Post #29: An Almost As Good Day

Hello Everyone!

Today actually went very well, however she got tired more rapidly than in the past couple of days. But not too surprising considering all the activity. The day started out by going out for her blood tests. By the time we got there the waiting room was packed! Anita was about tenth in line. But, she insisted on walking in from the car! No wheel chair for her! So she walked in stages to the lab offices. Now that's a determined woman! Hopefully her lab results will be available before her chemotherapy session tomorrow. That will be at 10:30 tomorrow morning.

Her hair started really falling out yesterday and even moreso today. The medicos had told her that her hair would start falling out about 10 to 14 days after her first treatment. Well, typical of Anita, HERS didn't start falling out until 19 and 20 days after her treatment! Luckily she has been prepared for this eventuality for a long time. So she aided the process a bit by cutting off a bunch of hair and then promptly donning her wig. It looks great - just like her hair did when she had it cut short a while back - a collar length smooth dark brown modern style. It is so realistic, you'd never suspect that it isn't her real hair.

However. the real femme fatale moment came when she put on my blonde version of the same wig and sashayed into where John was studiously working at his desk. It was an hilarious moment, but truth be told, she looks good as a blonde!! So now she can really pick her look!

Today, after the blood test, she drank a "date shake" (a local delicious concoction: a milk shake made with dates), OJ with electrolyte solution, vitamins, toast - the NOW usual!!! For lunch she made herself the predicted BLT with mayo and off and on all afternoon snacked on various foods. Later on in the afternoon, the doorbell rang and a delivery guy delivered a six pack of wine - a gift from the gallery where John has his art exhibit. In a stroke of good timing, the wine was followed by a visitor and it became quite a busy afternoon.

Tonight the three us watched a movie together, the political comedy "Wag the Dog" which neither Anita or John had seen before. Mom took her goodnight morphine drops and tranquilizer and went to bed relatively early so that she will be well rested for tomorrow's session.

We are all, including Anita, looking at this next session with much less trepidation than we felt about the first session. However, the risks are still there for her. Her shortness of breath continues and I am coming to believe that it is due to a certain amount of dead bad stuff left in her lungs by the first chemo treatment's effect on the masses in her lungs. Her oncologist is aware of this issue and we all will be on the sharp lookout for any increase in this problem.

So keep sending those healing thoughts and wishes! I will try to get an update to you as soon as possible tomorrow regarding how her second session went. If attitude can win the day, Mama will do it!

Melissa