The Chemo Lounge

Kathleen received just over 4 hours of chemo. She thought she'd receive a cocktail mix of chemicals that would be administered. However, it appears they need to give 4 different fluids separately - hence the time it takes.

The room is like a lounge. First, they give you something to relax the body, so it will accept everything that follows. Then one by one, the other bags are emptied. With her most sentimental & healing possessions surrounding her, her body accepted the treatment.

As a keen observer to life, she was curious to experience all the side effects on her. By the time, she got home from the hospital, she felt as though her body was compressed by a stack of books.
Her level of fatigue had hit max overload.

On Saturday, the symptoms changed. Her nerve endings were raw and she began to shake involuntarily. She said she walked/shook like an elderly person. These are only some of a long list of side effects:

• nausea
• vomiting
• loss of appetite
• diarrhoea
• constipation
• shaking
• hair loss
• swelling
• metal taste in mouth
• discoloured skin and nails
• skin rash
• dry skin
• sensitive to sun
• temperature
• flu symptom
• heart palpatations
• sleeplessness
• mouth ulcers
• fatigue

On my mantleplace in my office, I have lit a purple candle in front of a photo of her. Next to it, is a bouquet of yellow roses. Her favorite colour. Even from a distance, I surround her with the all the healing energy I can offer as if I were there by her side.

I will be with her from 30th May-14th June. It will be so good to be with her and to be by her side during the next chemo visit.

In kathleen's words...Peace out.

xp