Since we last "spoke," all of our kids have gone back to school (I have one in kindergarten and one in middle school now!), soccer is back in season, and I did some selling and fundraising at a local "bazaar."
The bazaar was a bot of a disappointment, but you never know how an event will go until you try it at least once!
Oh, and Seth and I finally got around to a few training walks!
Today, though, was a landmark day...it was Gina's 6th and final chemo!! Woo hoo!
As usual, I drove out to be with her and have some donuts :)
When she got there, I presented her with a small gift to mark the occasion, a bracelet that says "Never Alone" on the front, and "Fuck Cancer" on the inside :)
But the real surprise of the day was that I had planned a surprise lunch for after chemo, and that a few friends and family members would be waiting for us at the Mc Cormick and Schmicks up the street.
When Gina got up to pee, I let the nurses in on my secret, and they were pleased to be in on the plan.
After that, it was business as usual, although today I brought my camera and took some pictures for the blog.
With Gina hooked up, all I had to do was text everyone and let them know that we had started on time. We usually get out of there around 1ish, so I had made the reservation for 1:30.
At 11:20, Kathy started the second bag of drugs and turned up the drip. Twenty five minutes later, the bag was empty, and it was time to start the last bag. Shit! At this pace we were going to be WAAY early, and I had people who had to drive an hour to get out there!
In a panic, I followed one of the nurses (Melissa) out when she went into the hall.
"We have to slow down the chemo or we'll be way too early for lunch! Can you please ask Kathy to turn it down?!"
And so she whispered to Kathy, who then came over and slowed down the drip.
About half an hour or so later, Gina was wondering out loud why the hell it was taking so long!! :)
When Gina went to the restroom again, I ran up to thank Kathy, who remarked that no one had ever asked for chemo to be slowed down before!!
Realizing that it was now too slow, the other nurse, Georgia, caught my eye and gestured "Do you want me to turn it up?" And she did.
Not long after, my cousin Jill showed up. She was to be the one to suggest lunch at Mc Cormick's.
Chemo finished just before 1:00, we took a few more pictures, and we were on our way.
When we got to M&S, there were 3 parking spots right in front. First I pull in, then Jill, then Gina. Then when Gina looked over, there was her mother-in-law and sister-in-law in the car next to hers! Surprise!
I grabbed the bottle of champagne I had brought, and in we went. Gina saw her boss Anita and our friend Sandra sitting in the bar immediately. Surprise!
The only person missing was Gina's sister Lisa.
Then, abruptly, Gina went outside (she had gone to get her glasses in the car). I thought to myself, "I bet she's gonna see Lisa in the parking lot now!" And sure enough, there she was. Surprise!
It was a GREAT lunch. It was a nice sized group, and everyone was talkative. It had all worked out perfectly :)
Thank you again to everyone for coming out. I know it meant a lot to Gina.
Before we get to the pictures, let me tell you what's next...
Gina will still be having IV medication administered every 3 weeks well into next year. This medication, Herceptin, is not chemotherapy, however, and Gina should have no side effects from it at all. In addition, taking this med only takes an hour visit, as opposed to a four hour visit.
On October 21, Gina will be having her lumpectomy in the surgery center next to Breastlink (the place where she goes for chemo). She and I had a meeting with the surgeon, Dr. Mabry, last week, and she was very confident that a lumpectomy was a good and safe choice in Gina's case (her tumor is basically GONE!). Believe it or not, the lumpectomy is an outpatient procedure, and it will last about an hour and a half. For most women, the most painful part after surgery is in the armpit, where they have taken out the lymph nodes. The scars are small, and they disappear over time.
After surgery, Gina will also have radiation treatments. A lot of radiation treatments: five days a week for six to eight weeks!! The treatments, however, only take a matter of minutes, and they can be done at a radiology center closer to home. Basically you go in, they zap it, and you're done. Like at the dentist :) One interesting thing that you might not have known before is that when you have that many radiation treatments, they actually tattoo about 5 little dots on your chest so that it is easier for them to line everything up exactly the same every time you go in.
And finally, I hope, our walk will be here. I am hoping that Gina will feel up to going out to San Diego to cheer us on and to soak up some of the love that thousands of people have dedicated to showing women just like her. SURVIVORS.
I love you, Gi!!
And now, here's some of what chemo looks like...
The chemo room. 6 recliners and 6 visitors chairs. Gina always took the corner chair (behind me and to the left of where I am standing to take the picture). I told Gina at her first chemo in June that I would one day raise money to replace all six of the visitors' chairs. They look nice, but they are uncomfortable!!
The nurses' cart.
Gina's port. Just below the scar where it looks bruised, there is a little bump that is the port under her skin.
Kathy applies freeze spray to lessen the pain of inserting the needle.
Even though you have a port, the skin still gets pierced. The needle that goes in there is over an inch long!
They take blood before starting chemo to check cell counts. Gina's have always been good.
More blood.
Hydration.
Gina's bracelet.
First bag of chemo started...
Donuts. Custard-filled for Gina and a chocolate devil's food for me (I already ate my French crueller before I took this pic!)
Anti-nausea meds and Benadryl.
Dr. Link
Chemo bags.
Donna, the physician's assistant.
FOUR HOURS LATER...
Flushing out the port.
A painful and slow injection of Neulasta, which helps fight infection.
Nurses Kathy and Georgia
Anita, Gina, Lisa, Jill, Sandra, Pam, and Lori.
So bummed this picture came out blurry!
They made special menus!
Apparently Gina's not any better of a photographer than me!
I just discovered this picture on my camera tonight! It's from the BJ's fundraiser. Love it!
Thanks again to everyone who has shown their support for the cure!
