Stories From the Chemo Room

Everyone has a story.  Their own life story.  Sitting in the chemo room, we patients seem to easily interact with each other.  We are all in a fight - different stages perhaps - but definitely a fight.

November 16th was Round 1 Treatment 5 for me.  Another one down.  The gal sitting next to me today finished her 6th treatment.  She got to ring the bell.  The bell....  it symbolizes victory.  It hangs on the wall close to the exit door.  Once you finish your last treatment of a round - you ring the bell.  Everyone in the room claps and cheers... kindof cool!

Anyway, this gal is 49.  She started chemo in May - only needing 6 treatments then radiation.  Somewhere down the road of treatments, her body had a horrible reaction.  She was in the hospital for 11 days.  Both kidneys had almost completely shut down. She heard the word "dialysis" and her name in many sentences.  Then by some miracle (we chemo peeps use that word and blessed a lot) her kidneys started functioning again.  Her husband and her were so grateful to only being attached to a chemo IV right now and not anything else.

There's a darling 32 year old gal I met on my 3rd treatment.  She has breast cancer.  She has 4 children and was recently divorced.  She walks into "our" chemo room with no hat, wig or scarf.  She loves to "work the bald look" as she told me.  She was having #5 today and has 3 more after that.  Her 9 year old daughter was her chemo buddy today.  She asks a different person each time to go with her.  She thinks everyone should have that experience.  I agree with her.

There's a 61 year old gal.  She had a rough time with recovery from her surgery.  Her husband passed away last year.  She said that was the thing making cancer so difficult for her.  Her daughter has been with her for each treatment. Her son came the first time.  It was very frightening for her but she said she and her husband started their business, which was scary.  So she can do this as well.

There's another gal in her late 60's that has cancer in her bone marrow.  She said she will never be cured.  She's been having chemo for almost a year and will continue once a month for the rest of her life, unless something else "hits me first!" as she told us.

I met the most lovely lady.  She looks to be in her late 70's.  She loves my hats.  She wants to find some like mine.  She still puts on makeup but doesn't want to hassle with the "falsies"  (as in eye lashes).

There are a couple of men there.  One with melanoma and the other with lymphoma.  Both are Stage 3, hoping to stop the spreading. One guy is a gruff farmer and the other a truck driver.  Their stories are hilarious. 

We are all drawn to each other due to our daily struggle, wishing each other the best, along with praying for miracles and cures.  All of these lovely people have good attitudes.  It is truly a wonderful experience to meet them.  I feel blessed.  They have given me hope and strength. The chances of seeing these people again, outside of chemo is slim to none.  But I will always remember them.  It's been an honor.  

I didn't want to go.....

but I did.  FIVE down!!  Wahooooooo~