The Week Before Chemo Starts

This week has been busy, full of fun times as well as preparation for what's coming up next week. Tuesday 1/19/16 we went to the "bank"...not talking about the monetary type. It provides me and Chels peace of mind now that we have a backup plan in case of infertility. Wednesday morning I decided to take advantage of the cheap massages offered at the Huntsman Cancer Institute...this is one "bright side" to having cancer, cheap massages! It was very relaxing. Time flies when you get a message. I thought my therapist was cutting corners and calling it quits 10 minutes early! I'm going to encourage Chels to grab a message next week while she's with me during treatment. Chels and I also had the privileged of doing one more Temple visit before chemo starts, at the Ogden Temple. We felt close to Heavenly Father and our Savior, and comforted by the fact that they are right here with us during this trial. This temple trip was particularly special because Grandma and Grandpa Rogers had family names for Chels and I to take through, instead of using a name provided at the temple...My ancestor I did ordinances for was born in Canada, back in 1890. I can't help but think of the gratitude he must have felt to finally have his temple work done. I believe he was right there in the temple with us.

 Ogden, UT Temple

Thursday was a busy day. It started off by us going to the Huntsman Cancer Institute to have a Lung Function test done, which is required before chemo. All I had to do was basically inhale and exhale as hard as I could into a tube, which was connected to a machine. Tests came out good. Immediately after this appointment we went to get an MRI done on my brain. This was slightly frightening. I laid on a table and was brought into this tubular machine that was only about 3 ft in diameter. Before I was brought in the nurse asked if I was claustrophobic, I said "I guess we'll find out". I didn't panic but it was certainly uncomfortable in there. It wasn't quick either like the CT Scan, which only took 10 minutes...the MRI took 45 minutes! And believe me time goes by at a snails pace when your in there. The machine worked in stages that lasted on average 5 minutes each. During a stage the machine made loud awkward noises. In between stages the nurse would talk to me through an intercom to see how I was doing. The part I didn't like the most was the odd, warm sensation I felt in my head during a stage when the machine was running. I made Chels drive home after this cause I was a little fuzzy. Thursday night was great though we all went to Red Robin to celebrate Chelsea's sisters birthday. When we got home I called my own sister to wish her a happy birthday! Friday, we all went to the Farmington mall. We bought the girls bears at "Build a Bear" to give to them prior to starting treatment. They absolutely adore them (I hoped they would, those bears aren't cheap). I was anxiously awaiting a phone call from my Oncologist about the MRI results because I know she has been keeping an eye out for them. I did not hear anything from her, which I take as a good sign. If there was a concern with the MRI results, I'm sure my treatment plan would change on Monday. But since I haven't heard anything I am guessing everything is fine and we need to proceed with the BEP chemo treatment plan.

 

Me and Chloe at the Farmington Mall 

Me and Avi at the Farmington Mall

On Saturday we went to a Boydston dinner get-together. It was nice seeing a lot of family on that side and catching up. They were all concerned for us and I was able to fill them in on some details regarding my treatment and how treatable this type of cancer is. We felt their support and love. Tomorrow is the first day of chemotherapy... I'm feeling nervous, but ready to get this started so we can get it over with.

Thought: From the Book of Mormon the prophet Lehi was talking to his son Jacob about the tough trials they had experienced while traveling in the wilderness after leaving their home in Jerusulem. Regarding the sufferings and afflictions Jacob went through, Lehi tells him, "...thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain." (2 Nephi 2:2) God sometimes gives us trials so that he can help us grow, become stronger, and learn something valuable.