January 16, 2008 - IV chemo at home

Day 9 - Second day of IV chemo

Today I administered my first chemo without anyone telling me what to do. When I left the clinic yesterday, I was thinking "no biggie, that was simple". Today the pharmacy delivered a HUGE box to my door with the chemo inside and all sorts of safety clothes. So, I suited up and I had it all set out on Alex's lap and had a mini panic attack. Jeeze!!! It was WAY more stressful at home. Dan drove home from work so I wouldn't be alone the first time. First I have to clean off her port (she has a line inserted into her chest that will remain there for the entire 2 1/2 years) and then hook up a saline syringe and I push that about 1/2 way and then draw back until I see blood to make sure I have good blood return... then I push the rest in... Then I get the chemo syringe ready... I hold a cloth under it while I hook that up to her port. I hold that syringe at a level that keeps the bubble inside at the top of the plunger, and then I administered a 1/2cc every 15 seconds. When it is complete I watch the last of it go in and make sure that the bubble does not. You can't clear the bubble in a chemo syringe because you can't drip it anywhere first. Then I hook another saline syringe up and push 1/2cc every 15 seconds for another minute because there is chemo still in the lines... then, after I finish flushing the saline, I hook up a Heparin syringe and push that all the way in and clamp her line. That's it... Simple eh? I was sweating BULLETS!!! I will try to get a picture of it tomorrow so I can post here.

Alex also had one visitor today. One of her favorite teachers from high school, Mrs. Muhlestein from Northridge High. She had such a great relationship with this teacher. I hope she can visit often. Alex loves and respects her very much. It was so nice to see her visiting.

I think I have figured out how to resize some pictures. Since I can only have 12 pictures at a time on here, I will try to put recent pictures and keep them new and interesting. Please check back often for new pictures and news. Today I loaded a picture of her medicine bucket. CRAZY amount of drugs! She takes all of these at least once a day... and most twice... and a few three times a day. We keep track of medication and times on a spreadsheet and check them off daily.

Thank you everyone for everything! All of you mean so much to us!