Port-o-col

Well, I have already completed 2 of the 6 addition cycles of chemo I am going to receive.  I started treatments again on November 25th.  I kept my picc in for that week and debated on getting a Port put in.  I had a port in Moncton in 2011.  I didn't mind it although they only accessed it (used it) for chemo.I always had to get blood work done by getting my arm picked.  I always tried to alternate arms but it was still hard on my veins.  Once the port had healed i really didn't notice it at all and it never bothered me, except for the catheter that is in my neck.  It would stick out and gross me out sometimes.  I decided that I wanted to be able to swim, do yoga and go to the gym, especially to get out in the winter.  The nurses are great in oncology and were able to arrange for me to have a port put in on the morning of Dec 16th which was the start of my 5 day treatment.  Monday was a long day as I had to be at the hospital for 8 am and then had blood work, an appointment with my doctor and THEN chemo (for about 4 hours).  Luckily, in Fredericton they leave the port accessed so I didn't have to have the giant thumbtack of a needle pressed into my new, sore, swollen incision.  Although, I must say, this time I only had local freezing, whereas Moncton gave me sedation, this procedure hurt more, yet I have less bruising.  I have steri strips on the 2 incisions, a small one higher in my neck where the catheter goes into the vein, and the larger one where they put the port in a pocket of fat under the skin.  When everything is healed all you will see is a little bump under my skin where the port is when it isn't being accessed.

Bentley, my 18 lb dog, got his paw caught on my incision as it was healing and popped 2 stitches.  My mom had to clean it up and put a steri strip on it so hopefully it will heal up completely soon!

The doctor told me that some ports are now left in for up to 15 years!! He asked why I had my first one taken out...?? REALLY?! I said that I thought I was done with this crap, to which he responded "Oh, yes, right."  I have very little bruising and had pain the first couple of days but after that it's been smooth sailing.

Part 2 of my post:  ANGELS.

One of my first ever blog posts was on angels.  I believe angels surround us in many forms.  In June of 2011 I was given a gold angel that was blessed by the pope.  I believe that every person that enters your life is for a reason.  The experience may be positive, or negative, or a bit of both.  Your relationship may last a few minutes, days, months, or years.  Regardless of how long and well you know them, you will know, some day, why and how they impacted your life.

I have met many new people during this journey and many of them do, unfortunately, happen to be going through a harder time than I am.  I am so inspired and touched to hear how they remain positive and what they are doing to help themselves.  

Christmas was good and quiet this year.  My sister, her boyfriend and little Molly (she turned 9 months old on boxing day) came up on the 23rd.  We went to Church Christmas Eve then played games until about midnight.  We had a second Christmas with my Grandmother, aunt and her fiance on the 28th.  I somehow managed to LOSE weight over Christmas?! I don't drink, I ate some desserts but small portions and continue to walk every day.  My brother and I went snowshoeing with with dogs on Christmas day in O'Dell Park, and then we went skating a couple of days ago.  Skating was embarrassing until I got the hang of it again.  I felt like Bambi!  I haven't skated in about 2 years (speed skating) and I wore my hockey skates, which I haven't worn in 3+ years.  I didn't feel like a Canada Games skater out there! Oh well.  I was fun and I was tired after a good 25 mins of full out skating!

I just finished cycle 8 of 12 today.  I start again on Monday with my oral chemo combo...  Hopefully I can get some travelling in this winter.  To WARM places!