Maintenance

Kayla is in maintenance.

It is surreal and bitter sweet. I am thrilled and terrified at the same time.  Today as her first day of the maintenance road map she had to get vincristine through her port o cath, and have intrathecal methotrexate (spinal tap). She is relaxing on the couch eating top ramen.

Maintenance is lower doses of chemo given to assist in prolonging remission.

She will be taking 2 chemo pills a day, spinal taps every 3 months, a visit to the clinic every month for vincristine and steroids for 5 days out of the month.

I am curious to see what her steroid food will be. Seems like she has gone through almost all junky fattening foods. I hope it’s not cheeseburgers and fries again.

I was told that her ANC will never go to zero again. (ANC = immune system)

Her hair could fall out again but there is only a small chance of that.

As for me, they found pre-cancerous cells on my last pap so I have to get a coloscopy. I have had one before and it hurts, but it is a necessary evil. I asked if I could have my cervix taken out but they said no.

What the hell do I want it for? I’m not going to use it anymore. I told them I would donate it to science. They said no go.

Lastly, I just want to say a huge thank you to those of you that have sent cards. It has been so special to me and to Kayla. We look at the map and I point out where each one came from.