Chemo Weeks Are Always Hard
Chemo weeks are always challenging and this one was no different. Though, I would say it was a more challenging, as Hutton was not only getting her chemo treatment’s this week, but also getting radiation as well. This meant that she had to be woken up early in the morning to be transported down to where she receives her radiation treatments, which she did not like at all.
Nevertheless, 5 days in the hospital is never fun, but we try to make the best of it for her. The nurses, child life, and her doctors are all really amazing, and are like family to us at this point (and that isn’t something we are just “saying” they really are). They all try really hard and go out of their way to try and cheer Hutton up when they can tell she is feeling low or having a hard time.
When Hutton is admitted, she doesn’t like to do much because her port is accessed. Not only is this uncomfortable for her, but she doesn’t much like being attached to some type of machine for either medicine or fluids 24/7, and as I wrote earlier, this was Hutton’s first admission with chemo AND radiation so we didn’t know what to expect. She was not happy about having to wake up early and go down to radiation oncology every morning, but she did it and was a champ!
This was only Hutton’s second time getting her “new” chemo so we were (and still are) trying to figure out the best combo for her pre and post chemo meds. She had a reaction to chemo where she gets itchy and has red cheeks and a little bit of swelling so we’re still trying to figure out the best remedy for the reactions/exactly what med is causing it.
This admission started rough for her and had a lot of “I don’t want to be here”, “I want to go home”, “I hate it here”, and “Why is God doing this to me?” which is always hard to hear. It was also hard because we knew that instead of going home when chemo was done we had to go to the hotel because she has radiation again Monday morning. This means we will be away from home for 2 weeks this time, which is always difficult, especially coming off chemo.
But we are thankful that Jeremy, though he was away for an entire week last week, and had to work out of town (but local) this week, was able to come up and spend the last day/night in the hospital with as, as well as the first night/day at the hotel. We know this isn’t easy on him either, having to be away from us, not being able to help and be involved as much he wants to and used to be. And we know he also doesn’t really get much of a break either since he is either working, or when he isn’t working he is stepping up and taking over for me so I can get some time to rest and recover. This battle is definitely not easy on any of us, but Jeremy and I know we have continue to show strength for Hutton to see, no matter what, so she can continue to stay positive and strong as she continues her battle. And we have said it before and will say it a million times over, we would not be able to do this without the help of my mom, Huttons Mimi, at home to take care of the animals, take care of the house, pick up things for Hutton from her school, and just basically run the household while we are gone.
