Step 3: Begin Chemotherapy and Commence Ramble

We began chemo today and sometimes we just have to laugh. It often helps when life is randomly funny. The best is when something strikes us as funny when we least expect it. Every so often, situations occur which make us wonder if life is a clean version of an SNL skit (rare occurrence) or if we are being punk'd. It is also completely possible that our minds are just warped enough (mine especially) that we often find humor in arbitrary circumstances – and we must say it makes us smile. 
 
Curious Reaction: Tim is allergic to Saint Alphonsus Hospital. The moment we walk in the door, his eyes start to itch, nose starts to run and/or stuff up, and we feel the need to stock up on free tissues. We walk out of the hospital and he is completely fine… hmm.

Abandoned Strangers: We were led down a long corridor by a nurse to prep me for the port surgery last week. There sat an older woman in a wheelchair, wearing a hospital gown, hair completely disheveled, with a quizzical look on her face... just sitting alone in the hallway. No one else was in the hall… no nurse, doctor, or custodian… and our nurse, who was busily chatting away, made no acknowledgement of the woman’s existence. I looked around, then smiled and nodded hello as we walked by, but received the stink eye in return, which was sad, but funny too. I made Tim promise to never forget me a hospital hallway; for all we know, this woman looked like me when she first arrived that morning.

Cactus Butt: As part of my pre-chemo medications today, we received a quick warning while the nurse casually injected a fluid she referred to as ‘Cactus Butt’ into my line – we failed to remember the actual pharmaceutical name because my backside suddenly felt as though I was sitting on pins and needles. It was hilariously awkward. Although this was not something covered in Tuesday’s chemo class, rest assured, even with the prickly rear-end, booming headache and other anticipated side effects we will experience over the weekend and the upcoming months, the actual delivery of chemotherapy was fairly tolerable. I think we can do this. We might be singing another tune by May or June, but for now, we can do this. We will receive approximately 18-chemo sessions over the next five months; 1 down, 17 more to go. We will also never look at cacti the same way again.     

Final Football Observation: When reflecting upon the recent NFL football season and excellent Superbowl (woot woot Broncos! If my Seahawks can't be there, the Broncos will do) we found the celebratory touchdown dances, quarterback superhero gestures and the rampant folding-of-the-arms-and-nodding-triumphantly-to-the-crowd after each tackle, to be quite elaborate this year. These guys are seriously practicing and/or receiving assistance from showmanship professionals… they are probably in front of their bathroom mirrors mastering moves for next fall as we speak. The talented performers often receive vast sums of money in exchange for accomplishing tasks included in their job descriptions; they are stoked, even when fined by the league. We will cut the swaggering players a little slack because working in the NFL means ‘Not For Long,’ but wouldn’t it be nice to see this type of enthusiasm displayed by lesser paid professionals as well? Personally, I would like to see Tim doing a happy dance after fixing an IT issue at Deloitte, or crowds applauding police officers after a DUI arrest, or teachers performing superman poses after educating a student about a valuable life skill, or chemo nurses spiking the empty IV bags to the floor while bellowing, “I’m #1!” after a patient’s session (undoubtedly forgetting the other ten people who helped make the chemo ‘score’ possible). We would love to see people we know bust a move (awesome 80’s phrase) and create elaborate celebratory dances for doing their daily tasks in the workplace, for these entertaining one-upmanship demonstrations are not just for NFLers anymore! This would be a great picker-upper when the side effects of chemo start taking their toll over the next five months. If you're in, feel free to email a short 10 second video with your triumphant celebration dance to twoozley@gmail.com. :)

We are blessed to see extraordinary people achieving incredible tasks every day without receiving any type of fame or fortune. We are thankful for those who serve others while doing their job with very little gratitude or fanfare from society… they and YOU are the real superheroes in life. Bust a move people!