Comfort in the familiar!

Chemo number 4 in the books! 

Our ride rolled up at 9:20 am.  Kent quickly finished up putting his numbing cream on , I grabbed all our belongings and loaded them in our ride and we strolled on our way to Lemmon Holton Cancer Center.

 Blood Draw was scheduled for 10 am.  We often joke if everything would move as fast as the phlebomotist did we would be all set.  Kent was called back soon after getting registered, He was getting his blood taken and I finished filling out the routine paper work and then the wait again began.  We were not seeing the doctor today so we waited for the nurse to call us back to get the results of the bloodwork, and see if we were a go for chemo.  As we walked back I glanced behind the chemo nurses glass window by their desk and did not see our regular chemo nurse . ( as we later found out due to bereavement) I often give a hand wave as we get seated in our pod. 

We got situated after a short visit to the scale, BP check and temp check.  As we were waiting I told Kent I did not see our chemo nurse.  I saw disappointment on his face, but reassured him we would be well taken care of.  Our nurse filling in was very nice.  She shared with us the labs looked great. We indeed were all set to start chemo.  When Kent starts the Chemo process he always starts with a liter of Saline.  When he had the first chemo treatment 3 chemo's ago,  he became so dehydrated that now we regularly hydrate him before each chemo.  Kent quickly fell asleep and as they started the process of the chemo drugs.  I verified his name and birthdate and chemo idenification instead of him to let him get his rest.  This too is routine as to make sure he is getting the correct meds.  We were in our chemo pod area for roughly 5.5 hrs. 

 

When you are in the chemo pods, faces of people often become familar like nurses and patients and feel like a place where you can be yourself.  The person across from us was getting treatments, blood draws and EKGs. (behind a prvacy curtian.)  but you begin to feel for all those around you. You all are feeling the same way. This is a place you begin to feel and care for and idenify with all those around you.  

It is Friday, today we woke up early at 6 am and I  grabbed Kent's med and a little food to go with it. He took it and then we fell back asleep for awhile.   When we got up we then got ready for the day, I  grabbed his next set of meds and next thing to eat.  Kent stayed up for a bit , wrote Lydia an email and now is asleep again.  Kent looks pretty good this round.  Seems not to be as low energy. Maybe it was all the sleep this morning. (Side note - When on Chemo, Kent sleeps. It is the best way for him to cope with nausea and helps in the healing process for him)

Some have asked how we are doing so I will take a quick moment to share. 

 Kent on off weeks does very well.  He can not do all what he did before but close.  Long walks and trips up and down stairs tire him easily.  Mentally on the day before chemo I can see things change for him .  His anxiety becomes a bit more noticable and he tends to retreat to the foods he loves to eat as he won't have them for a bit.

 As for myself, I have my moments, Chemo weeks and few days leading to it , I am busy changing bedding, finishing laundry, packing up the house, laying out everything to have it avaliable for Kent as he needs it.  being prepared for me is huge! It's how I function.   I emotionally struggle as I see Kent go from able bodied to needing my hand to steady his every trip somewhere.  I'm tired and rest when he does.  I too am very thankful for people steadily stand by us and are always there.  

As we finish out Summer I ask for prayer as I have been home every day to help Kent and caring for him when he has needed it.  I will now divide my time between babysitting an adorable nephew during the school year and beautiful niece on off school days, school in the mornings as I teach/aide  and caring for Kent.  This is all a bit overwheming to me as I feel very conflicted and stressed to where I should be and when. It will take a bit of planning on my part I guess! 

Pray for Kent.  He is tired of it. Going from feeling good to bad and all over again gets old quick.  Giving up vacation time and investing in family time to sit in a chemo chair is hard.  He misses Lydia daily. Our bubbly blue eyed girl lights up our house and is a joy to have around for him.  

Later this month Aug. 17 ( Kent's next chemo day)  and Aug 18 Lydia will be moving from Camp Geneva as Counselor to her Fall Role at Hope College . This  will be her next home away from home with a new role of one of many  R.A.'s  of Dykstra Hall and freshmen girls as she begins her new  sophmore year.  We ask for many prayers for her as she is a little uneasy to many circumstances that may come across her path. 

So as Summer winds down and fall schedules fill our days please pray for us as we balence everything.  each one of the three of us have different things going on but we all are thankful for the same thing, everyone of you. No matter how we know you.  We could not do life without you.  If I start to list everyone  I might leave people out .  We thank you all for your love and care and support and mostly for your prayers as we could not do this walk without  you and the love of our Heavenly Father!  

Leah