Waiting

I want to say that I'm waiting for my first caregiver to arrive, which I am, but I also consider those who are praying / thinking good thoughts / and generally wishing me well as caregivers too. But Fred arrives from San Francisco in a couple hours and he will stay with me through the chemo and transplant process. He's one of the best friends anyone can have; and it's no small help that he's an oncology nurse. After that it's Steve, then Judy, Joe, another Joe, Danita. I don't know that I can ever repay these people, but I will always be grateful for their time and efforts, and I will be ready to do what I can for them should a need ever arise.

As for me, I'm anxious and a bit scared though I'm feeling much better after a long talk with one of the transplant docs while signing consent forms. I don't think I'll be as wiped out as expected, and the real work will be in things like wearing a mask whenever I leave the house and eating food that's been cooked within an inch of losing its flavor. No more salads or fresh berries no working in the garden. It's still a little surreal that the whole thing has arrived after 9 months of waiting. So here's what's happening: tomorrow (Monday) at 1:00 I'll receive a Hickman catheter while taking a lovely anesthesia nap. Tuesday starts 5 days of pretty intense chemo - goodbye hair, hello round fat naked face. It will come back. (Sometimes it comes back different: I'm hoping to be a flaming redhead after this. NO CATTY COMMENTS THANK YOU.)

After chemo I get two days of rest; they canceled the radiation, for which I'm grateful. Tuesday the 24th is transplant day. Yes it will be bone marrow from a Republican - if you see me with a Trump for President button, assume the worst. After that there are two more days of a chemo that won't hurt the new marrow, something called Cytoxan. Then we wait for my blood counts to return (about 1-2 weeks) and pray that I don't get a fever. A fever usually indicates infection and requires a hospital admission. They (my transplant nurse, the fabulous Megan) say pretty much everyone is admitted at some point. Another $500 co-pay, oy.

Otherwise summer is coming, we're now in the upper 70's with more humid days. Not so bad. The house is clean, the basement remains a disaster. Let the fun begin!