I completed my 6th, and last, round of chemotherapy on January 10, 2015

As much as I hated starting chemo, it was almost just as bad stopping the process. Sure, I was happy to have my permanent I.V. removed. With the picc line out I would be able to shower without wrapping part of my body in saran wrap. Without a picc line and without chemotherapy scheduled my body is on its own.  By my mid chemo scan we could tell the drugs were working… “What happens when the drugs are stopped?” is a question often floating around in my brain.

We just wait and scan, and after waiting some more we will scan again

I have a pet scan scheduled on February 17th. We will be running the scan and having a doctors visit the same day at MD Anderson in Houston. I have a full plate of editing work between now and then so I don’t have to think about the scan all that much. If I have much time to do so it starts to scare the crap out of me. Yea, go a head and send me a note or a message to “not worry about it” or “wait till you get the results to think what the next steps might be” but that is easy to say. Yea, I’m staying positive and praying every day. I realize in the last 12 months I have had a cancer tumor and it has gone away. I pray that all tumors will forever stay away. I have a lot to do in life and to be honest I really don’t feel like dying anytime soon.

I didn’t have a video post since my last trip for round 6 so I’m posting it here.

I rang the bell

When I started my rounds of chemo I was unaware of the bell. Here is a photo of the bell that hangs in the Ambulatory Treatment Center.
Chemo bell
When you complete your chemotherapy they let you ring the bell. They have the same setup for those who take radiation. I had mixed feelings about ringing the bell. It is there to celebrate an end, but for me it was a beginning. It is a start of no drugs and letting my body take care of itself.
It worked out like this. I completed my chemo and handed in my bag. I received my white blood booster and then was shipped up to the 8th floor to have my picc IV line removed. The process was fast and we were sent on our way. I was never asked if I wanted to ring the bell, but Kendra thought I should. In the end I’m glad she had me ask If I could. Standing there I knew I could not look at her or I would start to cry. It was one of those moments you know going in it will be emotional, and it was. I tried to get in and out, ring a ding and move on. The nurse who helped us celebrate was not satisfied with my ringing so she helped me out. She went on to let us know she has 5 family members fighting cancer.

I run into folks like this nurse all the time. It might be that I’m just in-tune when someone reaches out with cancer care or the fact God is salt and peppering these wonderful folks in my path. Either way I enjoy the love and affection found in the stories that are shared with me.

This road is hard

I try and try like hell to eat right and make the right decisions day in, day out. This is hard, really tough. One can only have so many green smoothies while trying to gain weight. I’m sitting around 195 pounds and that’s good for me. I’m just trying to make all the right decisions and not think to much about it. Wish me luck with that.

On a positive note we have been blessed with plenty of work lately. I have been spending a few hours a day at Keiwit Offshore in Ingleside Texas.

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We crossed paths with the Browns last week at Coffee Waves. They play music and I had the opportunity to record their studio album in 2000. Here is a short clip of last week’s show.

Browns – Live Folk Music at Coffe Waves | Port Aransas from Big Box Pro Wedding Video on Vimeo.

This week I’m shooting their 2 hour performance. I always have a great time when I get to mix video and music in one production. Well off to bed for now. I’m tired of rambling on and will try to get another post out soon.  Thanks for being a part of all this.

-Derrick

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