Chemo Day Went Smooth As Silk

We couldn't have asked for the day at the Duke Cancer Center to have gone any better.  Maybe it was just an anomaly or maybe the powers that be were trying really hard to make up for the last couple of treatments but everything was on time.  However, it may also be that Joe's appointments were the earliest he has ever started.

Labs were at 6:40am (yes, ladies and gents, that is very early to be up and at the DCC), doctor's appointment at 8:00am (we've done that before) and then his chemo appointment was at 9:30am.  I dropped Joe off in front of the DCC at 6:30am and headed on to my office (another first, never been there at 6:45am either).  By 6:56am we were texting and Joe was already down in the food court eating his breakfast.  He checked in on the 3rd floor (doctor's offices/exam rooms) at 7:38am and at 8:15am we were talking via Facetime while waiting for Leigh Howard to come in.  She was in there very soon after and Joe checked in on the 4th floor (Chemo Infusion) at 8:52am.  I left work at 9am to head over to the DCC and arrived at 9:20am (traffic was a pain).  Joe had already been taken to one of the infusion rooms so the lady that always talks to me at the reception desk, escorted me back to Joe.  Of course I had stopped at the cafe and gotten my coffee- with employee discount - a sure sign I have been there too much!  Therefore by the time I got to Joe's room it was 9:35 and he already had his fluids hooked up and running.  Apparently, he went back at 9:30am on the nose!  That is a HUGE first.  Within 15 minutes they started his Benadryl and about 10 minutes later, he was getting sleepy.  He tried to watch last nights episode of "Revenge" on his iPad but it didn't take long before he was out like a light.

From there on for the next 2 hours, it was really exciting sitting with him as he was hard and fast asleep.  I guess if you have to have chemo, it's best to sleep through it!  He finally woke up around 11:30am, but only because he had to go to the bathroom.  I unhooked the IV machine and he started walking down the hall when the machine starts beeping because one of the bags has finished.  Since he was right next to the nurses desk, he joked that he brought the machine to them instead of having them walk to his room.  They turned off the beeping, he continued on to the bathroom and within 15 minutes of his return, his infusion was complete.  By 11:50 we were walking out the front door and into the rain (with a small umbrella) on over to the parking deck.  Joe handled the Benadryl much better this time and was steadier on this feet so I let him (yes LET HIM) walk instead of pushing him in a wheelchair like last week.  Also this week we had a perfect room next to the outdoor patio area for infusion (it wasn't very well thought out by the designers but is quite lovely).  Too bad it was raining the entire morning or I could have gotten a little sun since Joe was sleeping.

Hopefully this week Joe will react better and not have the fevers on a daily basis like last week.  Only time will tell as far as that goes.  But one thing is for sure, we will enjoy the extra sleep time in the morning!

Thank you for all the prayers and concern.  Joe and I are so blessed to have friends who care so much for both of us.