Chemo Round 4. Day 2.
I had no nausea today, and other than needing a 2-hour nap after lunch, my energy level was great, too.
All in all, not a bad day. I was able to go to the beach this morning, and Clara came over to meet Steeve this afternoon.
Thank you to all who have been praying for me.
Round 4. A quick recap in pictures.
A quick update in pictures.
I’m tired, and I have so much nausea tonight, so this update will be quick.
We arrived at Zimmer before 7 a.m.
Check in and then off to the port lab to access the port and do labs.
Lab results took longer than expected, and I obsessively checked my watch for updates.
I texted friends as I did laps around the Cancer Center to burn off nervous energy.
Though some lab results like ANC and hemoglobin were low, they were not so low as to delay chemo. So Crystal did my first cap downstairs, and we headed up to the infusion center.
Ethan was working today, and when he got a break, he came over for a quick visit. A highlight today! And… if you were wondering who took all these photos, it was STEEVE! Yes, he’s here!
I had a private room at the center, and I did get rest there, but I was pretty wiped out by the time we got home this afternoon.
Alexandria came over for several hours, and that made the time go so much more quickly and took my mind off the nausea. I am so thankful for her friendship! (I can’t believe how puffy my face is from the steroids.)
Crystal is the best. She capped with me during the last hour, and there’s a story behind that, but that’s more than I want to write because I am ready for bed.
“We set our hope on You
We set our hope on Your love
We set our hope on the One who is the Everlasting God
You are the Everlasting God.”
Tomorrow, June 8, is Round 4.
“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
To say I'm dreading tomorrow is an understatement. I already feel tired, drained. I know what tomorrow will look like, and I know how I will most likely feel the rest of this week, maybe even into next week. It’s looming.
We got in late last night from attending a wedding in Florida. I did not feel like doing anything this morning. But I got up, put on my shoes, and went for a walk around the neighborhood. There was no way I could possibly run. I don't have the energy. But I can still walk. And I remembered these wise words:
“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
And that's what I plan to do. Keep moving forward.
Chemo. Round 1. Day 5.
Highs
First Day of Spring
A walk on the beach
Time with Clara
Lows
Bone pain
Tummy issues
I woke up feeling almost normal today. I opted out of post-chemo steroids as I'm trying to minimize the use of pharmaceuticals as much as I can. I took anti-nausea meds Tuesday and Wednesday night because my oncologist insisted on it, but I didn't like the side effects of the Tuesday night dosage and opted for half that on Wednesday. Half dose wasn’t great, either, so even though I was supposed to take it last night, I decided not to. However, nausea has been minimal today. I find I get nauseous when I'm hungry, so snacks are my friend. 😂
I am experiencing some bone pain, so I got another B12 injection this morning, hoping that will mitigate it to some degree.
This week hasn't been bad, but I recognize there will be a cumulative effect so not expecting each time to be this smooth.
Thank you for caring and for praying. We'll see what the Lord has in store in the days ahead.
Chemo. Round 1. March 16, 2026.
"I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living." Psalm 27:13
4:40 am Wake up and start the day. This includes reading Scripture, writing in my journal, and having a cup of coffee.
5:20 am Do an easy workout while watching a 60 Minutes story about one of my favorite podcasters.
6:15 am Take a walk around the neighborhood and listen to the first half of a sermon.
6:45 I check my bags one last time to make sure we have everything, and Rick applies Lidocaine to the port site, per instructions.
7 am. Breakfast
7:20 am We leave for the Zimmer Cancer Center
7:40 am Port access and labs
8:15 am A quick appointment with Dr. Robinson to review labs. All is well.
8:40 Crystal, my awesome capper, arrived and got right to work educating me about what is ahead. Rick took photos and videos of us both.
9:09 am Pre-meds and cold-capping begin
10:32 am Taxol starts. Icing my hands and feet is far harder than icing my head, surprisingly.
1:00 Ethan visits
1:45 Carboplatin starts
2:17 Finished at Novant. Cold caps are changed every 25 minutes, so we change the cap before heading home.
3:00 pm Home, ready to cap for about 4.5 more hours
All in all, a good day, in spite of it all.
4:45 pm update. Clara is here, and the world is even brighter than it was 5 minutes ago.
“I’m confident as seasons change, His faithfulness remains.”
Embracing a new routine. March 13, 2026
Because I am trying to minimize hair loss by utilizing Penguin Cold Caps - The Original Chemo Cold Cap during chemotherapy, today was my last opportunity for the foreseeable future to wash my hair under warm, running water and use styling products and heat to dry it, so I snapped a photo before getting into the shower. What will my hair look like in the weeks ahead?
Because of my experiences in Haiti, I don’t take warm running water for granted. But today was different. I appreciated the warm water running over my head in an entirely different way. Washing my hair was not a task for the morning. It was a luxury to savor.
Ironically, when I went to use the shampoo and conditioner I love so much, both bottles were nearly empty, and I had to shake them down to get enough of each product to adequately clean my hair.
Starting today I am not allowed to use styling products on my hair, but I was told I could add just a bit of nourishment to the ends, so I chose to use this oil that I have loved for many years. (This oil is the reason my hair is always shiny! I am going to miss being able to use it as usual.)
I am allowed to dry my hair with heat one last time today, but I have decided to let it air dry to see how manageable it will be as I adjust to the new normal.
Many things will be completely out of my control in the days ahead, but I’m hopeful that having this one option will give me something on which to focus my time and desire to “do something.”
If I keep my hair, that will be a win. If I don’t, well, that was what was expected anyway.
Countdown to Chemo. Stop #7
POV: Run a half marathon with a critical care nurse. That person will get you to the finish line. 5/5 recommend that medical professional be your own son.
POV: Run a half marathon with a critical care nurse. That person will get you to the finish line. 5/5 recommend that medical professional be your own son.
The Myrtle Beach Half Marathon 2026 is in the books, and it was a great time.
The next stop on my Countdown to Chemo is tomorrow, and I can hardly wait.
It’s been two weeks
I am incredibly happy to share that this week I have “turned the corner” and am basically back to regular everyday life. I’m having to remind myself not to lift heavy objects, and I am trying to be intentional pacing myself so as not to overdo it. But my appetite is back, for most of the day my energy is back (cue an early bedtime), my abdomen is healing nicely, and I can concentrate on tasks (which means I am back to driving). I’ve even started back “running” - gingerly, carefully - since we do have the WDW Half Marathon in just over 2 weeks!
Thank you for all of your kind words, visits, and support during this time.
I had my 3rd Lupron injection on Monday at Zimmer Cancer Center with Dr. Robinson, and I will see Dr. Rossi at the Duke Cancer Center on Monday, December 29. I am hopeful we’ll be able to agree on a plan of action for 2026. I am going to remind her that I want to live, not simply be alive. I believe there’s a huge difference in those two things.
No, Baby Clara is not here yet, but every day brings us closer to her arrival, and we will be seeing her very soon!
This morning I read Luke 2:19, “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” The question from Catching Whimsy asked, “With all the mysteries and unknowns in your life, what would it look like for you to treasure up in your heart the ambiguity God allows?”
I’ll be pondering that question in the days ahead.