Yesterday I walked into chemo for the LAST time. I was sporting my tiara, pink tutu, pink tights, and an amazing t-shirt that was made for me by my team at work. Pam came down in the morning and presented me with the shirt, a framed picture of my team all in pink shirts and an amazing hand painted breast cancer wine glass. I was doing okay until I saw the pictures of my team and then I lost it. Tears just flowed out of my eyes. The support I have had has been overwhelming and throughout all of this I have missed work and my team so much. I got all dressed and ready to go. Pam was decked out in pink and even Kurt had shirt with a little pink in it. We marched into the hospital like we owned the place. We pretty well came with luggage as we had snacks, drinks and trash mags as well as my change of cloths and all kinds of other crap. I turned a lot of heads and people smiled when they heard it was my last chemo. My fav. nurse was on and she told me she had me but I had to wait for a bed. When a chair became available she said "Oh, well you want a bed. Hey, just go into the private room". So we had our own PARTY room which was likely best because we were a bit rowdy.
My IV did not go so well this last time due to all the scar tissue in my veins. She had trouble finding a vein and tried my hand (OUCH) but the IV didn't take so she finally found part of a vein on my arm that worked. I've had 10 IV's in my right arm since November so my veins are a bit pissed off I think. Once my IV was in Pam poured me some OJ in my new wine glass (yes we brought it) and we toasted to this being my last chemo. We munched on fruit and hung out. Dawn came with lunch for us and pink ribbon cupcakes that she had made for the occasion. They were SO yummy and that brought a swarm of nurses who each took one for their break. Our friends Kevin and Lisa were there for Kevin's chemo so it was nice to see them and she enjoyed a cupcake. Kevin and I started chemo on the same day. I waited and waited to hear my IV beep marking the end of chemo. Finally the beep came and Pam and I cheered "It's beeping!!!". My nurse came in and flushed my line, took out my IV and I was DONE!!!! I was given a big hug and a certificate of completing chemo that all the nurses signed. A few more hugs from the nurses and my nurse said, "Congratulations, you are cancer free". Words I have waited to hear for months. I saw my oncologist on the way out and got another hug. I'll be back to see her on May 2nd for a check up.
Home we came to snuggle the boys and celebrate. We ordered in food and Kim and the girls came over. Pam stayed and we watched Grey's and I had a glass (small) of red wine in my new wine glass. I'm not suppose to drink on chemo days but I didn't really care - it was time to celebrate!!!! And the wine was SO good. It was a GREAT day and I still cannot believe that I'm really done. It hasn't all sunk in yet. In 2 weeks when I am on a beach and not having to go to chemo, maybe that's when it'll sink in that I DID IT!!!!
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