Because of the cancer, I had a blood clot that had built up in my leg, and as I was getting up to bed, it broke up and part of it went thru my heart into my lungs; a Pulmonary Embolism. I passed out and stopped breathing for a minute or two; definitely scaring Allison and all. We rushed to the ER and they found out what the deal was. The clot built up the same time as the cancer and now I'm on blood thinners for 6-10 months. I was in the hospital from then until late Sat, building back my strength, recuperating, and waiting for labs, and so on. What a miserable place (though I'm VERY grateful for caring attendants and that there is a place for recuperation).
Winston flew in on Wed, and of course, had to be picked up by extended family members and our reunion for all was at my hospital bedside. Spencer and Caroline both had finals all week. Allison wouldn't leave my side; obviously. She slept in the chair at the hospital every night. I was awake and up the whole time, just waiting for strength to come back and things to equalize. The doctors are surprised that I am not light-headed much, and that I am as strong as I am. (Good genes!)
I'm home now, feel MUCH better; my strength is increasing daily. I have to have O2 for a few weeks as the clots in the lungs dissipate and my lung capacity expands in other areas. I have my LAST chemotherapy tomorrow morning! I will have a CT scan in mid-January to see the results of that. I'm still being told to return to work and more activity in Jan. It will need to be slow and gradual, but my isolation will be ending. My immunities are returning quickly. Oh, I never fully lost all my hair! I became quite thin, and in fact, nothing has grown for 6-8 weeks. I've not shaved for weeks. I'm told that it will begin to grow back in 4-8 months. My eyelashes are much thinner even. I've attached three small pictures. One of them is lunch on chemo day. You'll see the IV coming out my shirt (into my port). The other two are last Fri in the hospital. I think I actually look better in the hospital shot! I think that's because the hardest chemo was over two weeks ago, and I'm on O2 and rested, etc.
I keep telling myself and everyone, I don't want this illness to be about me, but about what I can do for others. I have found great joy and satisfaction in writing letters of encouragement to people (fellow ward members,etc,) and it has made this road so much easier to travel. I truly know that we are blessed; especially in looking at others and their trials, etc. May the Lord continue to bless all of you and yours.
Merry Christmas!
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