Not Always What It Seems

All Day In The Hospital

After X-Rays on my wrist, I sat in a chair next to Mike, across from the doctor.

The doctor spoke, "Okay, Mrs. Fisher, it seems as if you will need to get the surgery on your wrist. We plan to remove the cast today so that it doesn't heal the way your bone is sitting inside the cast. We will provide you with a brace to keep you comfortable for now until we can fit you in for surgery. I will admit, as you are going through chemo it will be a rough time for you after the surgery, but I do recommend that we schedule the surgery for the closest date, which we have an opening in 3 days."

"okay, I guess I don't really have a choice here, so lets schedule it." I responded.

"Alrighty then. Here we have everything you will need to know." The doctor said as he handed me a small packet, "The surgery is very simple and will only take about an hour or so. I have instructions on the front there for you, which I will need you to follow the night before the surgery. This procedure you will be awake for but you won't feel a thing."

"Okay, thank you so much doctor." I stated.

"We will see you soon." The doctor smiled as he stepped out.

"Ready for chemo?" Mike asked me as we stood up.

"As I will ever be." I sighed.

Mike and I walked the halls and got onto the elevator to go to my chemo appointment. We signed in and waited until me name was called.

"Carrie Fisher?" A lady called.

We got up and followed the lady into the room. I picked my chair and she began to hook up the IV for me.

"Is it normal for my hair to fall out from my first session?" I wondered.

"Everyone responds to the treatment almost differently, but yes, that is normal." She smiled, trying to make me comfortable.

"Will it all fall out?" I asked.

Finishing up my IV and all she spoke, "Well this is your second treatment, you have one more to go. Once your done, you will see all of the side effects then, Mrs. Fisher. Now, you are all set to go. Any more questions I can answer for you?" She asked.

I pressed my lips together, "No, thank you."

Mike grabbed a chair and sat next to me, taking my hand and rubbing his thumb against it gently.

"So, about an hour or so?" Mike wondered.

"Try two. It gets pretty boring here, you don't have to wait here." I told him.

"I have all the time in the world to wait for you, I'll be fine." Mike smiled.

"Well, unfortunately, I don't seem to have that much time." I sighed.

"Hey, you said it yourself, you're strong. We will get through this together, okay?" Mike kissed mt temple.

Two hours later and we were ready to go home. Mike and I spent close to 6 hours here at the hospital and I was completely drained.

The car ride home was rough. My stomach felt so uneasy, it felt like I was spinning endlessly in circles.

"Pull over." I spoke.

Mike put his turn signal on and we came to a stop on the far side of the highway. I opened the door and immediately threw up on the gravel by the truck. Mike rubbed my back as I emptied my stomach, which was already empty itself.

"This sucks." I cried leaning my head back as Mike began to get merge back onto the highway.

Mike had no clue what to do. All he could say was, "I'm sorry, baby."

We pulled into the driveway and parked the truck. Mike got out and helped me inside. Charlotte was already home from school and greeted us at the door.

"How did it go?" She asked.

"Your mom will need surgery on her wrist, but its minor." Mike told her.

"And chemo?" She wondered.

"The usual." I said to her as Mike helped me to the couch.

I laid my head back and rested my eyes. I felt so weak and tired.

7AM...

Mike woke up in the early morning and rolled over to see his wife dripping sweat. He gently shook her body to wake her, but she didn't respond. He worried, shaking her again and calling her name only to have her not wake up again. He rushed out and bed and into Charlotte's room to inform her and have her help him wake her mom.

"Mom! Wake up." She cried.

"I think we need to call an ambulance." Mike spoke, uneasy.

The ambulance go to the Fisher residence within 15 minutes. They were able to get her awake and stable enough to get up.

"I'm okay." I told Mike. "I don't want to go to the hospital."

"Care, you wouldn't wake up." He said quickly.

"Yes, because I am so tired. My body isn't used to the chemo yet. It's just a side effect, I'm alright." I told him. "The paramedic said he gets these calls all the time."

"I hate that you have to go through this." Mike sighed as he played with my wedding rings.

"I know, I hate putting you and Charlie through this. Hopefully it'll be over soon." I stated.

But this was just the beginning for the Fisher household.....