Chemo

Day 2 August 25, 2018, Sunday

 I rolled out of bed and discovered that it was the morning I took a pair of sweatpants

and a sweatshirt into the bathroom. I changed, brushed my teeth, washed my face, and

did my hair. My parents were still asleep, I left them a note saying where I was. We

drove to the hospital which was an hour away.

We went to the front desk, "Catherine Hoffing" I stated in my bravest voice. The nurse took

me into a room with two seats and a padded medical table. The nurse inserted an IV into my left

arm, it stung a little. Bryan went to the cafeteria and I played on my phone. The nurse walked in

and took the IV out. It took 30 minutes. Then she asked me how it felt. I told the truth, it felt like

someone was burning my veins.

"Ok, We will see you in 2 days for another dose. Would you like to see your trial

options?" The nurse didn't talk a lot I liked that.

"Yes please, I'll see you then."

Bryan and I went to Burger King I got a large fry, I didn't have much of an appetite. We sat at

lunch and I brought up how much time I have left. I told Bryan that if my health declined

I would have to break-up with him. If I die I can't put him through that pain. He refused,

telling me that it would be worse if we weren't together than if we were. End of

discussion.

I didn't even look at the trials. Bryan and I sat at my kitchen table and filled out all of the

permission forms and requirement crap. Some of them required more than others. I was

reaching for another trial packet when my stomach started to throb. I gasped, Bryan sat

there looking trapped. He wasn't used to this.

"Gina, Todd! What's happening?" My parents rushed in. They walked me to my bed and gave

me a cold washcloth because my fever was and 103.5, again. Bryan stood at the doorway

shaking. He didn't know what to do. I could tell. I motioned him to come over and he

sat on my bed. I held his hand, I told him sorry, he shouldn't have to see me like this. We

talked about homework and school. Then we both realized that it was Sunday. We had a

lot of homework.

He drove home to get his things, clothes for tomorrow, schoolwork, and a toothbrush, he

really needed one! We started homework around 6:30. I had 50 algebra questions and an essay.

We had map work for world studies and a chart for science. It was a pain, busywork. We did

homework until 9:30, then he went to fall asleep on the couch.