Today is Thursday, the fourth day of Caylea's Interferon treatments.
We've almost settled into a routine, with arriving at the clinic right on the prescribed time, after parking the car on a sidestreet off Dewdney Avenue across from the Pasqua Hospital.  Then, we sit in the waiting room anywhere from 5 minutes to 20 minutes, depending on the availability of chairs for chemotherapy.  Caylea's appointed times have been around 11 am this week.  Next week will be around 10:30 each morning.
On the first day, Caylea was seated with 4 guys who were there before us and would leave after us.  They were all chatting and seemed somewhat acquainted with each other.  We felt welcomed into the "Pod", as each area is called.
What strikes me after 4 days, is that cancer is not a respecter of age or gender.  'Walter' appeared to be in his 80's and was having a treatment every other week.  'Guy from Yorkton area" was probably 55-60 years old and the youngest, Matthew, was 19, and wearing a baseball cap to hide his loss of hair.
There were several older women in the other chairs and even some young man maybe 30.  So, everyone has a story and each has a different type and dose and duration of treatment.
I like it when I have someone to chat with and the youngest, Matthew, had his dad with him all 4 days we have been there.  We knew some people in common and the time passed quickly as we visited.  He seemed open to talking about the cancer journey, whereas our kids were quieter and less willing to share in the open concept chemo ward.  So I was careful not to share what wasn't my story.
The nurse settles Caylea into the recliner, gets her vitals taken and immediately hooks up the fluids, flushing Caylea's PICC line first.  Then, they bring her a drink,snack and a warm blanket.  She receives an extra strength Tylenol and must wait 30 minutes until it kicks in before they start the Interferon itself.  That takes about 20-30 minutes to drip into the IV.  Then the nurse switches to fluids again for one hour.
I watch Caylea go from fairly chipper, to quiet to pale.  By the end of the session, she can be cold and shaky, physically shivering!  The first day she walked to the car.  The next 3 days we picked her up at the door, car warmed and a blanket ready for her to snuggle into.  I take my jacket off while she is freezing!
Fortunately, her headaches and nausea have been manageable and by supper time she has some appetite and can eat.  By morning, she is tired but then again, she hasn't been much of a morning person!
So this is our reality for 16 more sessions.
I am tired, too, and vascillate from trying to get some errands and other household chores done to succumbing to a good Christian fiction book and just being lazy!  Walter is at our Healing Hearts Staff Conference at Echo Lake Bible Camp, which I hope to join Friday night.  Caylea has a friend or two coming around on the weekend, plus her brother Daniel is not working Friday or Saturday, so I hope to catch some of the folks and fellowship.  When Walter is back home, our routine may alternate between us going with her.
Truly, we are taking one day at a time.