The Home Stretch

It's hard to be motivated to post when it feels like things are going smoothly. I'm in my final full week of chemo, which is kind of fatiguing, but I can handle fatigue. Reminds me of a great line from Remember the Titans which I didn't get until I watched with subtitles.

Coach: What is fatigue?
Team: Army clothes!
Coach: What is pain?
Team: French bread!

The days have been long. 4-5 hour sessions, and I've been getting home between 2 and 4 p.m. They dropped my dosage for one day, yesterday, because my platelets were a little low. I got a new CBC today, and they have more than doubled since last week! My hemoglobin is down to 10, but that isn't an immediate concern. My gran count is still above normal. Next Tuesday, along with Bleo, I'll get a Neulasta shot AND an Aranesp shot. The poor bone marrow will be working overtime. Then, more blood tests on Thursday, and one more week of Bleo, and that's the end of my chemo! God willing, it's also the end of my treatments. Given the option, I'd rather not have the RPLND surgery, but God has taken care of me so far, so I certainly have no reason to worry.

Other fun things that have happened: I went on a mountain bike ride with my dad on Sunday, and we toodled around Balboa Park. Lots of fun...there was a concert at the organ pavilion, and went on some trails and paths and generally went at a blistering pace, meaning that if you eld your hand against the tire the entire ride, you may have developed a small blister.

Melissa and I went to a wedding on Saturday. Congratulations Lisa and Mike! It was a beautiful day, and we got to see folks I hadn't seen in some time. Also, I felt pretty hip in my suit and shaved head. Hudson stayed the afternoon with my parents, and that was fun for him. I don't think he would have enjoyed the wedding.

Monday, my dad took me to chemo. We had a wonderful chat, and then he ran an errand for me, which takes me to Tuesday. Melissa brought me in, and I had roses waiting for her at the office. She was surprised. It was a small challenge to do something for my Valentine, but she is such a sweetheart, how could I not? Many thanks to dad for helping me out. That night, Melissa's mom was staying with us to help out, and her brother came over to visit, so we had a lovely Valentine's Day dinner, but I was the only one with a valentine. Melissa's mom's was home in Mesa, and Melissa's uncle's was on business in Texas. Last night, Melissa's mom went home, and her sister flew in. Boy, are her arms tired! Anyway, she'll be here for the remainder of the week, which is nice, because she hasn't been here in over a year. Of course, we haven't been to her house in even longer.

I'm sure other things have been going on, but I've got woozy chemo brian right now. I have caught myself a couple times today completely losing track of my, um, ooh, look, pretty colors.

Tomorrow is my last full day of chemo. It has actually gone by fairly quickly. It won't be over for some time, though. Five years, in fact. That's about when I get the all clear. I'm aloud to donate blood then. Speaking of which, thanks to all who are giving. Even if I don't get it, and I hope I don't, no offense, someone else will be very happy to receive whatever you give.