Done Done Done!!!!!

Wow.

I can not accurately describe how it feels. Tears come to my eyes often thinking about what I don't have to worry about - as odd as that sounds. You often hear the term "weight lifted off your shoulders" - doesn't do it justice. I have a new step, brighter eyes, bigger smiles, bigger fight...just an amazing feeling. I was able to go out Saturday and not worry...

I'm an Uncle! Or, more importantly, Val and John are parents! Beautiful baby Hallie Veljanovski was born Wednesday, March 11 at 9:30pm! She was 5lbs 15oz - sooooo tiny. So beautiful! An interesting coincidence...Isabella was born the day before I was diagnosed and Hallie was born the day before I was done with chemo.

So, last Thursday I went in for my last Lumbar Puncture and the 8th round of Rituxan as part of my 8 cycle chemo plan. The LP was booked for 9am and Dr. Hamm was called for an emergency and I didn't get the LP until about 11:30am - kind sucked, but at least I got it done...and I almost didn't. It started with the usual injection of freezing and then she inserted the needle (which I found out is a 20 gauge 3.5 inch needle - WOW) to start collecting some fluid (she collects every time to test the fluid) but she wasn't getting much - a little dry (I think she was joking??)...So she pulled out. She said that she will try again in a different location and that if she wasn't able to get any there, that she wouldn't do it - and that she was ok with that. After all, it is just prophylactic anyways. Didn't matter, the second one worked. But man it sucked getting 2 done.

Then on to the Rituxan...I normally get this drug over about 3-4 hours...We decided to push it and see if we could get it done in 90min - which is normal. We did it slower because of the reactions I had in the past. Anyways, they loaded me up with Tylenol and benadryl and then started the Rituxan...no problem. As soon as I was able to get up from the LP I went to the bathroom came back and Joanne was there to visit and try some therapeutic touch. Within 2min of getting back in bed I was asleep! Fantastic!

On my way out a few nurses got together and sang a bit of "Happy Last Chemo" hahaha ... and gave me a little bottle of champagne blow bubbles. It was cute.

My plan was to go visit little Hallie (and Val / John) in the hospital attached to the cancer center...walking out of the cancer center I was overcome with emotion and I cried a little and impulsively, I shot the cancer center the finger! hahahah (nobody saw this - but it made me laugh and still does). I wanted to collapse and cry - but I wouldn't let myself - it was harder than I thought.

I've got a few more posts to write specifically about this journey so I will continue on with the blog...

I couldn't pick a favorite....

Ciao