Cycle 2 - Day 15

 I think my math is correct - Day 15 - right? Regardless - today we went to Moorland Reserve for our treatment.  

And guess what - spoiler - it was another totally anticlimactic day!

The cancer center was very busy today!  Of course, we were the youngest people there.  

The labs came back very quickly - 

Hg - 11.3 (down from 11.5...but I promised myself two weeks ago that I wouldn't worry about small fluctuations like .2.  So.  I'm holding myself to that...)

Platelets - 199 (Up from 192...I don't worry about small changes down, but I do get excited about small changes up!)

ANC - 4.0 (Up from 3.0!!)  

Total protein held steady at 7.7 and Calcium was up .3 to 7.6. 

I just don't get it.  Why in cycle one did 2 days of the Revlimid tank his system, but now in cycle two his numbers are actually improving?  I mean - this has to be good, right?  

While we waited for our treatment a little old man came and sat next to Andy.  He was so adorable as he looked over at Andy and said, "What are you in for?".  Andy explained that he had Multiple Myeloma and his new friend (I'll withhold his name to protect the innocent) shared his diagnosis with us.  Then he looked at Andy - "You're kinda young for Multiple Myeloma, aren't you?"  Yup....we feel the same way!  We explained that we were 'new here' and he said we were in the best hands.  He's been in remission 4 times.  Sure, he clarified, that means he's had 3 recurrences, but I love the way he focused instead on the positive.  He asked about our family and we joked about teenagers.  We were called in back for our treatment and we parted from our new friend, shaking hands, exchanging blessings, and luck.  You guys, call me crazy, but I really feel like that little old man, so sweet, so kinda, was some type of Angel sent to talk to us.  He just gave that feeling.  

In the back, we selected our room and got comfortable.  Andy's vitals were good, so we just needed to wait for the pharmacist to release the two cocktails and one of them to warm up to room temperature.  When the nurse came back to us she mentioned that one of the meds weren't released...she indicated that was strange because she felt Andy's numbers looked great.  It ended up being just some glitch, and he was getting both meds, but it was really nice to just hear her say that his numbers looked great.  

Then we were asked ALL the questions to see if he's having any type of side effects.  Each question was greeted with a 'No' or a 'Fine' or a 'Good'. She complimented Andy for making her job so easy, mentioned it's not usually that easy, and she's so happy to hear that he's doing so well.  She joked, "so...why are you even here".  Yeah, we don't want to be here either.  But again, it was just nice to have someone so 'excited' that he is responding so well. 

We got both injections without issue.  And when I say we, let's remember that it's just Andy (incase there was any confusion).  You guys, he's so amazing.  Another week, another two injections.  One stings a little and is a slow push of medication into his stomach.  Medication that he can literally feel going into his body.  Andy has not complained once.  He hasn't really even pouted.  He just takes his medications like a champ and moves along.  My heart aches that he has to go through this, but it bursts with pride.  Yes, pride.  I'm so proud of him and how he's handling everything.  

We packed our stuff up and off we went.  The snow was starting to fall as we left the hospital and it felt like we were walking through a snow globe.  Then Andy went home to work and I went into the office.  I don't even stay home with him all day anymore to ensure he handles the medication OK.  We're slowly adjusting to this 'new normal'.  We're slowly accepting.  We slowly transitioning.   We don't want it.  We didn't ask for it.  But here we are and we need to learn how to live with it.  Because we hear it doesn't ever fully go away and so we plan on living with it for a long, long, long time.