This is a flashback to February’s craziness…

On the same long weekend my sister Jill was in town, we determined to have fun in the midst of the pain.  The immediate pain was the port procedure on Thursday.  She took me in for it, we made sweet memories, laughed way too much for the occasion, and returned for a restful day.

A funny moment actually happened in the operating room once I was all prepped for surgery.  I heard the doctor come in, ask for instruments, and begin the procedure.  He was watching a screen next to the operating table where I lay, to ensure he put the port in the correct vein.  I was also watching, which he hadn’t noticed, and asked him a question about the procedure.  I scared him half to death, I think, from his reaction!

“Uh nurse, we need some more anesthesia over here!”  He probably followed it up with “stat” or some other doctorly word, as that’s what I would say if the patient I thought was out started talking to me in the middle of a procedure.

Fortunately, I wasn’t in any pain, and asked if I could remain awake and watch the procedure (on the screen of course).  It was fascinating, and I learned all about a port procedure.  They also allowed me to take a picture of my port placed internally for posterity (below).  What a great team at Wake Med Cary.

The next day was busy with a lunch Jill had planned with Elizabeth, Marion, and Anne, as well as a dental appointment,  and my personal favorite – an ophthalmology appointment to see the best ophthalmologist in the world (my husband for those of you who aren’t putting that together!).  It was also the day of Kai’s low platelet scare and visit to several ERs.  Heaven obviously helped us or that day would have been far too much for me!

Saturday finally brought a little more of the fun we were seeking.  A visit to Angel Hair Wig Gallery in N. Raleigh was a ball!  I never expected choosing a wig would be such a delightful time.  And I certainly never thought I would look so terrible blond.  Thank goodness I’ve never had the nerve to color my hair.  The owners of Angel Hair Wigs were extremely caring: its’ obvious this is their vocation and not simply a job to them.  Immediately after, Jill and my mom and I  headed for a haircut. I have had long hair my entire life, and I hoped if I said “goodbye on my own terms”, it may make the actual hair loss part a little easier.  Plus, if I only have two weeks to try on a new hairstyle, risk-free, why not?  It was another special memory for us.  Pictures are below of both.

That evening, my other sister Autumn drove in for a birthday celebration for me and Jill, who are both February birthdays.  How special to have my nuclear family (and Gabe of course) together to celebrate at Melting Pot, where we have many birthday memories!  Two special friends at church babysat for us to make a get-away possible.  It was an extremely full, but very special weekend leading up to my first chemo treatment on February 5^th.