Kate’s Updates: April 10: Good Friday

This week started out pretty uneventful. The weekend went smoothly with no real problems or side effects from chemo earlier in the week. My joints were pretty achy but Aside from that and what I am told is called "chemo coma" with accompanying nausea and my Benadryl hang over I faired well with side effects from the first round of chemo. Sunday marked 2 weeks of being here and I am officially in the clear from catching Covid-19 on the flight out....Woot Woot. Eric and I went exploring the "city" of Rochester. With everything closed walking was pretty much all there was to do so we walked and walked and walked for hours! It was nice to get some vitamin D and exercise. The churches are not holding services but are open for prayer a couple hours a day so we were able to get our palms. There were only 4 other people in the church so Eric was ok with me sitting in there to say the rosary (he is a little over protective these days).

I am all set up for resuming chemo at home, of course that didn't come without a little drama. The first oncologist I was scheduled with called to inform me that based on their new "task force guidelines" I need to quarantine for two weeks after returning to Virginia before they would see me for an office visit and administer chemo. This was a huge problem because there is less than a week between my last radiation (and my return home date) and the first day of my 3rd round of chemo. I was astonished that they were actually denying me timely administration of chemo that I have already started. I mean come on, its not like I am coming in for a steroid injection in a joint or even for a consult to initiate treatment. No matter how much we pleaded, the office manager would not budge. She was awful, she even refused to state that they were denying me chemo.....She kept repeating the same line over and over....."we can treat after the two weeks of being home". We were both so frustrated and felt helpless. This was the largest oncology group near us, and honestly the only one I knew of. I immediately started calling oncologists in Richmond at VCU and Duke Cancer Center. VCU was not very nice on the phone and Duke, although willing to help, would be 3 hours away. After shedding a few tears out of frustration, I checked with our insurance and realized there actually was another very small oncology group in Virginia Beach. I called and an angel answered the phone, 👼her name was Chloe! After explaining the situation she said "do not worry about a thing, we will get you home to your family and treat you right on schedule. The last thing you need to stress about is staying on your chemo schedule." Ahhhhhhhh Finally!!!!!!! Bottom line...... I have an oncologist lined up at home, Mayo has talked to them, records have been sent, and I will get chemo on time in May.

You know, growing up my family called me Killer Kate, a feisty little force to be reckoned with....I've stepped that up a little these days and now Eric calls me Chemo Kate! Virginia Oncology Associates got a taste of Chemo Kate. 🧏🏻‍♀️

I had a video follow up with radiation oncology yesterday. It was supposed to be with Dr Oliver but it was with a resident instead, which was fine. He was very nice, informative and answered all our questions. On the technical side of everything the radiation treatment plan and beam approach seems to be working perfectly. My second CT verification appointment was later that day and Dr Oliver would be looking at images to make sure no adjustments need to be made.

Yesterday also marked my first, of what I am sure will be many, mini melt down.🙍🏻‍♀️ What I am about to say is going to make me sound a little crazy, but its my story not yours so oh well. HA! I had a full on melt down because they removed seating in the "holding room" for radiation. Yup thats right, no chairs, none, gone! There are still chairs in the main waiting room (where there used to be snacks and beverages available while you wait but those are gone now too) but then you go back, put on your gown in a little dressing room, lock up your belongings and sit and wait until your radaition room is ready. Now you have to sit in your dressing room and wait. It is pretty horrible. As if I dont feel isolated enough being away from home, during a global pandemic, locked in a hotel room, with no place to get away from everything and now I have to sit in a dressing room alone with the door closed and wait for radiation. I can not make this up. As terrible as it sounds (at least to me) the staff was so supportive.When they saw me crying (yes I was crying, in a mask, which made breathing difficult) they immediatly wanted to fix the problem. They did not try and deffend the choice they made to remove the chairs, they actively listened and came up with a solution. They offered the option of sitting back in the main waiting room with Eric from now on instead of sitting in the dressing room. i know it sounds pathetic and I am borderline embarrassed about my melt down.....luckily the staff was supportive and empathetic- they all wanted to give me a hug (but they cant because of the virus). We will see how tonight goes.

While I was in radiation, Dr. Oliver called twice to make sure I was doing ok and apologize for having the resident do the video call. I could not believe he called at 6pm just to check on me, the doctors here are just so amazing.

Today is Good Friday. Never in a million years would I have imagined that after getting ashes here post op in February For Ash Wednesday that Eric and I would spend half the lentin season in MN. But we have. We have seen -20 degrees and we have seen 60 degrees! Sunday is expected to bring 5-8inches of snow. Maybe we can build a snow bunny for Easter.