Last week, Caleb and I ventured to Texas to get clearance to start chemotherapy. Hurricane Beryl had other plans, unfortunately. Our flight into TX on Sunday were cancelled and rescheduled for Tuesday, getting us there after my very last scheduled appointment. We knew there was a chance that my appointments would be cancelled due to the hurricane but, at that point, everything was still showing on the calendar.

So Caleb, my knight in shining armor, got to work and rescheduled the flights. We were able to make it into Chicago for a long (overnight) layover and then we got on a plane to Austin at 5am Monday morning. If you know me, you know I am not a morning person AT ALL. But, we made the flight and landed in Austin a few hours later. We picked up the rental car and headed towards Houston. The friends we had planned on staying with were updating us on the storm and how Houston was faring. Thankfully, the closer we got to their house, the further Beryl was. We go to Houston as the clouds cleared. If it weren’t for the trees down, debris in the road, and flooding, you’d never had known a hurricane had just hit the city. Much of the city was without power but our friends, Margaret and Gary, miraculously still had lights on when we pulled into the driveway.

Just as we made it into the house, my Monday appointments were officially cancelled. It looked like we’d be delaying our trip home Wednesday as the possibility of rescheduling all my appointments to fit into the schedule Tuesday seemed slim. However, the next morning, my knight in shining armor did it again; Caleb was able to reschedule everything we missed. It meant an entire day (11 hours) at the hospital but also meant we could potentially still make our 5am flight on Wednesday. Yes, another one, ugh.

Tuesday began with an appointment to have another PICC line inserted. My local oncologist recommended it be done to avoid any possible complications. The insertion did not go well…at all. It was incredibly painful. More painful than a lot of other things I’ve dealt with thus far. After being unable to insert the line, the nurse attempted on a second vein. He was, thankfully, able to do so with less pain than the first time. My baseline CT scan followed. I had to wait four hours to get the scan, but it was done. Next, we saw an infectious disease doctor to follow-up on the skin infection. Then we headed to my oncologist to go over the chemo plan. My last appointment was with the surgeon, who cleared me for chemo after saying that I was healing very well. We squeezed in one last appointment back at the clinic that put in the PICC line (there was bleeding so the dressing had to be changed already).

We followed up the looooong day with a delicious dinner before heading back to our friends’ home. Early to bed so we could again make our way to the airport at 3am. Two flights and one short layover later, we were home again!

Chemo begins on Wednesday 7/17. I’m nervous to go through it again but also anxious to just get it started and over with. Eight months is a long time to feel yucky and exhausted, but it is well worth the potential reward. Eight months is an easy trade when I could be getting years (and more years) with my family in return.

I kicked off this week with my 36th birthday. We typically don’t celebrate my birthday too much as it isn’t a big deal to me. Or, at least, it didn’t used to be. We didn’t do anything crazy or over the top; that’s not my style. A day with my kids, a yummy steak dinner cooked by my knight in shining armor, and an evening spent with family and friends – I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday. It was a good recharge for this next phase of battle.

Thank you to our TX friends, Margaret and Gary, for welcoming us into your home and your life. It makes being away from home just a little bit easier.

Thank you to my friends for coming to celebrate my birthday with me. It meant more than you know.

And thank you to my husband, who always steps up to the plate when life throws us a curveball, who is always there by my side to wipe my tears or make me laugh. I couldn’t do this without him, of that I’m certain.

I’ve come this far and kicked quite a lot of butt. This next part is going to be a breeze. Angiosarcoma isn’t going to know what hit it.

PS This week I will be working to transition my blog to another site. A more user-friendly site that doesn’t ask for donations every time you visit. I will share it here when it’s up and running!