Iowa City Hospital - Outpatient #5 - Chemo Round #6 (FINAL) - January 20

Today was my 6th and FINAL chemo treatment. Praise the LORD! I felt excellent going into chemo again, even after our trip to visit my Dad and Step-Mom last week.

We left home about 7:45 AM, and it was only 5 degrees. Denise has a pain in the ball of her left foot (learned the next day that it was gout, which her parents both have had multiple times). That meant that today I pushed HER in a wheelchair for my appointments at the hospital. That was a switch from two months ago, when she was pushing me.

Shortly after 8 AM, I had blood drawn for labs. This time my PICC line flushed just fine. The dressing was also changed, and there was some debate about pulling the PICC line after this final chemo was finished.

Today we talked to the doctor about when we could possibly plan on returning to Ukraine. He thinks that we should wait until June - which was what we were thinking. It is exciting to even think about the possibility. How we miss being among the people that we love so much. And they are eagerly waiting for our return!

Once again we had a private room, where I had a bed, and we had our own bathroom. I did not sleep at all that day. And Denise did not sleep because she could not lay down on the window seat. But she was able to keep her sore foot up during my chemo treatment. (I should have taken a picture of her!)

I am glad this is the last chemo!

During chemo, the PICC line was a little temperamental, but we got through it without any major problems. Before we finished, the doctor said that he did not want to pull the line today because I was still taking blood thinners, and there was a risk of excessive bleeding when he pulled the line.

Instead, we agreed that I would not take my blood thinner the following Tuesday or Wednesday, so that we could pull the PICC line next week when I came in for labs. It will be nice once it is pulled, because then I will not have to have Denise wrap my upper right arm with Glad Press 'n Seal and tape before I take a shower anymore. Wow - will that be freeing.

Today my nurse for chemo was a believer, so it was fun visiting with her. When I finished my chemo, I received a certificate of congratulations signed by all the staff in the Infusion Lab.

My certificate of congratulations on finishing chemo
(Yes, my nurse spelled my name wrong - with 2 l's instead of just 1)

We did not need to wait as long for the doctor in the morning this time, so we were home again by 3:30 PM today.

With me being able to stay healthy and out of the hospital after the last two rounds of chemo, I am confident that I would be able to stay home after this round as well.

In 6 weeks I will have what should be a final PET scan. Hopefully it will be all clear and cancer free as the doctor expects. That is what we are all praying for!

God has been so good to me during this process. It has not always been easy - and while we do not know what the PET scan in March will show, we trust God to take continue to take care of me! His peace has been with us this entire time. And we are so thankful!