Cycle FIVE Friday (Day 1 Cycle 5)

Cycle FIVE already??!!! OMG!!

 Schedule:

• 9:45am    Summer off to Dana Farber (with Bob)
• 11:10am  Bloodwork
• 12:00pm  Meet with Dr. Parry 
• 1:00pm    Cycle 5 chemo infusion
• Apt D Electric Razor session (hide the dogs!)
• A visit to Carolyn & Dave’s animals 
• Read-A-Loud time - riddles & books 

Another gorgeous sunrise at Lake Archer - Good Morning! 

Summer and Bob met with Dr. Parry and got another great report of her progress as she explained how cycle 5 is going to play out.  Everything is going "very, very well" so far, but the largest cycle is in front of us now.  The dosage for cycle 5 has been increased once again - so expect it to be even harder this time.  We should expect more mouth sores.  We need to be careful this cycle about what Summer eats - low acidity, stay away from citrus. Stay away from things that could scratch/cut her mouth.  We may also see higher fevers.  This is the most neutropenic of all cycles.  

"Most neutropenis of all cycles" ~TheBob

Cycle 6 chemo will probably be lesser dosage than cycle 5.  The PICC line could come out August 9th (which would be day 5 of cycle 6) but Dr. Parry says that it may be a good idea to keep it in a little longer after the finish of the cycle six infusion for required bloodwork/labs or possibly transfusions, should they become necessary. To date, no transfusions have been needed. After cycle 6 is completed, her medication level will most likely go down to just two or three daily.  Then 2-3 months later there should be no need for any medication at all.  

For the chemo infusion, they brought Summer and Bob into a room with a hospital bed which at first, especially after having just been told difficult this cycle was going to be, got them nervous.  Luckily it was just because it was the only room type available. PHEW!  

How is it that Summer looks glamorous sitting on a hospital bed waiting for her chemo infusion!

Taylor B was Summer’s nurse today. Taylor is a very awesome, very cool person who has treated Summer before. We love her!  Taylor was training Christine, an experienced oncology nurse who’s new to the lymphoma team at Dana Farber.  

Video of Bob explaining how things are going during the infusion process. 

Pesto pizza for lunch for Summer. Bob got pepperoni.  

Summer explaining her patches and pins to Taylor. 

Bob took a TON of pictures and is doing a good job capturing the day for us! ;) 

The backpack is MUCH heavier this round with a big fat bag of chemo meds. Much bigger than we’ve had so far! 

Chemo bag & pump being installed into the backpack 

This is one cool backpack.  

Back at home, Summer has been wanting to trim up her “halo” and asked her dad to bring his buzzers. Summer got very excited about the buzzers.  

Summer trimmed up her dad’s beard. 

Colby got into the buzzing action as well! 

“If I went swimming right now I’d be unstoppable!” ~Summer

Then we stopped by Carolyn & Dave’s to let out good old Skippy the dog. While there, we visited all the animals. This horse became Bob’s new BFF!  

Horse kisses for Bob

We wrapped up the day with an array of BOOKS.  Bob did a few read alouds starting off with an old favorite that Summer had given us a few years ago (see video). Then we read the classic Doggies, written by Summer.  Bob & Kim gave Colby a magic book, which was one of Bob’s favorites and has a ton of cool rules to the book!   

We read this book, sent to Summer from Keleigh Quinn (thank you, Keleigh!). This is HILARIOUS!! Highly recommend. 

Video of Bob doing an Apt D Read-A-Loud of Go the F*ck to Sleep.  

💚 ———————— ❤️

Bob’s verbal diarrhea on cycle 5:

There was a protocol that was put into our lives and put into place in April. 

Every step is very difficult.  

Exhausting

This is like boot camp for life.

It’s difficult for everyone here, 

but Summer is carrying the brunt of all this…

every minute, every day.  

It’s physically difficult for Summer. Mentally difficult for Summer. 

And as difficult as it has been and as perfect as we have all been in doing our ‘jobs’ and following this protocol 

All we can do is be there for Summer and each other.  

To show up and put in the effort. 

Cycle 5 is going to be TOUGH.  

#SummerSTRONG #TeamSummer 

Good night.  😴