Rounds 4, 5 and 6 - Fighting Smarter

Knowing I almost won my first round during Round 3, I decided it was time to fight smarter. I thought about things I could do differently to finally leave the cancer center without having a treatment stopped again.
I realized walking around might not be the best thing to do, so I promised the nurses I would only get up to use the restroom. I figured this would be the smart thing to do.

Plus I was anxious to have a victory in this fight for a successful cancer center infusion. As usual the premeds went down without any drama. Then they started the chemo drugs, as expected I started to feel the impact.

So I did my usual walk to the bathroom to help ease the feelings I get when the treatments first start. Amazing how that along with prayer  always seems to help calm my system down. I was true to my word too, I went back to my chair as soon as I was done. It helped that I didn't see any of my usual friends there having their treatments done.

​My roommate probably didn't like it as much, because I started talking his ear off since I wasn't walking around the center. Truth be told, his knowledge and interests expands across many topics, so it is usually quite the conversation. If you don't believe me just ask him! :-)

One of the cool things about the cancer center is there are no shortages of nice people that come through to encourage the patients. They often bring in snacks, masks, scarfs and support animals. I am not sure I am a fan of the animals with allergies, etc.

One of the hard things to watch is how the treatments seemingly always impact someone negatively. This is my 4th treatment and I believe the paramedics have come to take someone to the hospital, at least two times and doctors have been involved in another two issues. Sadly, all of these were elderly people battling for their lives. Life is hard, some people fight to live it, others choose to throw in the towel like Rocky did in Rocky IV when Apollo was taking a beating from the Russian and others are taken from us without notice.

I realize in these moments that our only true Hope, the Hope that brings us immeasurable peace is found only in Christ Jesus. When we truly embrace Him, we know that our last breath here is not our final breath and with that comes great peace over our battles no matter the outcome. 

Having said that, I am excited to report that treatments 4, 5 and 6 were so uneventful that I combined them here to say, I won these rounds. While the side-effects were as expected and in some cases worse, overall it was all good. Thanks be to God.