Yesterday was the first day of Phil's new chemotherapy drug, Arranon (nelarabine), and he did pretty well with it. We arrived at 7 a.m. to 3 South and although they were expecting us, the pharmacist waited until we'd fully checked in to prepare his medication and send it to the floor. It costs $6800 per dose so they don't take any chances with no-shows. By 9:30, after his pre-chemo medications and several mis-starts for one reason or another, he was on the I.V. and doing fine. It only took about 2 1/2 hours and then after a little bit of paperwork we were on our way home. Incredible compared to those 4 day stints!
Some mild nausea was about all Phil experienced while in the hospital and it passed once he took his regular medications at home. It wasn't until early evening when he really crashed and felt the full effects - turning into what looked like a couch pillow, slumping over with zero energy and literally running out of "gas". It was off to bed and a hard night's sleep. Thankfully though, no serious side effects.
Today went fairly well. He watched the Tour de France (on Bastille Day!), ate well, and even managed a few trips to help me take things to the storage area below the house. Amazingly, he felt well enough to happily agree to have two of the kid's playmates over and slept like a newborn baby on the couch while they ran in and out of the house screaming like banshees. That tells you a lot about where he was today. God how I wish I could sleep that deeply.
Tomorrow and Sunday he gets up and does it all again. Then we watch and wait over the next 2-3 weeks as his body takes it's time to recover and the cancer cells hopefully die a quick death. In another few weeks when he is feeling stronger he will have his CT scan repeated and we'll see where we are. See what the future holds. But that comes later.
We live our lives one day at a time and today was a good day.
glad to hear. we're there alongside you. We're tired of being hot and are ready to sleep in our own beds down the street from you! XO T and J
ReplyDeleteSometimes it is hard to find words to say to you guys. My heart aches for you...I am praying hard that the treatment won't be hard on him. Wishing for far easier days soon!
ReplyDeleteKathi
Sally and Phil--I've turned to your blog posts this evening for inspiration as I take the night watch at the hospital to be with Virginia's mom. (Marge entered hospice care this week.) Please know you are in Paul and Ann's evening prayers, and we empathize with the difficult journey you face.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Topher