Round 1 of chemo is over, and our dad is
feeling pretty alright. He's drinking lots of fluid to keep the chemo
from settling in his kidneys ("the kids") and continues to report
positively about the oncology nurses.
There are some side effects, such as incessant hiccuping, but
he's getting that more under control. He's taking anti-nausea medication
preventively, as well as a few other meds for the various side effects
of the anti-nausea meds. So these things go. He's feeling well enough to
continue tax prep paperwork and is planning to shoot on Sunday. The
next round of chemo is scheduled to be on April 2, 3, and 4.
Today, the two of us FaceTime-d on our iPhones, which was great. I
never feel too far away from my dad, because we are always in such close
touch, but being in San Francisco while all this is happening in New
York has, and will continue to be, very difficult. Being able to just
lay eyes on him made me feel much better. We're both trying to be brave
in the face of a great unknown.Your comments here, and your emails and
phone calls, continue to give us all strength and courage. My dad calls
them his elixir.
I am glad round 1 is over. Part of the difficulty of chemo, at first, is not knowing how it feels, what side effects will be. Oncologists do tell you but it is not the same. One can prepare oneself more for next time. Face-timing is one of the great things of our technological age. Can be so immediate and spontaneous. Thinking of all of you all the time. Much love sent your way. Michele
ReplyDeleteSo gratefully received, Michele!
DeleteGood to hear that one round's over and that you're planning to shoot tomorrow, Eddie. Go get 'em, tiger! Pulling for you and Hana and Leda and Ilya! Love, Sylvia
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Sylvia. I love your encouragement! It's a lift.
DeleteHi Eddie and everyone, here is Frankfurt, snowy, icy. So great the hear the news about the PET scan, that is an enormous relief. We are glad the first round of chemo is over. Hope you feel well. Much, much love, P&S&J
ReplyDeleteSo warmly received that the snows of Frankfurt will melt and daffodils will shoot up through the soft earth. Love, Eddie
DeleteGo Eddie! Been thinking of you a lot. I'm going up to Ravina with Murray and Paul tomorrow, staying there the whole week to work on the Narativ book. You'll be in my listening. I miss our once in a while talks, let's have another soon! Much love.
ReplyDeleteJerome
We always seem seem to connect effortlessly. Thanks, Jerome, for being a voice and listening on this journey.
DeleteLove,
Eddie
Eddie, we're so glad round 1 is over. In the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, the Gallagher-Grays offer you this Irish wish:
ReplyDeleteMay the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
Love, Ed & Patty
Wonderful wishes, from you two! Thanks. I'm taking in all the positive imagery that's being offered.
DeleteLove, Eddie
It's so amazing Eddie to think of you going through this unbelievable journey at MSKCC where we spent time filming other people's stories. Frankly, it's your warmth that helped make the filming there a redemptive experience – for all involved. I'm so glad to hear they are returning the kindness, and even more importantly, to hear the positive news and intelligence that you've gotten as you're moving through this strange interlude. Thinking of you surrounded by people who love you! Love, Frank
ReplyDeleteSo, true, Frank. Amazingly, it looks like I'll be shooting three days this week, so the first round of chemo, while definitely carrying real impact, hasn't put me too off course. I have been surrounded by people who love me. The only way to describe this feeling is 'moving,' and this moving feels like good medicine. Thanks for your loving wishes.
DeleteLa Fheile Padraig duit, (a bit late!) Eddie,
ReplyDeleteVery good to hear from Leda on the good results of the PET scan, and your relatively uneventful completion of the first round of chemotherapy.
Thinking of you, Hana, Ilya and Leda and looking forward to seeing you in Spring.
xxx
Kay and Otto
It was so deeply satisfying to lay eyes and hands on Eddie when Jeff and I were in New York. Even though it was too, too short a visit, Jeff, Amanda, and I felt reassured and delighted to see him looking and acting so well. In such encounters, the meaning of life is to be found.
ReplyDeleteMeredith
Thinking of you all today.
ReplyDelete-Brett