One Tough Lady!!

So, yesterday (Tuesday) Cindi heads off to the hospital with her sister for her blood tests and her meeting with her oncologist and nurse and updates. She shares with them that she's been very nauseous through this last two weeks and experiencing tons of heartburn with water drinking and a little dehydrated. They asked her why she hadn't called in and she said simply - because. They asked some more questions and then asked Cindi to describe what would be a really bad day - one where she might call in to the hospital. Cindi replied, "That would be when I am constantly at the toilet throwing up all day."

The nurse and doctor were amazed at Cindi's stamina, and her perseverance through some tough and uncomfortable side effects and not complain. They said her tolerance levels were amazing! When asked if she was using her backup meds to work with the side effects Cindi said no. She had done some studies on some of those back up meds and doesn't want the side effects they can result in (weird tics or a tongue sticking out). She says that facial tic and protruding tongues are a deal breaker for her. Both the nurse and the oncologist smiled and said that she had an amazing attitude to this whole process and they were very impressed with what a tough lady she is! They usually take blood on the Tuesday before chemo. Now as you may remember, Cindi has a portacath under the skin that they use to access her veins for blood draws and chemo giving. Well the portacath was plugged up and wouldn't work. They did some x-rays and then used a chemical (they described it as a type of human grade "drano" to unplug it and get back to business. It worked. I wasn't paying full attention to Cindi when she said they used drano on her and I nearly came out of my skin but she explained it was not drano but drano-like and safe for humans. I need to learn to listen better.

My poor amazing wife! Poked, prodded, stuck with needles, x-rayed, cat-scanned and filled with strange concoctions. So brave, so wonderfully strong. So amazing!!! Please, if you feel up to it, pause and pray for Cindi today as she gets her fourth chemo (the last of the first round and a special halfway milepost in the journey). Peace and grace to you on the road you are on.