted shopping. I’m sure that Pat will fill you in on that stuff as the treatments continue. We made a special point of assessing how long it would take us to get to her appointment from The Block. It took us about 10 minutes walking briskly with no undue haste. We made it in plenty of time to be timely for her 9:20 appointment. Of course Pat wasn’t seen until 9:40. All morning Pat had been expressing concern lest for some reason her session would be delayed. No problem, the blood work was there on time. In fact Dr. Lilly reported, the blood work taken the week before on the day she had been scheduled for her second session showed that her platelet level had risen above the level requisite for her chemo session. Needless to say, for the remainder of Pat’s treatments we will be there early on the day of the scheduled treatment for the blood test. That will be followed by breakfast at either Starbucks or The Corner Bakery. I guess which one will be the next big decision that we will have to make.

Things proceeded pretty much as they had the last time. The treatment started around 11.00 with the slow drip and ended with a series of shorter infusions. Lunch was not as good as that we had the last time, but once again the soup was good. The pre-medications took effect and shortly after lunch Pat was sleeping as the “good stuff” dripped into her veins. Pat awoke from her nap as refreshed as could be expected of one on chemo. By the time we started to watch Young Victoria it was late afternoon and the recurrent measurements of her vital signs and changes in the medication being dripped, resulted in our having to wait until we got home to see the end. We both enjoyed it very much - it was a beautiful film. Now its 9:10 and we have finished a light dinner of leftovers. Pat is reading the parts of the newspaper the she did not get to at the hospital. Her chemo-brain symptoms are pretty much gone - she seems to be her usual self. In fact she just reviewed and approved the blog which we send with our love.