Day Twenty-One

It's been a 13-hour day.

It was off to the clinic an hour early this morning, so had to take a taxi. Luckily, we stopped the driver from taking us on a freeway in the opposite direction. We made it with just a few minutes of lost time.

Mom received an anti-naseau pill, along with two more (one for tonight and one for tomorrow morning). She was supposed to have two arms hooked up to an IV for the hydration fluids (2 - 500 ML bags N/S normal saline) but the right arm vein refused to participate so they had to use the vein in her hand (I hate those). Then, one arm was switched to stem cells... then Mannitol (says it "opens way for chemo") and another bag for hydration (1 - 500 ML bag H/D Hartmann's dex), an antihistamine, then the chemo (Cisplatin - 70 MG - half dose, 35 MG), and finally what is called "p53 gene therapy" via drip. This can cause a fever so they gave mom 500 MG of Bayer Aspirn in case one develops.


Mom, Jackie and Dawn all had to go to the Korea Cancer Center today (Jackie 2nd out of 3 Cyberknife treatments, Dawn CT scan and cradle-fitting for Wednesday's first of 12 IGRT treatments and mom's first day of 15 IGRT treatments).

Unfortunately, after we got there - Jackie delevoped chills and a fever (she also had the p53 gene therapy this morning). Cyberknife had to be canceled for her today and she had to go to St. Mary's Hospital in Doksan (same hospital that Erika is staying). So far, no fever for mom.  Just a lovely 5 hours at the Cancer Center alone.  Thank you Dawn and Dave for staying with us.

The day was long. It was also especially full of various treatments... stem cells, chemo, radiation and gene therapy. It's a lot for one person in one day. But the whole point is to concentrate on getting well. All there is to do all day long is to work at getting well. You look out of the window and say "yup, still in Korea" and go back to becoming well. It's a job. And like any job, do it to the best of your ability... and then give some more.