Here's The Plan

I had the biggest surprise when I came through the doors of the Boise Airport yesterday morning.  Some of my biggest, yet smallest fans were there to greet me.  It was such a fun surprise.  No one ever comes into get me; they always just pick me up at the curb.  I felt like what it must be like when a missionary comes home.  I wish I would have stopped to take a picture of the beautiful sight I saw as I came out the doors.  Kartson who is almost 5 ran up to me and as he was hugging me looked up and said, "Are you fixed yet?"  I replied, "I will be soon."  That is a promise. I loved the signs of encouragement they had for me.  There was a large sign that I didn't get a picture of, but it was so cute.

The Boise airport has been under construction so yesterday in honor of me and of course their new restaurants and shops, they had food booths for free.  It was fun and so delicious.  

My support team definitely made it easier for me to enter the ever depressing MSTI cancer unit.  I had some time before my visit with Dr. Dan so I went down to see Dr. C my GYN oncologist.  She is so awesome.  She gave me several of the biggest hugs (which I don't believe she has ever done) and had a few tears in her eyes herself.  She worked so hard at taking all of the cancer out the first time, I'm sure it was just as devastating to her knowing the cancer has returned.  It also probably doesn't help that we are about the same age.  We had a great visit in the hallway, which by the way wasn't planned, but she gave me such peace and courage to press on.

Of course it was a tearful reunion when Dr. Dan and Marybeth his nurse came into my room.  They are amazing though and totally put me to ease.  The great thing is that he knows my doctors in Boston personally and they are all working together for my cause.  Dr. Dan's chemo plan is the same exact as the Dr. in Phoenix, which is the plan that I wanted.  Dr. P agrees as well but would have used a different chemo that would make me lose my hair or at least really thin it.  The chemo regimen that we have decided on has little side effects, the most being fatigue and low grade fever and I won't lose my hair.  Of course we are all hoping that this chemo regiment that I'll hopefully start on Friday pending insurance approval will eradicate the cancer.  There are several other options that we can try if not.

So the plan goes as follows:

*Minor surgery tomorrow afternoon to insert the port into my chest, which I'm not super happy about, because it is just plain weird to have a contraption sitting in your chest wall.
*Will start chemo on Friday, praying insurance approves it today.  I mean really what does it take to say, Yes, she has cancer let's approve her now.
*The chemo regimen is similar to 2 years ago in the fact that it will be on day 1 and day 8 with 1 week off.  I will do 6 cycles of this, which means I will finish around the end of October, that is if my blood counts remain up and I don't have to postpone a treatment.
*The plan is to do the first 2 cycles in Boise, return to Martha's Vineyard on July 21 and continue treatment.
*After 3 rounds, we will do another CT Scan to see if the tumors are shrinking.  If not, we will have to switch the chemo.  I'm hoping and praying and requesting your prayers to be specific in that this chemo regimen eradicates the cancer.

I will admit, I'm uncomfortable and actually took half of a pain pill today.  The pain in my low back is worse when I lay down or sit.  If you need to feel sympathetic, go ahead and fall on your behind and you will know what kind of pain I'm experiencing.  It didn't help that when I stepped into the pool yesterday I slipped on the top step and fell on my right buttocks.  Thankfully it only hurt for a minute because Stella and Kaison distracted me as we played ring around the roises.

Meanwhile, I'm enjoying my cute nieces, nephews, cousins friends and family.  I'm so very blessed to have the most amazing people in my life.  My sister Tristen and her girls arrive today for 2 weeks.  I can't wait to see them.  The little people in my life make my cancer diagnosis not so bad.

Last night Kadyn said the dinner prayer and in it he said, "Please bless that Aunt Terahs cancer will go away."  I mean really how can the Lord not honor that prayer and all the other prayers being said that are similar?