Two Cycles Down; Two More To Go

Well this past Wednesday my mom completed her second chemo cycle! We are now half way through chemo (hurray!) After she completed her treatment, my mom and Aunt Fran came over my house to visit the kids for awhile. My mom sure was in rare form let me tell you - and not in a bad way. She was giddy and chatty and high spirited. At first I thought it was her depression medication or the fact that she really has been in a very positive place lately dealing with everything. But then she informed me that her nurse says she is experiencing "chemo brain". Apparently this is something that happens to some cancer patients where you say whatever comes into your head without a filter. Also, they give my mom steroids with the chemo, so that just added to her chatty and energetic mood. We had a laugh about it when she told me what was happening. I thought, boy she really is the poster woman for a positive cancer patient. I did enjoy seeing her in such a good place though.

Now, today is a different story. Today is a down day. She is still in good spirits, but very exhausted, quiet and experiencing the "crash". To add to her trials today, her hair started falling out last night. She showed me a clump that she was able to pull from her head. She called her stylist first thing this morning, and he was able to shave the rest of her hair this afternoon. My Aunt Fran and her granddaughter Jaclyn came to my mom's house to meet me and my girls so the kids could have a play date. I'm very thankful that Fran has been taking very good care of my mom - driving her to chemo and taking her places she needs to be. It was good we were all at her house after she got her hair done. First thing she did was show Evelyn to see if she'd be okay with it, and Evelyn just said, "It's okay Mum, you look beautiful". When she said, "its okay", she looked like an adult telling a child who has just fallen down that she will be okay. Where do children get that empathy? Then Evelyn hugged my mom tight and Jaclyn did the same. (Jaclyn has a grandmother who has beaten breast cancer also). I think that's what made my mom cry, not the fact that her hair is gone. She did confide that she was afraid to let my dad see her. I guess she still worries what he'll think even though we all know my dad would love and find my mom beautiful even if she wore a bag on her head.

Well, she’s been through the worst of everything now. If she can get through this, she can get through anything. At my mom’s request, all the women in my family are getting together for a “pity party” for my mom. It’s obviously not really a pity party – it’s more of a celebration of what she’s achieved so far. We’re all going to wear bandanas and scarves and drink pink cosmos. My mom is really excited because we’re making the guest of honor her Auntie Anna who is eighty-eight years old and is also battling breast cancer. Ironically, when my mom was at chemo this week, her treatment was scheduled the same time as Auntie Anna’s and they got to visit each other. My mom said her heart broke for her as she watched her get her treatment. At her stage in life, she should be spared such worries. It seems cancer touches so many people, and what it really teaches you is that most people are stronger than they ever thought possible. My mom’s new saying is: “God never gives me more than I can handle; I just wish he didn’t trust me so much”.

These are the scriptures that I pray for my mom today:

Psalm 91:14-16
Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.

Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

Since I mention my Aunt Fran in this post, I thought you all might like to see her trying on my mom's wig. Nice mullet! You all should have heard them laughing on the phone over this just like silly teenagers! Here is an old picture of the two empathic Mum huggers (Jaclyn and Evelyn). Let's all say it......Awwwwww!