Quite the Hospital Stay

The blog is a little behind. I know in this digital age, all this info should be instantaneous. But I'm so tired it takes me a couple days (or a week or two) to get the blog up to speed.


So backing up to my first hospital stay ... I walked into a decorated hospital room!

I don't know if you can see it very well, but there are streamers and stars and sparkly decorations all over an otherwise bland hospital room! Now that's some VIP treatment!

The staff of 8 Lime, AKA: The Cancer Floor, asked me to do their team's Relay for Life, remember? So, because of that kind invitation and that emotional day on the track, I know a lot of the girls on the floor. Cally is the ring leader and she's always been wonderful. But to walk into the hospital room to decorations was above and beyond!

It was pretty funny being admitted. They have to have a volunteer bring you up to the floor. Now, I don't need a volunteer and that's what I told the lady. But she said it was required. Fine. She also asked if I wanted a wheelchair. Now that's where I draw the line. I can walk to the floor by myself. So I pass on the wheelchair but agree to be led by a volunteer.

That's when I meet Gene. I'm sure he's a kind, old soul. And by old I mean like 97. He's hunched over, not super smiley and the first thing he says is, "You should have taken the wheelchair. It's a long walk." I thought, does HE want the wheel chair?? I'd be happy to push him up to 8 Lime. Again. What's the point of a volunteer if you're pushing him in the wheelchair.

So there's Gene, trudging along, shuffling in his orthopedic shoes with Velcro and his sweater vest. I'm trying to make small talk with him, but he's obviously pissed I made the wrong choice on the wheelchair question. Then Mom and Marcia are a few steps behind me, exchanging looks about who is going to catch Gene if he falls over from this walk.

Well, the killer of the story is when we get to my room. The door is closed and Gene just walks right in. But the girls were in there still decorating. When they see the door suddenly swing open, on instinct they shout, "Wait, stop! Don't come in here yet!" They simply wanted more time to sass up my room, but damn did this throw Gene for a loop. He was so confused. I walked in the room anyway, gave hugs to the girls. He is standing there wondering why there's a party and if this is even the right room. Hysterical. If only we had a wheelchair for Gene to sit down in and catch his breath!

I'm OK

So this is Week #2. The Non-Hospital Week. I went to the Chemo Lounge with Kristin on Wednesday. Marcia and I arrived nice and early. The infusion during Week #2 is so long we have to be the first people there and we're the last to leave. But it's only one day, instead of two and I still get to sleep in my own bed.

I feel very, very tired. And then bored. I'm listless. I'm really trying to let that go though. Each day I think, what did I accomplish today? A load of laundry? Finished reading a People Magazine? Return phone calls to family and friends? Dust up some of the dog hair? I need to feel like I did something. But I think I'm going to change my mindset on that. It might be a good day if I actually accomplish nothing. Just lay around enough to let the chemo kill the cancer that's hiding.