Sprouts

 In the spirit of keeping it real....I give you my little bald head.  Within days of my first chemo treatment my hair left me like it owed me money.  Oddly enough, I didn't worry about that too much....I felt that was the least of my worries.  Turns out I was right.

But lately I've noticed it is sprouting.  It's very hard to see but the chrome dome is covered with little sprigs.  In person it looks like a baby animal pelt.  I'm happy to see it but I know it's got a loooong journey and hopefully it can have a happy trip.

I've abandoned wigs altogether as my head is simply NOT big enough to make them look remotely fine.  So I stick with the caps with hair, or my cancer head covers (which seem to elicit a lot of sympathy when I wear them).  People tend to hold doors open for me or let me push ahead in line.  I don't wear them for that reason (mostly because my head gets cold AND I just don't think this old white woman has what it takes to carry off the bald look in public.)

I should have a radiation protocol set sometime next week and when that is decided I will immediately start those treatments (which are daily)...maybe we take weekends off....I'm not sure.

But....that will be 7-8 weeks and meanwhile I do the Keytruda infusion (immunotherapy) every three weeks.  This was a large component in my decision to hang up my working shoes....it was just too much to try to schedule since I always had to have morning treatments.

My neuropathy is still a BIG problem....I invested in a vibration plate and that came today so fingers crossed it helps out some.  Other than that I feel okay...not great...but okay.  Trying to stay on top of my house and me is challenging but I just do what I can when I can and learn to overlook a lot of stuff.

My friend Cathy rang the bell the other day and she sent me a video.  That is always an exciting day for a cancer patient as it signals the end of a phase of treatment for them...it doesn't signal they are cured...it simply signals they've progressed.  And for some of us that's okay.

In my good things box this week I had a great day yesterday with Theresa.  She took me to run errands and to my acupuncture appointment.  She also took care of toenails which has helped my walking a ton.  Then she came back last night and took me to a leave the house and have dinner courtesy of one of her friends (who heard about me through her and wanted to do something kind).  This was such an uplifting thing, to go to a restaurant and have a steak and a cocktail like a normal person.  I am so grateful for the people that see things and respond.  They will never know how much that means to someone who is virtually homebound most of the time.

I just finished my first week as a person with no job requirements and I have to say my stress level is a lot lower.  I will need to go in next week and get my personal stuff and sign a letter of resignation.  In and Out.  I will miss the people but not the pressure and the daily grind.  I think radiation will be grinding enough.

In the questions I would love answered department:  Why are they making movies these days that have no clear definitive ending?  Geez, you invest 2 hours in these things and are left wondering "what happened?"

Have a great weekend....we are having glorious weather right now.  I may brave the outdoors and try to soak up some sun and fresh air.  Be kind and be grateful.  Pray for those you know are struggling and then just pray for everyone else that they never have to.

God is reaching out....reach back....he will take your hand and you will feel better.