November 18, 2016: Day -1

An Empty Bottle
Chemotherapy is over!

Last night, we did not get home until 9:45.  We had a little snack and headed to bed.  4 hours of Apherisis, stem cell harvesting, and 5 hours of chemotherapy make for a very long day.  We got up this morning ready to go again. Doug awoke early.  I dont know if it was because he is anxious or because of the steriods that are given to him as part of the chemotherapy for managing it's side effects.

Angel picked us up at 8:30. Chemotherapy was to begin at 9:00. We are a funny group getting our of the van and heading into the building. We have 4 people in wheelchairs, one person with a cane and a carer's arm and one person with just a carer's arm.  The beauty of our group is that this is perfectly normal and everyone is so comfortable with each other. Upon getting out of the van at the clinic, everyone made it up to the second floor chemotherapy room and settled thenselves down into their chairs.  Each one in the group picked their chair last week with the first round of chemotherapy and have stuck with it ever since.  The same is  true of where we sit in the van.

Everyone was doing well this morning, even though yesterday had been such a marathon day and fairly difficult.  We are ready to go.  The day began with gentle banter as we settled in. A couple of us had forgotten water bottles for the patients.  It is important to drink 3 liters of water in 24 hours with chemotherapy to minimize the side-effects.  We stayed with the patients, our loved ones,  until everyone was hooked up.  Then we headed down the street to a little corner grocery to pick-up water and some gatorade. On the way back we stopped at an organic coffee shop and picked-up a couple of delicious breakfast pastries andd cappacchinos. Yum!  That really helped to get our day started.

Our chemotherapy room with half of Group 1

Then for the next 5 hours we settled into our individual routines, drank liquids and helped the patients to the bathroom. Doug teased "I never thought it would take 3 people for me to go to the bathroom!".

It is like a parade, helping people get up, into the wheelchair, hanging on to the chemo cart, and helping with the wheelchair.

The other half of Group 1

Group 2, started Apherisis, stem cell harvesting, next door to us, while our group was getting chemotherapy.  We had the opportunity to encourage them, and tell them they had this.  We were all glad yesterday was behind us.  Last week the first days of chemo had us nervous.  Today, we know that this is accomplishable and it will be ok.

One of Chemo and Home nurses

Dr. Ruiz, the owner of the clinic and lead hematalogist, who developed the Mexican Method for HSCT has come to see us every day.  This morning he came in to greet all of us.  Stopping to shake hands with everyone, asking how we are,  and asking if we need anything.  He is very positive, warm and caring. I really respect him.  Everyone does.  He will be with us tomorrow as well, when the patients in our group get their stem cells back.  This is a HUGE day for everyone, patients, doctors, nurses, drivers and Dr. Ruiz.  This will be the beginning of the patients new lives and the end of the MS, God willing.

So today, we arrived home about 3:00.  Everyone was ready for a nap.  No one was sick, but all are ready for tomorrow. And Doug, he is doing really well.  His color is good, he is not sick and he can't believe that we have come this far. He has hope.

I am hoping that everyone feels ok tomorrow.  We learned with chemotherapy, that sometimes you don't experience the side effects for a couple days.  We will see.  I pray that tomorrow everyone feels good.  We will have birthday posters. pictures and a celebration at the clinic.  Then Angel is going to make a light lunch for everyone and we will have a birthday party and birthday cake.  

And so we pray:  

Holy Lord we give you thanks for the resilance of the body and for the spirit of hope and resurrection in your people.  We give you thanks for the torch bearers in our lives that  help us to see the path, to give us light in the darkness and who lead the way.  We thank your for Dr. Ruiz and all of the doctors and nurses at Clinical Ruiz.  We thank you for inspiring in them a vision of healing and a willingness to give of themselves to improve and save lives. Holy One, we ask you to  be with us this night, comfort those with side effects and fill us with joy as celebrate a new day.  Amen