6th Chemo....psych!

My 6th and final chemo was scheduled for Jan. 17, 2011.  There was great rejoicing and happy anticipation for this chemo.  Is it possible to rejoice for a chemo?  More like we were excited to be done with this leg of the journey.  My most excellent big sister, Audralyn, came up from Katy, Texas to be with me for this last chemo and help take care of me and my family all the next "sick" week.  I was so looking forward to have her be a slug with me.  I felt prepared and ready.  The night before, all the YW and leaders in my ward had a "congrats on your last chemo" party for me with pink balloons, cupcakes, and the dearest notes expressing their love and support.  I was ready to go.  Still, I couldn't help but feel like maybe it wasn't going to happen.  I didn't want to be a stinkin' thinkin' kinda gal but I had noticed a lot of bruising on my legs, knowing that may very well be the result of low  levels.  Upon meeting with the doctor he thought it was my 5th chemo.  I was QUITE sure I have been counting and it was my 6th and final.  As he looked up my info and read my blood levels, he announced, "Well, this would have been your 6th.  We will not be doing chemo today."  I was devastated.  My mom was there, my Texas sister, and my oldest brother, Larry, who had taken the day off from work.  I was stunned and really bummed.  The doctor said he did not know how I was walking around with my levels so low.  He could not understand why my body is reacting the way it is.  Everyone is different.  Mostly, I felt fine and dandy but as he questioned me, I realized that was why I was so out of breath, so tired, and bruising so easily.  He directed me immediately the next day to get a blood transfusion.  I guess my state was a little more alarming than I realized.
I still received the Herceptin medication but I left feeling just about the same as when I came.  We decided to go to lunch to celebrate just being together.  My oldest brother, Larry with all of his sisters and my mom.  I was in a bit of a mourning state and very sad.  It is frustrating to continue to try and schedule my life only to be reminded that I am not in control here.  How is it that my body can be so foxy on the outside yet so sick on the inside?:)  Went home totally wiped out, white as a ghost.  Enjoyed a dinner with my family and parents provided by my younger brother, Brian (who lives in Oklahoma and arranged it for us to help during chemo).  Oh yeah--I didn't have chemo....blasted!
And so, I spent 8 hours the very next day receiving some wonderfully generous stranger peoples blood.  4 units exactly.  The nurses couldn't believe I was walking in there with so much pep.  I didn't really know I shouldn't have pep.  They explained to us that if you place sand, dirt, rocks, and gravel in a jar then fill it with water the levels are good.  But take away all the dirt, gravel, etc. substance and the water level lowers.  The dirt represents my cells that chemo is killing off so without them (red, white, platelets) then the blood level decreases greatly.  To give an example, my platelet level was at 18, but needed to be between 130-440.  They could not remember the last time they gave 4 units of blood to someone.  Sure must be special.   Audralyn and I sat and chatted soon to be joined by my other sisters, Charalece, DeLonne, and Lareen, and my mom, Dayton in-laws,  great friend Michaun, and wonderful husband, Brendon.  It was deemed the "party room" whenever someone came.  Although the experience felt a little creepy,and definitely not desired at all, it turned out to be a great time visiting with loved ones.
How lucky am I to just be able to visit for 8 hours straight with awesome people!
Now my REAL 6th and last chemo is scheduled for tomorrow, Thurs. Jan. 27.  Well, let us pray that it happens.  I did feel better after receiving my new blood and am sure I either got blood from an extra menopausal woman or some spicy Latin blood cause my hot flashes have sure kicked it up a notch this past week.  "I'm hot blooded" as the 80's song proclaims.  I have endured all the vampire jabs and jokes of all the multiple personalities I have absorbed into my blood.  One brother, Greg, offered to give me his BYU blue blood.  So generous.  Well, here's to hoping for the best.

Friend & sisters group attending the temple the morning of chemo #6.  Ali Rae Mecham (pretty much my sister), and sisters Audralyn, DeLonne, me, Lareen, & Charalece

#6 Fake chemo treatment support group.  Mom, Larry (oldest brother), DeLonne, (twin sister), her son Ashton & daughter Brooklyn, and Audralyn (older sister).  No chemo this day because of low blood levels.