Aunt Kay picked me up at the crack of dawn and we made it to MD Anderson with plenty of time to prepare for my Watsu Brain Scan. I brought my purple silk robe and fuzzy slippers to keep it cozy. Then as I laid down on the table, I placed cool cucumbers on my eyes and enjoyed some music, as the magnets started their clanking and the Watsu MRI began. It was the best MRI ever!
Then off we went to the Indigenous Echo-Cardiogram. (I should have left my robe on for the picture.) This is the machine they use. I've never had one before but it is just like an ultrasound except it is of the heart. I got to see my healthy and strong heart at work. I could even spot the catheter from my port pulsating in my ventricle! That was wild and a little creepy! I didn't realize it went straight into my heart.
The best part was saved for last...a Mental Relaxation Therapy Session with my Greek Oncologist, Dr. Nick. We discussed my last couple of months on Cytarabine, today's test results, and the road ahead as he gave me the best manicure I have ever had.
Basically, everything looks good! My heart is healthy and strong. My brain is still there! (David wants to see the pictures for proof.) The lesions are stable (not bigger/no new ones) and my blood tests show all is normal! My liver enzymes are even back to normal! I can actually end the day with a glass of wine. As for the change in meds! It is official. The infusions of Cytarabine are over! I did 5 months and that is all my body can handle. I will now be on a Chemo pill "Gleevec". Dr. Nick likes this choice of medicine better than the last one and predicts I will be much more comfortable. It is not the one he described as a nuclear bomb going off in my immune system like I first thought. If fact, when I asked him about that he said, "GLEEVEC has a good sounding name "Gleeeee" with a little punch at the end "vec". The Nuclear bomb like medicine he was talking about this summer was more like "AK47" but, I can't remember the actual letters and numbers he said...you get the idea though. AK47 sounds like it's gonna come in, blow everything up and leave me for dead on the cold floor...scary.
This is the nurse that has to listen to all my calls...and she is still smiling!
This is my new manicurist!
I know Dr. Nick was just being himself, but I don't think he realizes how much he lifted my spirits today! For him to play along with my little game that I was spending the day at the SPA did more for my mental state than I even expected. I know attitude is half the battle and I try to keep a positive outlook on life but, I guess I didn't expect it to work so well. I truly feel stronger, more optimistic and now "GLEEFUL!" I believe with all my heart, I can make it through the second half of the treatment knowing I WILL beat this thing and leave it all behind me! I still have a long life journey ahead. This is only a mere bump in the road.
After a long day at the SPA, one needs food! So, Aunt Kay and I had a nice Asian meal at Pei Wei's on HWY 50. Thank you, Aunt Kay for sharing this day with me. It was so amazing.
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