Just when I thought chemo wasn't a good time Lizzy (McGovern) O'Brien makes chemo on Monday, August 24 a wonderful memory that I will never forget.
What did she do you may ask to make it so memorable? Keep reading to find out!
The infusion center (chemo) was running very behind so I had Kelly (awesome nurse) paged so I could pop in and see her about some headaches I have been having and about the sties on my right eye, which was healing. Lizzy must be my lucky charm because we got to see Kelly AND Dr. Gradishar.
Meeting with Kelly and Dr. Gradishar went well. They were both happy to see that my eye was healing, but both were unhappy to hear about my headaches. While neither of them thought that the headaches were signaling that anything was wrong they agreed better to be safe than sorry so a brain MRI was scheduled for Monday, August 31 at 8:00am. I will post the results as soon as I have them.
Unfortunately, there was much discussion about whether or not I would need one more cycle (three treatments of chemo) before a follow-up CT. Lizzy and I both came away from our appointment not sure about the final number of treatments that I needed. Sometimes when I'm talking to someone and I either have no clue what they are saying or lose interest and completely zone out I think it's because of what the drugs are doing to my brain. It made me feel better to know that Lizzy didn't understand what the Dr. and Kelly were talking about either.
Back in the waiting room Lizzy and I were just talking and all of a sudden this man walks in and I swear we both almost fell off our chairs with laughter. Imagine this - man walks in wearing a Panama Jack type hat, Tommy Bahama shirt, linen khaki colored baggy pants and is talking to the receptionist as if he is getting ready to order a Margarita. Then we see his companion who (I'm not kidding) in wearing shorts and a shirt that reminded me a a boat captain. We just looked at each other and could not contain our laughter. I mean they seriously both looked like they were getting ready to do the Limbo on the Lido Deck. I don't think that the woman sitting across from me, who was perplexed that the infusion center was running so far behind found our laughter all that amusing, but if she had just stopped in her anger to look around and find the humor in the people and things that were going on she and her friend might have been laughing as hard as me and Lizzy.
Finally, we were called into the infusion center. Laura (awesome chemo nurse)got to the bottom of the 6 treatments (2 cycles) or 9 treatments (3 cycles) then CT Scan confusion and well the answer is 9 treatments (3 cycles) then CT Scan. While I was really looking forward to a break after the next two treatments I guess if the drugs are working keep em coming. Bottom line I'll be done with chemo the first week in October. I don't think that my Christmas wish of hair, not peach fuzz, but hair will be granted....oh well...hopefully I will still get that Cabbage Patch Doll and Barbie Dream House (OK I'm cracking myself up).
Much to my dismay Lizzy and I got the bad chemo room that I have mentioned before. It is an interior room with three chairs (so three patients). Thankfully there were some light hearted patients in the room with us because Lizzy and I were about to be very loud.
Lizzy set the chemo bar high and let me tell you I would not want to go to chemo with me after her because Lizzy brought props - yes props. She brought two photo albums/scrapbooks, our senior year Nazareth yearbook, our 8th grade graduation autograph book, Nazareth Carnation Day cards (Naz Alum you know you remember), Appreciation Day cards (these were from second grade and I didn't even remember Appreciation Day until she reminded me) and no joke a homemade card that I gave to her when we were kids. I mean c'mon I would never have thought to do something so awesome.
The photo albums were great. I love looking at the people that I thought were SO important when I was younger and realizing that I picked some pretty awesome friends because those people are still in my life.
The 8th grade graduation autograph book was amazing because while I wrote like an 8th grader (one who swore a lot - I blame my older brothers) everything I wrote I still believe today.
The Naz Carnation Day cards brought back so many great memories. For those of you that didn't attend Naz -we had "Carnation Day" where you could send other students a carnation and a note for I believe $1.00. Again, everything I wrote on Lizzy's Carnation Day card is still true today.
The card I made for her was very pretty (not at all - I can't draw), but the fact that she still has it is very cool.
She is not going to be happy about this but it has to be said.....
There was a comment I made in one of the books along the way that said "you have been there through thick and thin." I can honestly say that when I wrote the comment I never knew how thick it would get. Lizzy is still in the thick with me. She is always standing beside me, holding my hand, giving me a hug and always lifting my spirit. We have been friends for so long that I don't remember a time when she hasn't been in my life. I could not get through from day-to-day if it weren't for her support.
I thank you and I love you Lizzy!
B/F/F
Maria
No comments:
Post a Comment