Today is a departure from the norm. It’s infusion day; a euphemism for chemotherapy. This is just another part of my life. So, I call it “spa” day.
The Infusion Suite provides services for patients requiring chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and other types of IV therapy. It’s quiet here. I’m not sure if you would call it a “hospital” quiet or “depressed” quiet. Not every cancer is the same, and certainly not every cancer patient is the same. Some of the patients are just beginning their journey, while others are seasoned travelers. Some are fresh for the fight and possibly scared or anxious. While others may be battle-worn and weary. Not everyone handles this odyssey the same way; please don’t expect them to do so.
I check-in with my bag of comfort items (iPad, Kindle, and the blanket my sister-in-law made for me) and a smile on my face. The nurses here ROCK! They are absolutely the best and take phenomenal care of me. It takes a special person to care for us. Chemotherapy comes with many side effects that require care and management, and the nurses are wonderful about researching what we need and minimizing the effects of our specific drugs.
This is infusion (cycle) five of this line of chemotherapy for me and my seventeenth cycle to date. I never thought when I started down this road I would require more than six cycles, but cancer (at least what I have) cannot be treated with a “cookie-cutter” formula. No road is without pitfalls, and most journeys in life have mountains and valleys. All I can do is deal with the problems that crop up, enjoy the amazing views from the top of the mountain, and the amazing thrill ride to the bottom. What waits for me at the bottom is anyone’s guess. I do know that I’m not alone on this odyssey of life.
So, I can’t change what’s happened. I keep my eyes forward, continue to fight this disease, and hope and pray that how I live has a positive impact on others. I write as a cathartic outlet, an outpouring of love, and for my “audience of One.” (Colossians 3:23-24)
May 2, 2025
