Thursday, November 1, 2007

Thank you Zofran!!!

What a difference a day can make.

Yesterday....poor Richard was sick again with his chemotherapy and was getting no relief from the compazine that had been prescribed for the nausea. We met with Dr. Thompson and he agreed with our research, stating that Zofran was a marvelous drug, but it was VERY expensive ($50 a pill!!!) and often wasn't covered by insurance. He told us that he would ask his nurse to call our insurance company and see if they would cover a month's worth of medication and that she would let us know. Later that afternoon I was able to walk up to Rite Aid and pick up a new script for one tiny Zofran tablet, every day, for a month. Alleluia!!!

Richard had already taken compazine for that day so we decided to begin the Zofran today. Last night was miserable for poor Richard. To put it bluntly....the only thing he ate all afternoon was an apple......and he preceded to throw up that one apple for about six hours. He was horribly sick and angry....and I was horribly aching for him...

But today.....was total heaven!!!! First, Richard returned to work finally after seven weeks. He was warmly welcomed by balloons, presents, his favorite chocolate chip cookies and lots of hugs and well wishes. When he got home he was all smiles...... So happy...... So relieved to be able to do something normal like working for a few hours..... And mostly sosososo touched by all the beautiful angels that he has worked with for many years. He was like a little boy who was sososo proud of a HUGE accomplishment.... And it was huge after everything he has been through. He was at work for just a few hours but it symbolized so much for him...and for me.... It was a step in his recovery and it was wonderful!!!

Soon after he got home we had to begin preparing for the schedule of our chemo/radiation regime.....and frankly.....even after just three days of it.....we were dreading it with very heavy hearts. But I told him, as he took the Zofran, that this was going to make everything totally different and that we had to expect that today was going to be a wonderful day....and guess what?????? It was!!!! He took his chemotherapy, we went to radiation and he did his treatment and he has felt marvelous throughout our entire afternoon and evening. We're both so excited....we just can't believe the difference. We are both doing the Zofran dance!!!! We LOVE this new medication!!!!!

We are feeling very happy tonight. We spent part of the evening with our daughter, beautiful Emily. Richard was so present with us, so tender and sweet. I was so thankful that he was feeling well enough to lead us in a beautiful conversation. The specifics of the conversation isn't important.....but what is awesome is the depth of feeling and love that was shared by the three of us. In the end....we stood together and just hugged for moments....way past normal...and it was a precious time for all of us. Another blessed moment...that maybe without cancer having happened to us...may have just been skimmed over.

Today my sister pointed out to me something very important....She told me that through this experience we all have to remember that it's imperative to make every moment count...... Thank you Jodee for reminding me of that. You were my Buddha....my teacher!!! I love you!!!!!

I love you all!!!!

Blessings,

Sherri

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Sherri and Richard,
RE: radiation. I like to see the big machines as harnessing the healing power of the universe and channeling it into our body. Even the sounds make me think of star dust and cosmic emenations. Anyhow, it always seemed somewhat comforting to me. With chemo I did lots of visualization - sparkles of light converging on the tumor and tiny little silver and gold explosions as they knocked out the sick cells. A veritable fourth of July!! Take it a second, a minute or a day at a time. xo Kathy Cullen

Anonymous said...

This just reminds me that prayer does work--and I been doin' lots---for you guys, believe me!xoxo
Lisa A