Day 199

     Katie got two different types of chemo yesterday.  We were at the clinic for about five hours.  Time (199 days at this) doesn't make it any easier.  Katie dreads getting her port accessed and it seems to be more traumatizing as we go along.  However, with Scott's help we made it through the day.  Katie's levels were up, with the exception of her blood level.  She may end up needing a blood transfusion. 
     January 12, 2014, is Katie's projected completion date - the end of her treatments (not the end of her check-ups, but the end of her treatments).  That will be a day to have a party!  It sounds like a long time away, but as Scott reminded me, "one day at a time."  We found out something else new yesterday.  The last phase, called "maintenance" will last almost a year and a half.  At first, we were told Katie would get chemo once a month, then they said it will be chemo once a month plus five days of steroids monthly, then it was all that plus a daily chemo pill - now we are told it will be monthly doses of chemo, five days of steroids monthly, a daily pill, plus a spinal tap every three months.  They say that last year and a half is supposed to be the "easy phase" but that still sounds like a lot to me!!!   I am glad it will no longer be weekly or ten day chemo, but that is still a lot.  However, we are not there yet.  Right now we are in "Interm-Maintenance II," doing increased doses of chemo every 10 days, plus another spinal.... One day at a time.
     "Every life has peaks and shadows and times when it seems that the birds don't sing and bells don't ring.  Yet in spite of discouragement and adversity, those who are happiest seem to have a way of learning from difficult times, becoming stronger, wiser, and happier as a result." (Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Come What May and Love It," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 26).