directly from the IV...

I am sitting in my comfortable chair in the oncology unit all hooked up to my various liquid formulae. It is very quiet and still. We are only 3 patients here today, the radio is quietly on KFM Radio - quite jolly, soon I will put on my iPod so I can listen to what I choose. This morning, very early, I had my blood test - it was the first time the nurse wasn't immediately successful in finding the vein, so we had to try again... not too bad. After blood test gym was my next stop. The circuit at Curves was nearly full with women doing what they call 'boot camp', with a very lively atmosphere and broad diversity of shapes - and effort! It was a good way to begin my day before chemo.

ChemoDay

I am just posting this, from when I went to visit Maryse midway through her treatment. Today's session was shorter as she has become used to the intensity of the chemicals being dripped in. I have now just brought her how - tired, but good. No doubt she will add something quite soon, but right now rest will be good. Three chemo sessions down, three to go.

chemo 3 coming up

It has been a wonderful week - starting with the last weekend at Stanford Valley (that Steve wrote about) made me so happy. I love being with our ever-deepening community of friends and also being on the land itself, planting all those tiny lavender seedlings.... Grow plants, Grow!
 
Saturday morning: I returned home late last night after my first real full-day of facilitation in Durban with a small executive group, a number of whom I had worked with before. My very favourite work - taking them through the meeting structure of the Thinking Environment.

Today Is A Placeholder

What? Well, several have asked, "What is happening"? And the
answer is, not much - in a good way.

We have had a wonderful, relaxed, weekend with the Stanfordian clan. Lots of laughter, a smidge of deep conversation, Valerie's World Premier of the video teaser for a potential TV series on Cape Town waterways. Very jolly and interesting. And we did some cooking together, made a little loaves-and-fishes magic (with snoek) Put together a floating jetty, after a few years of planning it, so that we can enjoy the dam even more. And there was lavender planting for our anticipated bountiful crop for distilling into essential oils.

So, it was happy, normal,good. Maryse has been engaged in her work this week before going back into the unknown of chemo 'Number 3' on Monday. So, on we cruise, with a little help from our friends.

Normal For Now

I am really enjoying the normalcy of today and the past little while. The wonderful wave of friends is now an ebb and flow... Maryse only had a day of fatigue after the chemo and then bounced back amazingly and is, at the moment of writing at the gym. Which by the way turns out to be great for those on chemo according to WebMd, the excellent source of reliable health related  info.

My anxiety is now at a manageably lower level, coming back in waves sometimes. So for now the sun is shining and all is quite well. Except maybe for my midnight confrontation with a very loud obnoxious neighbour - we got a bit heated. But probably it was good for my circulation, all the heart pumping that is.

The week of chemo 2

It was indeed a good week. Steve mentioned in a previous entry how I followed the same pattern of response to chemo as I did on the very first one. The fatigue, which came in on the second day after the chemo, was substantial but not as 'grand' and my energy returned gently and happily. Consistent attunements, given with such boundlessness by Miriam Platt and Howard Goodman keep the energy of love at its most focused - and seem to recalibrate my whole being. The most difficult part of this week is not wanting to eat nor drink - and I must. Steve lurks around me to see what I ingest and keeps plying me with new concoctions to nourish, give energy and keep my weight up.

I had to re-shave my head yesterday. And, yes, some hair is still growing, but in patches. I have begun to enjoy the sensation of touching this bald pate... things just change and change and change. I haven't yet had the courage to go out into the world without a head covering. I think it is about not wanting to stand out so boldly. Maybe in summer, when my poor head is just too sweltering under the various scarves and turbans, I will be weather compelled to go uncovered.

Positive Energy

Sister Claudia sent some positive energy (left), so I thought I'd pass it along!
It seems to be working  - so far ill effects of Monday's chemo have not shown up, as yet. We are waiting and watching. Last time it was 2 days after chemo that Maryse got so fatigued. Who knows?

Update 2 hours later... Fatigue hits. Almost exactly to the hour as it did 3 weeks ago. I guess the chemo has a particular route through the body.

While in chemo...

  I have so much to say this may take a few blog entries.

  I have started this blog in the chemotherapy room while hooked into my IV, once again gratefully welcoming the chemicals. Although busy, it is quiet, with an easeful atmosphere as the nurses move about efficiently but at a relaxed pace. Thank you all for the messages of support for this day.

  I will recapitulate the few last days because they have been so full and special. This last week my energy returned to almost vigour and my body has been so much more supple, and my heart high on celebration for my 60th  - and general good feelings!

  Hair loss has been an adventure of a very particular kind...

Chemo 2

It was a great weekend, M's 60th, plus beloved alt-daughter Tamryn's 30th. Celebrating the generations.

Maryse, now bald and getting into tying ornate turbans, was impatient to get going this morning. But strange feeling for me to drop her off at the oncology clinic, like dropping her  shopping or at the airport. "See ya later", as they inject the drug to relax her before starting to drip heavy metals into her system for six hours. Odd.

We are told that side-effects wary and are unpredictable. Better, worse, nausea, no nausea, other stuff... Back into the vast unknown Maryse and I go. AND, life goes on. I am still cleaning up after our little, so-called intimate 'come for drinks' evnt turned into a major party. NOT intended to scale up like that, but wonderful with heartfelt birthday tributes from friends. Thanks.

Maryse's Purple-ish 60th Birthday

Who'd have thunk it? Here we are, up to the eyeballs in so much intensity, and the birthdays keep coming, Yea! Sixty is a fine birthday to celebrate as we hit our stride, cancer and all. I am going to get old with this woman (though not too old too soon, if you know what I mean) that was my committment, and I mean to hold her to it. so if you wish to read and view further, there follows a poem, a video and the lyrics to a video. Yes?

Click HERE for my birthday card to my beloved bald woman

EEEK! The hair is falling out!

Yes, the hair is falling out - I started noticing it on Monday night, told Steve - and his face lightened up immediately! He said that he had a sense of relief that the chemo is working! Actually, it does feel like everything is going according to plan - except my timing is out by a couple of days! I have not yet learned to tie attractive head scarves in imaginative ways and Talia was going to shave my head on Saturday... can I wait? Emergency turban tying lessons needed.