The past weekend was unexpectedly spent at MD Anderson due to an unknown bit of bleeding. This was the sunrise that I awoke to from my room on the 10th floor (I think there are 21 floors in this building). Tests run were not conclusive but the bleeding had stopped on its own.
Before Monday’s test I was on a liquids-only diet. Not fun!! But after the test, they fed me a good meal before sending me home.
As I did the sunrise window page, I learned that masking tape Does Not work on this paper!
Monday was my last chemo infusion (but I am still hooked up to a pump for the second medication). This time we were in the south side of the building — this is my view out the window, overlooking Interstate 10 on the west side of Houston.
Sketched with my Kaweco Liliput fountain pen filled with a De Atramentis Document black ink cartridge, in a Traveler’s Notebook passport-sized refill.
While I was at the rehab center, unable to walk following hospitalization, I set a goal for myself. When I was able to walk to our mailbox (approximately 400 feet from our home) I would award myself with a dog. It’s been several years since I’ve had a dog of my own and I miss having one.
Now I am walking to the mailbox and beyond nearly every day — but in all practicality, it would be unfair to get a dog when I’m facing 5 1/2 weeks of radiation therapy, possibly living in Houston’s Med Center during that time. So getting a dog is on hold for the near future.
Instead of another Scottish Terrier, I’ve been thinking about getting a Welsh Corgi.
This past Monday was supposed to be my final chemo infusion, but the prior bloodwork showed that my platelet count is too low (chemo harmed my bone marrow). So my last infusion was deferred until next week.
M. D. Anderson still requires everyone to wear face masks, handing them out as you walk in. But my immune system is messed up so I wear one anyway.
My dad died this morning. We knew it could happen at any time and I had been planning on our driving to Kansas for the funeral. But with this low platelet / low white blood cell thing, I am too susceptible to germs and I won’t be going after all. I was never close to my dad but I thought I should be there.
Early this year I decided that I was going to read every single mystery written by Agatha Christie, at least those involving Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and Tommy & Tuppence. Last night, I finished. I read them mostly as ebooks checked out from a Houston library so there was often a waiting period for certain titles. Christie is still a very popular writer even though it’s been over 100 years since she wrote her first book.
Now what do I read next?
Our trees are definitely heat-stressed! Some of our oak trees are considered “evergreen”, as they hold their green leaves all through the year until new ones arrive in the spring. But trees are now losing leaves daily no matter how much we water them. We could sure use some rain!
And yes, of course I know that live oaks do not come from leaves, as the scribbled note in the lower left corner implies. I was thinking about how tiny the acorns from our live oaks are while writing about the small leaf — sort of goofed it up! 😂
We aren’t doing much of anything this week, being a chemo-free week. So I ate some grapes — then drew the last one before eating it.
Since this journal is partially a record of my cancer journey, I suppose I should mention hair loss. Amazingly, the chemo treatments I’m taking Do Not Cause Hair Loss!! Unfortunately, my out-of-control scalp psoriasis does . . .
I lost a percentage of my hair 11 years ago due to scalp psoriasis combined with a bad case of vertigo. It eventually grew back fuller than ever. At first I treated it with a prescription topical steroid but later switched to using a Dead Sea mineral shampoo. That has controlled the psoriasis all these years — but when I was in the hospital earlier this year, followed by rehab, I was not able to use the shampoo regularly and the psoriasis plus stress are causing me to once again shed hair.
So the big question: do I buy a wig? Or just wear scarves and hats?
