A Pox on Thee

I know, I know, I'm sorry. We had such a wonderful visit with 4/5 of the Etcheverry-Miller clan that I couldn't tear myself away to blog. Dawn arrived like a one stop shop for cancer patients. She bequeathed her collection of hats, her wig, and tons and tons of priceless advice. She also returned my prayer shawl. It had been given to me by a wonderful woman I met on the cancer bus from Florence in 2008.  After Karina's Bat Mitzvah, we had rented a beach house, but treatment waits for no man, so I rode the Friends of Florence shuttle bus in each day for treatment. Two+ hours in, Ethyol injection and treatments, and two+ bumpy, nauseous hours back. I am embarrassed to say that her name doesn't come to me. I want to say Mary. We passed the time on the bus chatting. She was a retired teacher. I'm sure I told the story in depth back in 08.

When Dawn was diagnosed, there was no doubt in my mind that she needed my prayer shawl. I had spent many an hour wrapped in it wishing away the cancer, the tiredness, and the pain. In retrospect, the cedar chest that reeked of moth balls wasn't my best choice for storage, but sometimes it really is the thought that counts. Now it has returned to me, to help me heal once again.

If I really wanted this blog to give you the true Kiara experience, I'd have to find a way to write it on a Magnadoodle, my primary form of communication. It is a medium with limitations...

Spring of my freshman year of college, my roommate came down with the chicken pox. I am not sure how residential life managed to pair up probably the only two people in that day and age who hadn't had them, but there it is. Our suite mate, Emily, and I managed to smuggle her in food and out to the bathroom. However, when she went  back to class two weeks later, the jig was up and the RA was onto us.

As another week passed with nary a sign of chicken pox, I believed I had dodged the bullet. I remember when EVERYONE in elementary school had it and I never got it. Maybe I had some freak immunity. Based on this theory, I didn't give a second thought to heading to Elko for All-State Band/Orchestra/Choir. Five of us (Janet, Jose, Chris- who was pregnant, Dawn and I) left earlier than the Wind Ensemble in a state car so we could run the MENC booth. We had a fun trip over and during the course of the day, I spoke to scores of high school students. When it came time to head back to the room, I asked Dawn, "What is this behind my ear? It really itches."  Her reply was, "Go take a shower."

When I got out of the shower, I was covered in chicken pox from head to toe, and some places in between I didn't even know I had. I was vector control nightmare. How many people had I exposed at the height of my contagiousness?

I obviously did not play in the concert. I was quarantined to my room, where I was entertained at various intervals by band members in progressive stages of inebriation. This was also the very first time I ever met Warren Krch. I'm sure I made a lasting impression.

When we had to check out, one of the band member's  mother (thank you Amy C-C) who lived in Elko let me crash on her couch until it was time to go. Jose and Janet valiantly volunteered to drive with me back to Reno in the state car. In fact, I ended up driving most of the way because it was the only way they found they could keep me from scratching.

As I said before, the RA was onto us, and since my 'unveiling' was so public, it was hardly a secret that I was be-poxed. So I was banned from the dorm. Now what? There is no way to get to Las Vegas covered in spots unless you drove, and I didn't have a car or the stamina. Thankfully, Dawn's parents, Andy and Lynette, graciously took me in.

I'm sure they wondered who this sloth was their daughter brought home as I spent the better part of two weeks asleep. That was the only way I found I could keep from scratching. They called their family doctor to ask about the impact on my heart condition, kept me fed and showered, and helped me celebrate my 19th birthday as my spots were clearing up.

While I would not say this is what made Dawn and I friends, I would say this certainly sealed our friendship. I spent many a special occasion with her family, and was always, always, treated as a member of the family. Dawn and I have been in more tandem capers than I care to admit to, although I know the statute of limitation has run out...

Yesterday, we looked through the pictures of my first wedding. That certainly brought back a lot of memories. It is hard to believe that was almost 24 years ago. My goodness I was heavy!!!

We have all changed physically. I, unfortunately, have continued to celebrate a fair number of birthdays being down with some malady or the other. But when I am with Dawn, I am 18 again, ready to face the world. That is a special friend.

And, I am sorry I made Lynette cry.

Natalie also leaves tomorrow. I have no idea how we did it without her, and I don't know how we will now. I have been kissed and hugged and told I love you more times in the last week than I have in probably my life. When you are trying to hack something out of your lungs, or your husband is suctioning the large open wound on your neck, or any one of the other unpleasant experiences that have become a part of my daily life, that human touch is irreplaceable.

We did see the Chemo Oncologist yesterday, too. I have a nasty sore in my mouth that occasionally hurts like (*^*&%*&%(. It is not a sore caused by the chemo, but it may well be a tumor. If it is, the chemo should get it. That doesn't help the pain issue. Most of the time it hurts minimally, but sometimes it is blinding and I can't get that magic mouthwash in there fast enough. When you find yourself praying to the G-d of lidocaine, you know you are in pain. Also, sometimes it comes and goes quick. Other times numbing and ice only take the edge off as it shoots up into my ear. Lovely, I know.

We have a collection of meds to try. Two pain killers I know make me puke, but three kinds of nausea meds to try to counteract that. Swish and spit the magic mouthwash as needed, as well as baking soda and water and marshmallow (the last is from Heather, not the CO.) Of course, since we've seen him, it hasn't been that bad. I wonder if some of it isn't muscular as the the swelling goes down my neck gets tighter and tighter and is pulling on everything. I do feel like one big, giant chemistry experiment.

Kelly says the Google Calendar for helpers looks great. I cannot begin to thank everyone who has volunteered time. Do not underestimate the value of hand holding, if you can stand the sight of blood and me with tears streaming down my face from the effort.

Thank you to Angie for taking Karissa to tennis today. It isn't that she needs another activity in her life. It is that Karissa is a perpetual motion machine and there is so much else going on here that at times it is hard to deal with her needs. Karissa was trying to figure out what I was asking her for today, and finally said, "I need to get better at charades!" Poor kid! This is a lot to deal with.            

I walked to the corner and back today. Not a marathon, but it felt a bit like one. Also to the mail box. Go me! I also had a two hour nap on the couch. I piddled around with a few other things. There is plenty to do, I just need to dig up the energy to get of the couch and try.

Monday starts round two of chemo bright and early in the morning. This time I know to eat first and bring a lunch.

Speaking of food, if you are one of the wonderful people who has been bringing up food, we have quite the pile of containers on the the table. I know several people said they didn't need them back, but I have no idea who it was who said that, and what belongs to them. If you would like a dish or container back, drop me a line and we'll find a way to get it to you.

Does that make up for missing for so long???

Until tomorrow...

Kiara