Today is D-Day

In just a few hours I'll drive over to Florida Hospital, and get my first taste of chemo. I'm sure it won't be fun but I really don't have a choice.

I'll be accompanied by my lovely daughter Kimberly, and on our way I'm going to make a stop at the local Hair Cuttery to do on my time frame what the chemicals and radiation were likely to do on their own schedule: Lose the remaining strands of hair from my scalp ... for the time being. Catherine jokes (I hope it was a joke) that I won't look too different.

Then it's off to the hospital. I don't think I'll get sick right away, but it could happen. Literature on the chemicals I'll be treated with offer mixed assessments. So I'll just say I'll probably get queasy, and hopefully it won't be right away.

I think I'll post some of the reports and literature on my treatments on the blog somewhere. So keep checking. I know the reading will be compelling (NOT!) but just because it's there doesn't mean you have to read it. But someone going through the same ordeal as I might just find it worthwhile. And, after all, I'm doing this with the hopes of helping another person or two about to undergo a similar life-changing event.

I must at this point comment on the send-off my friends at work put on for me Saturday. I was deeply touched and I feel even more obligated now to kick this thing -- and pronto -- so I can get back and rejoin my colleagues and friends.

The food, the hugs, the warm thoughts all really choked me up. And it's not easy to silence me but I was at a loss for words Saturday. So to all of you I just would like to say thank you very much. I'm still somewhat stumbling at things to say.

Yesterday, Catherine and I visited Mom in the hospital and she was awake after three weeks under sedation. She was a bit loopy but was able to talk by mouthing her words and using hand gestures. When I told her she was out for three weeks she was shocked. It was good to see her smile when I told her about Jen's planning and Aimee and Karen's new apartment and Kim's attempts at driving. I think she might actually be moving forward in her recovery again. Whew.

Well, time to flush my stomach tube and get dressed for the doctor's office. I'll update later today.