They Came at Her Like a Swarm of Bees

We went the Children's for what I thought was a simple shot and some IV Chemo. I had become complacent. Everything has been going so well. We have not had any surprises. I figured we had this phase handled. After 14 doses of oral chemo, 12 doses of radiation and 9 doses of IV chemo, how bad could it be. She is feeling much much better. She even has color now that she had her three pints.

Well, just when you think you have it figured out you go to Clinic. Today was not a great day for anyone. Things were not going well at the front desk. The computer was not happy. First thing we learned was that 15 families have been moved out of the Ronald McDonald House. All the rooms were marked with orange isolation signs. There is an outbreak of Chicken Pox. Chicken pox is very very bad for people with compromised immune systems. I think they feel like it is the 11th century and the cats have been killed and the rats with the fleas are out of control.

We saw Karyn our Nurse Practioner ( never let anyone but one of these people do your spinal tap chemos). She gave us bad numbers but after examining M-E said school for a couple of days would be okay since she looked great.

I really needed M-E's shot needed to be done by Noon. They forgot to tell us that it was really three shots. Mom can do lots and lots of stuff but M-E needs her mom for shots.

Shots are dreaded more than many many things. These kids have so many procedures and so much that makes them miseralbe The last straw seems to be shots. The kids are getting flu shots and the screams are amazing. They had to hold down a 9 year old. The look on those nurses faces when they headed behind that curtain was very frightening. Then the screaming was began.

We knew Mary-Elizabeth had to have a shot today. We did not know that she had to have three big shots at the same time. Three big needles attached to huge syringes. It looked more like they were basting her than treating her. The nurses all came into the room armed. I looked away and they counted. One, two three....... And then she squoozed my hand very very hard and said Ouch. That was it. No screams and I did not faint.

All in all it was a good day except for the attach of the killer bees. M-E felt she deserved something for having three shots in one day. I suggested a pearl. I suggested we start to buy single pearls for each shot and by then end of this she would have a a strand. Oh, no, she does not want round pearls they are just too boring. She would like one of those really cool baroque pills.

I guess she will never be boring. She is truly a unique spirited.