Expect the unexpected...

""Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts hurt be troubled and do not be afraid."
John 14:27

I am sure you are thinking that is of course what we did today, after all haven't we learned to expect the unexpected at MD Anderson? Well friends, that is not at all what we did. Today I was scheduled for morning blood work, reviews, and my outpatient administration of Vincristine (chemo that runs over 30 minutes)scheduled for 12:30 pm. So we jumped in the car this morning with my dad (without his suitcase since his flight did not leave until 7:55 p.m.). I know, even all of you readers who have not sat for hours waiting at MD Anderson for appointments or to find out from your blood work they have to run something else are asking yourselves one questions (or you should be), "What were we thinking???"

We met with a Physicians Assistant to review my blood work to find out that my white cells had bottomed out (completely expected) my platelets were low, but I wasn't in need of a transfusion yet (again expected), and my hemoglobin- super low... I would be needing 2 units of blood today (should have been expected). My counts are expected to bottom out around day 10 of each course and today was day 11. I guess since my hemoglobin had been the highest it has been in at least 2-3 weeks on Wednesday made it fly below the radar when we were thinking about today... the best part- one unit of blood takes a minimum of 2 hours to run! Awesome... add 6 more hours to our day. Needless to say we had to figure out a way to get my dad to his suitcase and to the airport without us... we wouldn't be going anywhere soon. Thankfully I have a friend Brian who works in the medical center and worked early today so he was heading home around 2:00. He was kind enough to bring my dad back to my house and then Louis drove him to the airport tonight. Crisis averted. Thanks Brian!!!!

Funny story... I was thinking about what to write on the blog on the way home today and sometimes it hits me how "normal" some of this has become so quickly. Before a blood transfusion the nurse comes in with the charge nurse to verify your name, patient number, and blood type along with checking the label with that info on the blood bag, expiration date, etc. Now when they walk in with the blood I just rattle off the info without asking. So today when I thought about typing it my thoughts were, "What is your name, prison number, and blood type?" I laughed as soon as I thought it... maybe it was because I read a book today with a character that had been in and out of prison maybe it was because sometimes I feel like a prisoner to my IV pole, who knows... it did gives us something to laugh about though.

I know a lot of you have been praying for my headaches and they have gotten better, but still bother me. Tonight was the best it has been which I immediately credited to the blood, but then realized they give me 2 tylenol before I get blood so I guess tomorrow will tell. We have also asked for prayers with the neuropathy in my hands and ask you keep those coming... Vincristine (the chemo I got today) is the main culprit and I have already felt it worsen, even go into my forearms some. I am less than thrilled and hope it wears off faster than before! We also need my white counts to go up and go up fast as my body has no way to fight off infection until that happens. Thanks again for keeping up with me and keeping me in your prayers!