ONE DOWN ...

... five to go ...

Yes, today was my first foray into chemo-world ... not as fun as say, DISNEY WORLD ...

So, this is how it went ... and this will be short cuz I just want to go to my bed ...

We arrived at 9:45 to meet with the research nurse, Nancy ... my new BFF ... I hadn't told most of you that we had decided to participate in a clinical trial ... more about that later ... but I had to meet with Nancy again since I had had a little trouble with my blood pressure and having a low enough reading to be able to qualify for the trial.  After two tries, we were good to go ... but then it probably took another 45 minutes for her to finish registering me for the trial. 

Harold and I both were very much in favor of participating in the trial ...

first,
why NOT me ... I mean, somebody's gotta do it ...

next,
possible better treatment (all standard or above ... no placebos ... hahaha) ...

and,
definately better monitoring by another layer of nursing staff ...

and,
more testing (also a downside ...)

You don't want to know all the details of the trial ... but ... it consists of 3 groups that are to be compared for efficacy & side effects ... and the selection is blind.  So, we had prayed that I would be selected for the RIGHT group for ME.  And as it turned out, I will receive the same treatment that is commonly used and that my doctor would have recommended if I had not gone with the trial.  He actually stopped by during the treatment and commented that it may seem like it was for nothing since I am not on the experimental drugs, but that it was very helpful to be able to use my data in the study ... data that would go unevaluated if I wasn't on the study.  So I feel good about that ... and will also enjoy the other benefits.

So, we got started at about 11:45 .... a little rough at first when I almost passed-out during the IV insertion ... hahaha ... CHICKEN!  But, I'll get better at it ...

After that ... it was a breeze ... each of three drugs were administered separately through the IV ... they watched for side effects ... and I had none ...

I'm home with a table-full of assorted antinausea drugs ... and ... BONUS ... 7 days of daily injections to boost my white blood count ... THAT was a surprise!  But, Trina is thrilled!  (that stint in nursing school really gave her a taste for blood!)  She will come each evening to give me the injection.  Tiffany was offended that I didn't ask her ... to which I replied that I just didn't think I could handled any possible pent-up, latent, sibling rivalry to be transferred to the needle!

And here's my favorite part of today ... My sister Tiffany came into town last night to spend the week with me ... and she brought a present!

Tif says that cancer is like Cancun ... you can't go and not get the t-shirt!

(and, for those of you who can't find your reading glasses ... it says ...
"No, they're not real.  the real ones tried to kill me.")

hahahahahhahahahahahahahahaha ... Laughter IS the BEST medicine!

I say it every time ... and I mean it ...
I have the best friends and family in the world! 
Thank you sooooo much for your love and prayers
... I CAN feel it!