Chemo Orientation

Bob and Kathie went to chemo orientation yesterday - and learned about all the wonderful things that come with chemo - get sick to get better? It's a strange world we live in... anyway, then they of course signed the paperwork that says, "Yes, I understand this is going to suck" :)

Overall, the appointment did go well though - and they learned some important issues and helpful hints to deal with the chemo.

My mom's new family doctor, Dr. Cusack - who is actually one of Lauren's close friend's father, also gave her the good news that the tests from the fluid in the lining of her lungs came back negative for cancer cells! YAY! There was a bit of new fluid showing up in the x-ray - but it wasn't enough to bother to drain and they also informed Bob and Kathie that draining it frequently actually caused it to come back faster. The chemo should help it go away, but they'll be watching it.

Kathie is on a 4 day hiatus from cancer starting today... Bob and Kathie left from Melissa's parents house in Indianapolis today to go to North Carolina. They will stay this evening at the Heruskas' (Lauren's boyfriend's parents' house - are you still with me?). They will return from NC on Sunday - though Lauren may beat them back.

Book suggestion for anyone getting really involved with this situation... or if you need a good summer read... The Anatomy of Hope. It's really pretty great and uplifting, something we could all use.

On another positive note - we all love those! - Lauren looked into a program called the Anderson Network for Kathie. The Anderson Network has a bunch of different support groups, one of them being a patient-to-patient one. They can match you up with someone who has similar diagnosis and is in a similiar life situation - and boy did they do a wonderful job! Lauren talked Friday with Jean (which in it's Hebrew origins means "the Lord is gracious"... I am obsessed with Google;) ) who seems a perfect friend for Kathie through this. Jean is 61, stage IV colon cancer and has been living with it for 6 years. She has 4 sons (ages 20-33) and three grandchildren... and she's in Indiana. She was very upbeat and seems to fight her cancer with a certain grace. The ball is in Kathie's court now for if she chooses to chat her up - but if nothing else, the kids at least have someone they can call;)

No more updates until Lauren gets to Indiana - because, as you may recall, for the next 4 days, the focus is on the house in redneck country, NC (not that all of NC is!), where it is only appropriate for men to go into the grocery store shirtless or in cutoff flannel to buy their Natural Light or Budweiser and where Possum Squat Hollar Rd is just down a mile down the street;)

Posted by Lauren