I’m sitting here in one of the very comfortable infusion rooms at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center starting my third round of chemotherapy. We get started around noon and Alicia is my nurse today. First, I receive about an hour’s worth of four different medications and fluids to prepare my system for the chemo drugs. Of course the medications are not all compatible with each other so Alicia has to properly sequence them.
Mary fixed a delicious lunch of chicken salad with grapes, pineapple, and water chestnuts. Hummm, humm good! Plus a cranenergy drink that is new to me, quite good. A soft baked oatmeal cookie for desert and I’m good to go. Ed, a volunteer, arrives as we finished and offers us snacks and water. We accept two waters and two bananas for later.
My white blood cell count dropped a bit this week, which is to be
expected, to 9.0 from 12.3. Red blood cell count dropped also to below normal of 3.89 so I will be getting a B12 shot tomorrow. Hopefully that will help.
BTW, I’m using my new iPad to capture today’s experience. I guess tweeting would be more immediate, but I don’t have a Twitter account yet.
It’s 4:15 and the last of the IV medications are finishing up. Debbie, the RN with the portable IV pump and the third chemo drug took about five minutes to get me hooked up and ready to go. So for the next 96 hour “Perley, my pump” will slowly dispense my final drug of the induction phase of my treatment. Then on to the radiation phase in 3-4 weeks.
That’s all for now here at Vanderbilt. Im getting hungry. Mary and I are going home, where her Mother will have a pork chop dinner waiting. Family is great!
I’m feeling fine. Life is good.
So glad that part is behind you. Love the iPad and so grateful for the detailed updates! We think about you so much and it helps to know so much about how you’re doing! We can’t wait for another Dominoes night. I played with my neighbors last friday night and they do it a little differently. I think the way they do it is the way the directions say to do it LOL!! I’ll have to show it to you guys because it is great!
Get lots of rest! Love you,
Tiff & Joe
Hi Tiffany,
Looking forward to playing dominoes again. It has been a while!
Love you, Dick
I just was looking at your linked in site and stumbled across your blog. I was looking to see how you have been the last few years and it would appear you have your hands full. I love the new hair style! I want you to know you are in my prayers and I will check in often.
Pat
Hi Pat,
Good to hear from you. Yep, my life has taken an unexpected turn this year, but we are getting through it pretty well.
Thanks for your prayers.
Dick
Dick,
I just read your blog and learned of your news. I’m so sorry that you are having to battle cancer, but very happy that it is going well and that you are actively seeking the silver lining! I just reread The Last Lecture this week and that book, combined with your blog, serve as a good reminder to me that we should all live each day consciously as you and Mary are doing.
Please let me know if there is anything that I can do for you. I am sending positive thoughts your way…
Hi Shawna,
Thanks for your post. Maybe I will find my copy of The Last Lecture and finish reading it this weekend.
Thanks for your support. It’s always good to hear from you.
I true that all is going well with you at home and at work. I see that you’re still involved with the certification testing project.
Thanks, Dick