As we sit, we are two thirds through, 66% complete, or in the back middle. Anna is still showing great signs of beating the cancer and we are happy to be on track but.. this is hard.

For the last few treatments the weeks after have been harder than before. During the first two months of treatment Anna would enter the start of her chemo cycle on Friday feeling ok. She would fade into a tough 7 days before starting to improve on day 8. Days 8-14 were ever improving and by the next chemo day, she was feeling relatively good. However, the last two months, the weeks following treatment have been getting harder and harder. We have entered a new stage where the second week after treatment is now just another week of hard.

The chemotherapy is doing its job but it is breaking Anna’s body at the same time. Fatigue is omnipresent, nausea is also a constant companion. There is pain associated with the Granix shots and their effects that comes and goes. Like I have said, it is just hard. The emotional toll that has been taken on her is immense and if it were me, I would be completely gone. She isn’t. Anna is maintaining her spirit despite the load of suffering that chemo can be.

Sometimes these days and weeks can seem like a never-ending string of getting by, a constant strain on a person, a family, and a time. The truth though, is that we are getting through it. With the support of our family, a wonderful group of friends, and a generous and caring employer, we are doing this. We are not only surviving but our family is growing into a fun foursome. Even during the slog of chemo, we are taking care of ourselves and each other.

As we enter the week of our ninth treatment we are talking about life after cancer. We are talking about celebrating the end with family and friends. We are focusing our attention on real life again. The boredom with the hard times is coming to an end and we are again going to be overwhelmed with the craziness of real life.

March 4th, we are coming for you…