4:30am Why Do You Exist or Tales From a Mobile Pharmacy

Today is shaping up to be along day. The alarm went off at 4:30 this morning. After showering and all that stuff I woke Stephanie up at around 5:10. This was without the dogs. tomorrow I think I'll have to get up at 4 just to take care of our mutts before we leave.

Radiation today went well. Stephanie decided that being at 6 in the morning was a good thing because she could half way go to sleep on the table, which took her mind off the uncomfortable mask. We gave her Lortab this morning to try to calm her nerves down, this ended up being a bad idea as shortly after the radiation she got pretty nauseous. We're hoping very much that her salivary glands stay supernaturally protected through all this. I know it sounds silly, but when Stephanie explained to me all the things your spit does for you, I realized it really is pretty important. So like I said we're praying for the better than best possible outcome on her spit glands.

We went and saw Mell today as well. She continues to be extremely excited and raves about Stephanie's progress. Stephanie got to see the x-ray video from her swallow study, so that was pretty cool, she enjoyed it very much.

After Mell was time for 9 o'clock meds. this was quite the adventure on the run as we were, but we managed to get it done.

We made it to Dr. Kaplan's in plenty of time for the 9:30 appointment, in fact this is where we did our medicine. This is also where we heard that insurance would cover the amifostine if we chose to take it. however the window of opportunity had already passed and thus we are no praying all the harder for the salivary glands. Stephanie says she has no regrets and I hope it stays that way. This visit took all of about 15 minutes. Stephanie makes some pretty hilairious faces when tape is being removed, at least it would be hilairious if she wasn't in so much pain. but we got to see her arm, it looks like a cheese grater was taken to it, but it's better than seeing her tendons and everything. Dr. Kaplan assures us the gaps will fill in and so will the divot in her arm. Her leg on the otherhand will probably be permanently discolored.

We then went to see Vadel about nutrition. She was pretty amazed with Stephanie's eating progress as well. But she was disappointed in the lack of preogress in other areas, so she is trying to get us on a new formula, and on one that insurance will cover (which would be awesome). We will hopefully find something out tomorrow.

Now we're waiting in the Chemo waiting room hoping we might get an earlier spot. They recognized us and wondered what on earth we were doing 4:30 hours before our appointment. but we've killed most of that time now. I wonder if they will give Stephanie anti nausea drugs even though she shouldn't be getting nauseous from the chemo, since she's doind pretty bad today in that department.

When we get home it will be time for the first scar massage. We are supposed to rub down her neck to try and move the fluid out of there. We will also be using aquaphor which should have the added benefit of easing some of the radiation burns on her neck, where some of the most sever radiation will be aimed.