It's Chemo Eve of my 5th treatment and I am sitting here pondering what to write about. Apologize for taking so long to make a post? (Sorry) Tell you all the weird side effects I feel from going through 4 treatments? (Nah) Tell you how freakin' excited I am that I see the light at the end of the tunnel because I have 2 treatments left? (SUPER FREAKIN' EXCITED!!!!!)
There. Post done.
jk
So, tomorrow I go for round 5 of 6. My 6th and (*hopefully) last round of the Big 4 will be on February 9th. I looovveee February 9th!
*I say hopefully because I can only assume at this point that I will have an MRI soon following that last treatment to confirm that the tumors have either shrunk enough or disappeared entirely to allow me to move forward with the next step of surgery. IF, for some weird reason they haven't ... I don't know what the docs recommend. And I believe I won't need to know because I feel strongly that mine are going to be completely and totally GONE.
Let's just plan on party-time for February 9th, o.k.?
Last week I had the honor of participating in a "Pampering Day" event at the Wellness House of Annapolis. The Wellness House is an amazing place where cancer patients (and their caregivers) can learn coping skills while dealing with the effects of cancer. They offer support groups, health & well-being programs (yoga, massage, Reiki, etc), educational programs and fun events and activities. So far I have attended a nutritional seminar, a day of beauty, the pampering day and have had a few Reiki sessions. It's a wonderful place and I feel fortunate to live so close to this resource - I wish that all people going through this journey of cancer could benefit from having a place like this close to them.
Back in October my brother-in-law gave me a newspaper article from their local paper (in Pennsylvania) about an artist in that area who does henna tattoos on the bald heads of patients going through chemotherapy. My sister-in-law said something along the lines of "I don't know what you're going to think of this .. it's pretty out there but we brought you the article anyway." I thought it was fantastic and wished that the artist was in my area because I knew that I would love to have that done. Fast forward to my first time touring the Wellness House where I saw a framed photo on the wall of an artist doing henna tattoo on a bald head. I asked about it and said that this is something I would really like to have done. I was told that they have a connection with a local artist that does it and they would be happy to connect us. In fact, they were thinking of having their first ever Pampering Day event in January and wouldn't it be great if henna tattoo could be a part of that. I said YES! It would be great and I would love to have it done.
Fast forward to January 13th ... to Pampering Day and my first ever henna tattoo on my HEAD. I was one of three people who got one that day. It's takes about an hour total and it was a one of the most relaxing and anticipatory hours of my life. The artist's name is Christalene and not only does she have an Australian accent which was lovely to listen to, but she is also a lovely person from her soul outward. She's one of those people who you can't help but connect to. The whole experience was just .... magical. I got to see nothing of what she was doing until the whole thing was complete. It was so fantastic. I felt like I looked like someone getting ready to be in a movie. As what, I'm not sure! Some kind of wise princess or goddess or something, ha ha!
She asked me for one word
The inspirational artist, Christalene and me
Tanner checking me out. He was speechless and then just uttered one word ... "cool"
