December 19th, 2011

The Universe took full advantage of our last Chemo together. We checked in around 3:30, new floor, new room (all to ourselves for the first time), and quickly started going through the steps to settle in for the night. This was our fourth sleepover so we had the routine down.
Ran's throat has continued to get worse as the week progressed. The pain medicine that he has been taking just isn't cutting it and we had visited with Peggy One earlier in the day about getting something stronger (she told Ran not to be tough - there was no need for pain at this point in the game). Unfortunately, we had not received any new meds and had to request them from the Dr. on call for the evening. This took a while and many requests. By the time everything was in the system and ready to be administered Ran was at a pain level of ten and not talking at all. He had never been at a ten - ever - and I made sure that the nurse was aware of this. At one point she asked Ran if he was always a quite guy. I told her she was missing out on probably her most polite and complimentary patient ever. He is always full of thank-you's and cheers for a job well done, whether it be an IV on the first hit, a quick response to an alarm, or a prepared room. When the relief finally came it was intravenously administered but I think Nicole, our nurse, felt Ran's anxiety and pushed it through too fast. He immediately got sick. Ran has had a fever each time we have stayed in the hospital - usually short lived. Of course the nurses don't know this but I've picked up on the repetition and really feel it's a result of nervousness and stress. This, of course, isn't a very medical diagnosis so Chemo was put on hold while multiple tubes of blood were taken, pee was analyzed and chest x-rays were taken. We were scared to death they were going to call off the goods and send us home. A few hours and many tests later though his temp had returned to normal and we continued with the juice.
Around one o'clock I started to see Ran make the turn. He started talking again. He was drinking water via a straw and it felt good. We drifted in and out of sleep and we kept on top of our request for the pain medicine and before I knew it Randy, the one who has been gone for over a week, was back. Loopy - a bit high - but it was him and he was gabby! The 196 minutes of Chemo dropped its last drop around three in the morning, the alarm sounded to alert the nurse, and Ran gave me a high-five. I crawled up by his side, we kissed, and gave the moment the recognition it deserved. We just finished our last Chemo treatment and we were smiling.There is a lot to be said for smiles.

• Watched the movie Bridesmaids during Chemo. For those of you who don't know, this was the movie we were watching in the theater when the tornado hit Joplin. The movie was stopped and we never finished it. When I asked Ran how he could stay so calm in the theater when we knew there was a tornado outside he said "I just knew I wasn't going to go out watching Bridesmaids!" I thought it was pretty good timing to reintroduce this movie and finish it once and for all!

We left the 7th floor and headed to the basement for SHR. As soon as we left the hospital we went to Wal-greens to pick up the "good stuff" before heading back to the Hope Lodge for a nap. While at the store Randy floated around looking at items as if with new eyes. The best comment made was in reference to our Miss Emma Doodle. She will be having her tonsils out next week and Randy, out of the blue, came up to me and said "We need to send Emma something." "We should go see her!" I laughed out loud because it looked as if he wanted to fly to her. . .with his arms. He was almost floating. His smile was huge!!
I had to make him go home to hook up to Peggy Two, as he had not eaten for 24hours, otherwise he would have gone out on the town. As soon as we were settled in Rm. 107, blinds drawn, Power Cans flowing, we drifted off to sleep with a feeling of complete contentment. Only one more Super Hero Radiation to go!
We've spent the evening packing, reminiscing, visiting with our Lodge mates, and relaxing. He has stayed happy and feeling pretty well. Tired but. . .who isn't?