We left at 6:30am, got here at 8:15. The day started well considering there was no traffic due to President's Day. Mel had her blood drawn at 8:30 and while they are checking her counts we took a chemo class. We got another binder full of information. We went to chemo wing C, she picked out her favorite window spot and she will get rituxan (the trial drug) first, which will take almost 2 hours, then she will get chemo ABVD which will take almost 3 hours. I am in the computer lab downstairs printing off a few FOX NEWS stories to keep me busy. I also printed the latest "letters to Mel" for her journal today. Thank you to Jessa, Aunt Jan, Lauren Wajbel, Tara & Aunt JoAnne. If anyone else is interested in sending her a little note, a joke, a funny story...email me at CinnamonColbert@aol.com
Today is probably going to be the toughest, anxiety is a little high b/c everyone reacts differently and we aren't quite sure what her outcome today will be. Nonetheless, I am glad I am here with her- and it's so amusing to the both of us how everyone thinks we are twins. I think they are sniffin the chemo....just wait till we both shave our heads!!!

Mel is my hero, she is tackling this with her beautiful smile and I am so proud.
xoxo

PART 2: Home

We got home at 6:30pm. Long day. Mel had no reactions to the 4 different chemo doses in ABVD. They are predicting symptoms to start either late tonight or early morning. I won't go into the list of possibilities. BUT Mel's nurse said she can have 10 patients all on the same chemo regiment and every person can have a completely different reaction. Some can still work 40 hours a week, and do. Some need a few days to recover and some just don't recover until the treatments are long over. So- say a prayer for her tonight! Her best friend Casi is flying in again Tuesday morning to help out. Both my boys have strep and can't be anywhere near her (sick or not, since they could be carriers of anything from school). Her immune system right now is THE MOST important factor, so we are wearing masks in the hospital, washing hands A LOT, using purell and eating a LOT of green veggies. If she gets sick she will most likely have to be admitted for a week in order to get her white blood counts back up to par which will prolong the treatments. She needs to have a diet that consumes 2000+ calories per day in order to stay healthy and NOT lose weight, only problem is...nausea is a major side effect.

I had a long tutorial on the 15 different prescriptions she has. Some are daily for the immune system and lungs, some preventative and some situational. I have never seen so many pills...and who thought some could cost $150 EACH PILL?!!! Her nurse Jane is AMAZING and so patient. And what would we have done without Chuck, the 81 y.o. volunteer, also a survivor from prostate cancer. He has 10 kids, 12 grandchildren, retired military and loves to walk around and tell dirty jokes to cheer everyone up- reminds me of my Dad!

She would love to have visitors but you better bet I will be checking your vitals & fitting you for a mask before you enter!

Stay posted, and thanks for the prayers!
Cinn