Treatment 1

17/3/13

In the morning I suddenly realized one drug was missing. I trusted that the doctor  

had covered them all in the prescriptions, and apparently skipped the check list. This is what happens when you skip the check list.

A quick trip to the clinic, lucky phone call to my dear Lili on the way, saved me the long waiting line at the main pharmacy, when she reminded me of the small pharmacy near the clinic, and I got the missing medicine in no time.

Reception in the oncology department. My nurse - Iris, a skinny religious woman, very short hair covered with a blue tight hat that ends above her ears.

Her eyes - ocean blue . She's obviously a special woman, though I haven't figured her out yet. She welcomes us when we arrive, and breaks the news: all positions are taken .... Thank you for waiting you will be assisted shortly... I immediately sit down, put on my headphones leave the room and move to the world of trance music.... Meanwhile Eli goes to do some errands. On his way back he will bring me a delicious almond croissant and coffee that I will happily eat.

Finally, a compartment becomes available. I settle down on a comfortable leather armchair and organizing my stuff. Eli has to settle with a simple chair, but later on he will conclude that he passes the time most efficiently and that he is finally able to work without distractions. Didn’t I tell you there is going to be lot’s of good in this story?

The first minutes of the infusion give me a strange tingling not described at all in the side effects flier I was given. What's embarrassing is the itching which is particularly noticeable at the very edge of my bottom ....!

I try to share my feelings with Iris my nurse and she says “yes yes tingling, it’s natural”, I am - trying to slip clues - it itches, it’s strange, uncomfortable to sit down - and then finally says Iris - it bothers at the bottom, right? And embarrassed but relieved I answer her - Yes! I was embarrassed to say but that's exactly where it tingles! Then she says - it will soon be over. And indeed, within a few minutes it’s over and I feel relaxed.

Every time I am not speaking with my nurse, I go back to my full volume music, and text funny messages to my friends joking and telling them I’m being injected with orange juice. This really is the color of the infusion - orange juice. Time goes by pretty fast. In between, pops in my nice social worker and inquires how I’m doing. It seems like in no time, the treatment is over. I’m now feeling heaviness stoned and fatigue.

I come home and lay on the bed. “Your job now is to rest” Eli says, and I obey. I’m only sad about my little David that wants to watch a DVD in my room, and I’m forced to expel him.

Sweet Lihi is now leaving - she kept my gang and hers all together. Fed them and, I'm pretty sure she also washed the floor - when I went to the kitchen to get some water, the floor was suspiciously clean (in depth investigation of Michael turned out that it was so). I have to thank her for that too) She even did an Internet Mom experiment of which its nature was not very clear to me yet, it was  manifested with chocolate covered balloons lying in my fridge ....

I shut myself in my room. So far the feeling is reasonable. I only want to sleep .....