Chemo Therapy during 3rd Period

October 27

Its midterm week for all my friends. For me this week I made the decision to go ahead and do another round of chemo.  I made an agreement with Helen and Dr. Jacqueline, that I would start chemo when I come back on Tuesday.  Kathy and I were flying down to Los Angeles, and then driving almost 2 hours to visit a special friend... Carson. I had been emailing his coach all week and he agreed to let me surprise Carson at the end of practice tonight. They had a big game the next day and his coach knew he had been having a rough few weeks. Apparently, the first week of practice no one get to even touch a ball all they do is bond. His coach explained that Carson spoke highly of me and a lot. We planned how I would surprise him, and I am so excited.

We landed and drove to the campus. I decided to go visit the coach.  It was so weird to be on the same campus as Carson and him not even know. I walked into the coach's office and he was so excited to meet me. He took me to the gym and we ran through the plan. He then had me leave because guys were showing up and he did not want me to get caught. 

I watched Carson work so hard. They did some pretty intense drills ones that I do not know if I could do. Then the coach finished up practice with some running. He had them do a suicide, and then he had all the team line up on the baseline and they shot free throws and every miss resulted in them running down and back. He sent the assistant coach to go get a "surprise" he had. I knew where to meet this coach. After the running he had the team stand around the center circle and was talking to them about the game they have tomorrow. He made sure Carson had his back to the door, and the assistant coach and I walked in but he was giving the guys that could see me the hush sign. The coach then said "Now I know family weekend was last weekend, but when this family member asked to come. I just could not say no. So lets bring it in real quick so I can let this person go." After the team broke, and Carson bumped into me and apologized and did a double take. "OH MY GOSH! SPENCE!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU ARE HERE!" He grabbed me and swung me around and just held me there for a moment. He kept whispering that he could not believe I was here.

It felt so good to get to see him in person. I got to meet all of his friends, see his dorm room. I got to be a normal girlfriend for a split second. We were sitting in this little hang out area in his hall, with all of his friends and someone sneezed like right at me. Carson got this look of panic in his eye. I looked at him and grabbed his hand and gave him a look of comfort. But on the inside I was freaking out! Like dude, cancer patient, I am already dying I do not need your help. After hanging out with everyone, we went to get a bite to eat then he took me on our tour around campus. It is so beautiful here. Its all sunny and pretty and warm. I could get use to this. He held my hand and it was just like old times. I forgot about the cancer. It was so much fun and so beautiful.

October 28

Today is game day for Carson and I could not be more excited to watch him take the court again. It has been almost 9 months. I got to wear his away jersey. First we got to watch the girls play, and they won. During halftime Carson had to leave and go prepare for his game.  It was exciting, but sad because I wanted to spend every moment with him. I was sitting there chit chatting with Kathy and some of Carson's friends. Then all of the sudden Carson's coach got on the microphone, and started telling the story of me. My cancer story.  Then he called me out into the middle of the court to come stand by him. It was in that moment I saw Carson and all of his teammates walk out in the shirts that say Team Spencer. Carson also had roses. I obviously cried like a small child. Everyone stood up and started clapping for me, and I just hugged Carson. I was then escorted off the court. Carson then really did leave. 

They ended up winning the game. After the game, Carson came and gave a big sweaty hug. I missed this. I miss being on the court and being proud of each other's accomplishments. It feels like forever since we were this happy together. And that for a split moment we were not worried about cancer. We got to have dinner with his team, and I told them thank you for doing that for me. Apparently their coach had planned it on Monday  after I had emailed him, but no one was allowed to tell Carson. He did not even know until his Coach started talking what was going on. It was really sweet. Some of his teammates are like pre-med or pre-nursing or are just curious and wanted to know different things. I showed them my port scar, and explained how that works. I told them different funny moments in the hospital. One of the asked if I have to do chemo again. I had to swallow and tell them yes and that I start in just a few days. Even Carson did not know that part yet. I saw him go from loose and relaxed, to tense and shut off. I knew this was hard for him. I did not want him to find out this way. I grabbed his hand and then told everyone though how this time would be different, I would be an outpatient, so I would not be spending everyday in the hospital. I felt Carson relax a little bit. I then began to learn about everyone on the team, and their girlfriends or how they "loved" the single life.  At the end of the night, Kathy met me at the restaurant in the rental car to take me back to the hotel. It was hard saying goodbye to Carson, but I knew I still got to see him a few more hours tomorrow.