Belly Buster and Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

On the night of Day 4, Treatment Cycle 3 (Thursday night), Keith’s girlfriend, Addie, asked Jeff  if he had been outside a lot since he looked so tanned.  I explained that during treatment weeks, Jeff’s skin takes on an orange-y tone.  She said, “Well, it looks like you’ve been to Aruba!”  In truth, it looks more like a bottle tan.  If he were to vacation in Aruba, he would display a lightly bruised and brightly red belly from the shots. 

This week Jeff has had a chance to talk more with Daniel, the Irish Dude, at the Cancer Center.  Daniel’s belly is very bruised.  We wonder if his platelets are low, causing the bruising.  He is now bald.  He started treatment when Jeff did.  We wonder whether he shaved preemptively as suggested by the book, “Chemotherapy and You.”  Jeff’s white and red blood counts and platelets have all improved and are now near the low-side of normal.  His hemoglobin, which has to do with iron and the shape of the red blood cells, is low. 

Jeff also met Herman the German this week at the Cancer Center.  Herman introduced himself by the nickname he claims to hate - but then why did he give it?  He said that people think he looks like Uncle Fester with his bald head.  We had to admit it; he did.  The staff had to check everyone’s insurance for the first of the year and Herman was perturbed by the long wait.  He was willing to take on the staff on behalf of the patients; “It’s ridiculous!”  Jeff reminded him that staff members were about to stick needles in them. 

We learned this week that the Cancer Center’s Monday refreshments volunteer, Gerry, is a three-time cancer survivor.  He related a funny story:  One Sunday as he was serving as usher in his church, the prayer list was read by the priest.  The priest prayed for all those who were sick and then prayed for those recently deceased.  He was surprised to hear his name among the latter group.  Since he was standing in the back of the church holding the offering basket, he was in a prime position to see the parishioners’ reaction to the “news.”  He saw his very good friends sitting towards the back and he shrugged in their direction as he carried the basket forward.  I told him it must have been a little bit like Huck Finn watching his own funeral. 

Santa brought Jeff some elastic-waistband pants which are recommended by the nurses at the Cancer Center and by that hot title, “Chemotherapy and You.”  He likes them but still has not worn them outside of the house.  Once a drycleaner, always a drycleaner…

Waiting to hear about a match is getting difficult.  In three more days we will see the specialist at Penn again.  We hope Dr. Porter has good news for us. 

Thanks to all the drivers:  Nancy, Annie, Ken, Keith, Mark, Judy, Harry