Monday, October 27th : Chemo Round 2

It’s odd how doing something twice can make it feel so familiar.

We gathered our cooler, got the dry ice, weighted blanket, and rolled into Joe Arrington Cancer Center for round two of TCHP chemotherapy.

Even the word “chemotherapy” stings less with time.

First, we saw the oncologist.

He walks in and says, somewhat surprised, “You must be doing something for your hair.”

Cold capping for the win. And it is a win. And we want to celebrate that win. And also don’t want to celebrate that win — or any win — too early. Because it still could all fall out. It could.

So how do you celebrate the small wins along the way?

We are learning.

We are trying.

He goes on to check the tumor size. At first, he feels nothing. And eventually concludes it’s 50% smaller from one round of TCHP — from 3cm to 1.5cm.

A win.

Erin starts chemo around 9:00am. We start cold capping around 11:00am.

Her last IV ended at 1:30, and she has to cold cap for five hours post treatment.

We get home. Switch caps.

The cold cap crew shows up.

They switch caps.

Zeke’s last football game starts at 5:30.

Erin’s last cap ends at 6:30.

Her sister drives her to the game while wearing her last cap.

She takes off her cold cap and puts on her Evans cap.

She makes it to the last quarter of his last game.

It felt like a movie.

We get home.

She’s picking up the house (I tell her not to. She doesn’t listen).

Crazy Hat Day tomorrow.

She’s hot glueing hats with the kids.

She puts the kids to bed as she always does.

And she’s been up since 5am — as she always is.

Maybe it’s the steroids.

I’d guess it’s more likely the prayers.

And support.

And kindness.

And gifts.

And words.

And check-ins.

And I’d guess it’s because she’s Superwoman.

Quite literally.