A new chapter: chemo

I’m learning a whole new language—a language that includes terms like ice gloves, caps, nausea meds, vitamin C infusions, and three days of fatigue.

Reid is beginning a new chapter: Folfox, chemo.

As I was telling my son, who was wondering why God placed him in a class of all girls, I admitted I didn’t know. But I reminded him of Jonah, who tried to hide when God called him to Nineveh. “Did Jonah do what he was called to do?” I asked. “Sometimes, God asks us to do hard things.” Though we’re praying for a friend to join him in his class, I realized this is also a lesson for my own heart: indeed, God sometimes calls us to difficult paths.

I never thought cancer would be part of our story; it was always something I read about in others’ lives.

In the exam room, time seemed to stretch on as the oncologist gave us an overwhelming stream of information. My head started to ache. Later, an older nurse came in with more information about what the treatment would feel like. I immediately liked her. There’s something about older nurses—she was like a sweet grandma in a sterile place. But one scary thought kept surfacing: will Reid’s have another abscess? Also – can Reid’s body handle the intensity and rigor of chemo?

Not forgetting that this is a fashion blog, I distracted myself from the chemo talk by deciding that I need an LV neverfull for my birthday to hold all of Reid’s paperwork. Do you have one and love it? Let me know. My current bag – Midi Demellier was overflowing with hospital folders and water bottles…I digress . . . .

If anyone has tips on supporting a chemo patient with natural supplements, I’d love to hear them! I’m currently researching so Reid can have the best chemo experience possible.

Back to the schedule . . .

On Tuesday, they’ll install the port in his chest, and Wednesday, the first dose begins. It will mean six hours at the hospital and 46 hours total, as he’ll go home with a pump. How will he—or I—sleep without worrying about this pump?

But somehow, I tell myself, we’ll be okay. We’ll take each moment as it comes.

My friend Tracy set up a meal train for our family next week with the new demands of chemo. Thank you to those who have signed up to bless our family. I won’t lie, this diagnosis has been hard to juggle with a big family.

But we have a big community. God knew what we needed.

Until next time.

Shalice