Saturday, September 1, 2012

3rd Alimta Treatment

I had my 3rd Chemo with Alimta Friday the 31st of August. I take Dexamethasone, a potent steroid to counteract a side effect, namely a rash, the day before and the day after the Chemo. The nurse also injected a dose of it before the Chemo. I told her that after Chemo I usually am awake for 24-30 hours. She said that I was lucky. Lucky? Yes, she added, most people are up for 3 or 4 days! Mercy!
I also told her that I was thinking of asking my Oncologist about stopping treatment for awhile. She noted that he probably wouldn't okay it unless I was having problems. My blood counts are very good and I am tolerating it well, so he would probably want me to stay on it. I am afraid that if I made the decision unilaterally that it might be harder to get back on it...or, God forbid, the cancer come roaring back and I would be having to play a lot of "catch-up"! So, I will discuss this with my Doctor, I trust him and he is always honest and very helpful to me. I will abide by his advice.
I got to Chemo at 8am and was out of there by 1030am. A man from my church, Bill, gave me a ride and stayed in the room with me. He got a kick out of me entertaining the nurses and staff as I entered the Ward. I made a napkin rose, balloon, gave out stickers, showed off my all-day oreo and JoJou the mouse and gave out over-sized ten-dollar bills.  Oh yes, and I gave them all kisses---Hersey Kisses!





When I left Chemo, I went to visit Gary and Susan for awhile. Susan was off with Linda working on my new Clown outfit. I visited Gary for awhile and then went home and got something to eat and visited with my wife. Then, about 530pm I went to Polo's Taco Stand and took some balloons with me. I was in clown character but there weren't any customers. I visited with Polo for awhile and then, as I was leaving, 2 families pulled up. I gave a little girl a yo-yo balloon and some stickers and I gave a boy and girl with the other family an alien sword and princess wand. I made a napkin rose for the father and told him to give it to his "esposo". He thanked me and said that he would be calling me soon to do a birthday party for his daughter in a couple of weeks!
After I left the Taco Stand I headed to a new business in town called Penny Lane Art Gallery and Coffee Shop. Susan and Linda were going to be there and also a blues singer named Doug Hart. When I got there, he was just starting his set. I went to sit with Linda and Susan and a friend of theirs, also named Susan. We all went to High School together. I didn't want to detract from the singer, but I very surreptitiously approached a young couple and gave away a yo-yo balloon and over-sized ten dollar bill and took their pictures with my Polaroid sticker camera. Then, Susan pointed out that their were a couple of kids behind our table, so I showed them JoJou the Mouse and they told me that it wasn't real. I told them it was and I stuck to my story. Then I made an alien sword and princess wand for them and took their pictures with my sticker camera.
I also gave a yo-yo balloon and ten dollar bill to an older couple at another table. Bruce E was at the Cafe and we sat and visited and listened to Doug Hart play several more songs. He was very good.
It was getting to be about 8pm so I decided to get Home. I had something to eat, i.e. two sausages, spinach, fritos a SoBe, graham crackers and a chocolate bar (Hamlet with peanuts). Then, my wife and I watched some Hannity and then Inspector Lewis on PBS (that we taped a few nights ago).
We watched the 700 club earlier in the day and a segment was about a young man that was a magician and contracted Acute Leukemia and it was really "blowing-up" his body. He called on the Lord to show himself and do something. Remember, this guy was a magician. He didn't ask for a healing, per se, he asked the Lord to show him his might, a miracle. The doctors had told him that his condition was rare and only 9 million people might be considered for a match for a bone marrow translplant. They later said they found only 16 matches and could only contact 10 of them !  Then, when they were able to convince just one of them to participate, he had the transplant. The doctors then called his wife out of the room and told her that it might not work and that he would go downhill very fast. Well, it worked! Praise the Lord !
I am going to go to Church tonite (Saturday) and I would like to go Sunday morning, but I know from experience that my Chemo usually kicks in with a lot of fatigue on Sunday near the afternoon so I don't usually manage it. But, I always try. I just am so thankful that the Lord has been through all of this with me and given me the strength and truth to manage it.
When you surrender your soul to the Lord and trust him, he will bring you blessings and Love beyond all understanding.
Life is Good...Life is an Adventure !!!

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