Chemotherapy. It’s a big word. It’s the unknown, it’s scary, it means this is real, it’s a lot.  But it’s also HOPE and healing and the path to health.

I was so anxious going into my first session, a lot of fear, a lot of tears and just so much unknown.

When we got there they immediately greeted us, they had reserved a private room for us because they knew it was my first treatment. They explained everything and were so kind and compassionate. 

It was a long, 8 hour visit but there were no complications. I did not know this but they order your chemo from the pharmacy after you arrive.  The highlight of the day was the removal of my port dressing which was super itchy and irritating, as she peeled it off it was like when someone scratches the itch that you can’t reach on your back, ahhhhh!

Anyway, back to the details for those of you who are curious. They started me off with a round of hydration, then a little “cocktail” of steroids, nausea medication and Benadryl. Y’all, this is not the Benadryl you get at CVS, this is the stuff you sleep through allergy season on, and boy does it work fast (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️). The first official medication I got is called Avastin, this took just under an hour to dispense.  Then the “big dog”, Taxol was up, which took 3 full hours, followed by another hour for Carboplatin. 

At some point I woke up from my Benadryl stooper hungry and even ate 2/3 of a Thai chicken wrap and a small smoothie which is more than I have had in a long time.  

We are going to learn how I react and what my major symptoms are during these first 2 rounds so they will monitor me closely.  I feel good today, which is expected due to the steroids and nausea meds.  Sadly those wear off and they expect my rough days will be over the next few days.  We just don’t know what my “rough” will look like.  Good topic for those prayers (hint hint 😉).

It may seem silly but one of my biggest emotional hurdles in this all has been knowing I will lose my hair. I mean why does it have to be so thick and gorgeous? LOL. I am starting to come to grips with it and I think it mostly happens after R2.  So I am letting it know how much I love it now so it wants to come back when this is all over, hopefully not too gray and not curly 🤞🏼

Matt and I laid in bed last night and talked about how we felt a weight lifted.  That we know the cancer won’t grow anymore, that we have started the healing process and that the journey to health has begun. We went to sleep full of gratitude and full of HOPE.

We got this 🩵

PS - The Shutterfly blanket from Sarah was so fun and the nurses loved seeing pics of our family.  Blueberry the Tiger was a special lovey sent by Garrett and I also got an extra visitor, Kaitlyn, who happens to be a Northside nurse ❤️