No chemo Aug. 18

My handsome husband! This is how good and relaxed Vernon looked on Tuesday before we left the house for what we thought was his final chemotherapy treatment. He had just shaved and I think this color looks good on him. Guess who selected it for him to wear! The circular patch on it says "JAGM" for Joint Air to Ground Missile, one of the Lockheed Martin systems he helped develop during his 22 years with the company.

Now he's comfortably seated in one of the treatment rooms at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. The IV is in his left wrist, he's checking email or ebay and his sandwich (in foreground) is ready when he's ready to eat.

He's ready now - tuna salad on wheat with romaine and cucumber added. Patients and their companions are offered box lunches and beverages free of charge while receiving chemo. Vernon usually chooses tuna salad. I added to his sandwich some romaine and cucumber plus hot sauce I brought from home. If a vegetarian sandwich is leftover after everyone has been served, several times he has added those vegetables to his sandwich. Being more particular, I bring from home what I want to eat.

No chemo was given because his white blood cell count was too low plus he was low on magnesium. The trip wasn't a waste, however, because he was given magnesium via IV plus a neupogen shot while we were there. Here he's napping while receiving the magnesium. He received another neupogen shot on Wednesday and as I write this on Thursday, his white blood cell count is 5.1, so he's recovered and is above the preferred minimum of 4.1.
We have an Aug. 25 appointment for the final chemo treatment.

Radiation and Chemotherapy

Our summer hasn't gone according to plan because of a small skin cancer tumor removed from Vernon's neck May 26. The pathology report indicated radiation was needed to be sure that the cancer hadn't spread. And then we were told chemotherapy would be added to make the radiation more effective. Radiation began June 17, daily for 33 times. Chemo started July 14, once a week for 6 weeks. We had planned a three week trip to the Northwest but that was cancelled because of the needed treatments.

This is how Vernon looked last Tuesday while receiving chemotherapy. We can bring our laptop because the hospital offers free internet access. It helps pass the time, too. He looks fairly comfortable, doesn't he?

I haven't given him the computer yet today because I got inspired to update our blog after several months away. I'm with him because they don't want him driving after chemo.

A few minutes ago, a pet therapy dog named Suzy stopped by to see us. Suzy is a black lab 11 years old who has undergone chemo and is in remission. We learned from Suzy's owner (and we observed Suzy do this) that Suzy senses the patients that need comfort and she lies down on the floor beside their chair. She did that with the woman who is a few feet away from Vernon. I assumed Suzy was tired, but her owner explained why she laid down. A few minutes later, Suzy jumped up when a staff member walked into the room and greeted her. Then Suzy went to the next patient and laid down beside her.

A few weeks ago I was able to take this picture of Vernon being placed into position within the TomoTherapy machine for radiation.











I am showing you this close-up so you can see the fish-net effect on his face. The 'mask' that is put over his face before he goes into the tomo keeps him from moving so that the radiation is targeted precisely where it should be.



Vernon is standing beside the bell that the patient rings after the last radiation treatment. This was taken the day before his final one. Knowing I wouldn't be there for the picture then, I took it.











Vernon resting at home the evening of Aug 5 after the last radiation treatment. I placed the certificate on his chest so I could get a picture of him and it.









Here's a close-up of the award.












One morning this past week I happened to be at the kitchen window at the right time to notice the beautiful colors in the sky.