Day 1 (Chemotherapy)

Wednesday January 18, 2012

Today is Day 1 of Carls Chemotherapy. It was a rough day for Carl. We were up at 4am with a planned spinal tap scheduled at 8am. Carl got up, showered and was dressed to fight the day. However, Carl's platelets dropped (platelets are what is in his blood that allows him to form blood clots...this is also something that is expected to drop because of the leukemia). So they ordered a new pack of platelets and we were FINALLY on our way to get the Spinal Tap (OR Lumbar Puncture)... Carl likes to call this LP because it sounds less scary... By the time that they took him down stairs for the LP, his medication to calm his nerves was starting to ware off.  I was able to stay in the room with him while they explained what was going to be happening during the LP... I give credit to my husband, while he laid in the bed I was standing next to him, convinced that any moment I was going to have a heart attack listening to the Doctor explain the procedure.

Bonnie, Connie and I went back to the room and waited for him to come back after the procedure. When he came back he had to lay still for 30 minutes. He was able to lay in what ever position but the key was to remain still. Carl then took some antibiotics and then started his chemo through the IV today. He had a steroid that is suppose to help reduce nausea and increase appetite. This is a pill form and has a nasty taste in his mouth. He then had a bag of red liquid medicine which was the actual chemo, it took about 30 minutes for it to go into the IV and he is done until Day 4.

For the rest of the day Carl was in and out of naps. Falling asleep in folding chairs because of how bad he wanted to be out of his bed. He finally laid down for a while after dinner and took a nice long nap. I snuck away and went to the house for a few hours to do animal chores and a load of laundry, Bonnie came with me to help with the chores.

Bonnie and I brought back Wendys for dinner, but Carl did not have much of an appetite tonight for dinner. around 9pm we went for a walk around the block by the rooms and settled down and got ready for bed.

Pretty busy day for Carl, and started rather early and seemed to be one thing after another. As we are laying down tonight and I am typing about the day here, Carl is busy looking up fighting leukemia photos to make be his new background on his computer.

It is said that people show their true colors when there is something like this going on in ones life. Well I have to tell you this. I have an amazing husband who is so strong and such an inspiration to myself, and others around us. There has been tears in the room since we checked in, but the majority of the time there is laughter in the room. Happy spirits and memories being made, and relationships growing closer. Whether it is relationships with the staff on the floor, our family members or friends. This time has really brought many people together and has shown all of us about the great support system that we have.

I know this is going to be a long and rocky road ahead, but day one of chemo has come and gone, and we are ready to take on the next day.... one moment at a time....

Just like Carl's new background on his computer...

Kicking Leukemia's ass is PRICELESS!