Hello from Chemo Bay “B”
The chemo bay is particularly full today; I guess a lot of folks want to get their treatments done before the holidays?!? I have to say that I feel particularly lucky, as I am having my treatment THIS week instead of NEXT week. By next week, I should have recovered sufficiently from this week’s treatment so I should be able to enjoy Christmas. Of course, my next treatment is on 12/30, so I’m not sure how much reveling I will do on New Years Eve…
If you ever wondered if Pavlov was correct, try coming to a cancer treatment center for any extended amount of time. I was not in the building more than a couple of minutes than my stomach got queasy; the smell of this place, I think more than anything else, sets me off. Thank goodness that part of my treatment regimen is to give me an anti-nausea drug.
Otherwise, I’m doing okay. It’s been harder than usual this holiday season to really get into the swing of things. Perhaps it’s just not feeling well, in general. Perhaps it’s the thing with my father. Perhaps it’s just the fact that despite my best efforts, I have not yet been able to win the lottery. Financial issues continue to weigh heavily on me and my family; though, I did talk with my cousin Ele (who is a lawyer). She said she was willing to submit another request for review of my case with the insurance, as well as send the hospital a letter to see if they will forgive the amount of the radiation planning. Hopefully Ele will be able to help, ’cause I would just as soon not have the added financial stress of such a large outstanding bill.
The big excitement this week is that my sons are both testing for their red belt in karate. I feel guilty because they were eligible to test a couple of months ago, but Mr. Quinn, our instructor, wanted them to wait until I could be there on the blackbelt panel. I actually have a conflict for this months testing, but I made the decision to be there for my sons, rather than attend the cub scout meeting. My boys have waited long enough and I know that at least my younger son is dying to get his new belt.
I have to admit that I also feel guilty about not helping out more at the karate school. There was a time when i felt like I was one of Mr. Quinn’s “right hand men.” I was teaching 3 classes on Tuesdays and showing up at least one or two other nights a week. Now, it’s all I can do to try and get to the school once a week. I know it’s silly, but I feel like I’m letting my instructor and, just as importantly, the students down. Perhaps in the new year, I’ll be better able to help out at the school. I just hope that the students and the parents, who have been just so wonderfully supportive these last six months, know how much they and their support have meant to me.
Merle (a-oic)