#6 delivered,10 days to deal with it, YAY

Here's the update that went out by email this week,

Hello friends and family.  It's been a busy week!  First and foremost, in spite a two day delay again, waiting for the blood levels to get healthy enough to treat, on Friday, April 20, we finally accomplished Treatment #6.  It was an interesting feeling, a turning point and on to stage 3 of this cancer treatment: radiation therapy.  When they informed me my PICC line could also be removed I was almost nervous, that was the tap line for chemo and bloodwork for the past few months.  But, "TAKE IT OUT" was my option and now I feel strangely set free... how bizzare.  I was thankful that Doug could once again be released from his day at school to come with me to this last treatment.

So, now it's the standard three week cycle to allow the chemo to do it's job, (the familiar "dentist dust" mouth taste has arrived even quicker this time around) then it's a last Dr's appt with Dr. Pitz and nurse Linda, before he turns me over to Radiation Oncologist Dr. Cooke  and nurse Barb, to monitor and care for me during Radiation.  Radiation will likely start after the long weekend in May and go for six weeks, putting me at about the last week in June for completion.

As always, I've felt well cared for by my medical team and supper(intentional mis-spell) well cared for again by our community of friends and family.  Thanks so much the for relevant and unique ways you continue to accompany us as a family on this journey.

We had my Dad and Ruth in for a visit this past week and it was GOOD!  Derek is back from Kelowna with great new skiing skills and good stories of learning how to live with four room-mates in their condo.  He's expressed appreciation for "a cat to pet" "nice sharp knives to chop veggies" and a "frying pan that your eggs don't stick in".  The small practicalities of life, newly appreciated.  HE's now looking for work, hopefully to be found soon.

  

Michael started a job in lawn care this week, he's excited about doing outside work and not having to tap his creative brain for a while.  His 3rd year architecture year has been good and he's looking forward to fourth year and degree next year.  

Lindsey is away on a 10day Choir Tour with Westgate, she's discovered Akron, PA, New York City, Washington, Elkhart IN, Chicago and whole lot of bus time.  We're looking forward to her arrival home on Monday night.

Jonathan is into practices for Flag football and looking forward to riding his bike to school next week since the weather is supposed to turn to spring again.

Doug is pulling long hours teaching (as usual) and coaching Badminton (lots of after school running around to practices) 

So there's a picture of our past month.  We're looking forward to outside time and I'm experiencing what "chemo-hair re-growth" looks and feels like.  It's fuzzy and irregular and "aack" kind of white...apparently that might not last...