Another quick post...So far so good, she's hanging in there. Tony, on the other hand, has seen "The Little Mermaid" enough times to be able to quote, verbatim, the evil sea witch Ursala's "You poor unfortunate soul... " bit. For those of you who know Tony well, this is truly unfortunate = ). I guess it also doesn't hurt to have the room painted in a tropical ocean theme!
Room 560 decorations at PEC
We are scheduled to say "see ya later jokers" late Saturday night; labs the following Monday and Thursday. Both Dr. Fisher and Trish are on travel through early July so we will be breaking in some very capable oncology NPs for the next two weeks.
Talk around the floor is that if Gianni does not fair well during this round (i.e, cystitis, line infection, flu, severe puking, headaches, or any of the other cadre of maladies our little one has suffered), this may be the last round of chemo. At the very least, cycle 8 may have to be greatly modified to get her tired little body to eek through. Nearing the point of diminishing returns. What a trooper.
Thinking about the End of chemo brings an unsettling mix of joyful anticipation and surprisingly, anxiety. When chemo ends we will have stopped actively fighting the cancer; the treatment phase will be completed. The next phase is to monitor, she will have MRIs every few months for the foreseeable future. I believe I need a crash course lesson in living, really l-i-v-i-n-g in the present - not worrying in the present or second guessing the future.
Should this be the last (and even if it's the penultimate) chemo, we've been given an unexpected, albeit small peek into Gianni's immediate future . . . Because this round of chemo was delayed so long, her hairs (eye lashes, brows, on her head) have started to grow back. Its not much, just a little fuzz - although her previously enviable longer and darker than humanly possible eyelashes are back with a mighty vengance and I'm afraid I won't recognize a hairy Gianni!
FuzzyTony let me stay with Gianni again tonight so that I could witness Bruno's pre-K graduation tomorrow - I'm bracing myself for the full pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious matriculation.
It's late, but Gianni is still up watching Dora, cuddled in a super soft Ariel blanket and drinking water from a non-lure tipped syringe (for fun) . . .
---Funny Gianni---
[After giving her some juice to drink in a tiny medicine cup]
"Thank you, you're a good mommy."
[After cleaning off a spoon so she she could have some ice using my spoon]
"Mommy, I like your germs the best."
