The Anchor 💗⚓️💗 – Edition 9

4/27/17

Dear Friends and Family,

This week has been busy with doctor’s appointments and not feeling well.  On Monday, I had an appointment with the plastic surgeon due to things not healing correctly, so he had to do a procedure and put me on three different antibiotics to prevent infection.  The procedure felt like a set back due to being sore and in pain again, but everything is healing nicely now.

I met with my oncologist on Tuesday and she “reviewed” the possible side effects of chemotherapy.  I will be taking Taxol every week for 12 weeks.  After she “reviewed” the possible side effects, I had my list of questions to ask her about chemotherapy.  She was very helpful in answering ALL of my questions.  When I got home, a case of “the crying spells” began.  I felt very overwhelmed about all of the possible side effects of chemo AND losing my hair.  Fortunately, my dad was there to comfort me and make me feel better.  As the evening continued, I began to feel sick.  I took my temperature and it was 101.8.  My temperature had been taken earlier that day by the oncologist’s nurse and I didn’t have a fever.  I started to panic a bit, because in the back of my mind, I heard the plastic surgeon’s nurse saying “call the on call doctor after hours if you have a fever over 101 to see if you need to go the ER”.  The nurse gave me this information due to the procedure that I had on Monday.  My husband did a great job of helping me calm down and I called the on call doctor.  The on call doctor said that I was doing everything right by taking my antibiotics and to take Tylenol to reduce my fever.  He also said that I did not need to go to the ER.  

On Wednesday, I woke up still not feeling well, but my fever was gone.  I felt achy and very sore.  I binge watched 13 Reasons Why on Netflix.  That was my first binge watching experience and one of the few times I did not fall asleep while watching tv for an extended period of time.  I usually fall asleep watching movies and sometimes even during 30 minute sitcoms, ha ha.  During all of my binge watching, I received a call from my oncologist telling me that chemo will be postponed due to me being on antibiotics and that the plastic surgeon also thought it was best to wait.  

My feelings toward chemo are mixed…  I know that is something I HAVE to do, but it is not something I WANT to do, but I WANT to start it instead of postponing it!  I do agree with the oncologist and plastic surgeon though, they are the professionals and want what is best for me.  With that being said, chemo will start on May 5th.  I will also have port surgery on May 5th, which is where the TAXOL will enter my body.  

The picture above is a gift that I received on Tuesday from my sorority sister, LG and her family.  I thought it was a message from God that I received HOPE on that particular day when I was feeling so scared and uncertain about chemo and needed reassurance that everything is going to be OK…

My family and friends are my anchors and I am very fortunate to receive love and support  daily from you by receiving cards in the mail, phone calls, texts, and Facebook messages!  Also, thank you to my sister-in-law for organizing the t-shirt sales and to those that ordered one.  I am anxious to see how they look!

Anchored in HOPE,

JW