Mom and Sarah!

This is mom and Sarah, remember I told you she was our go to girl our nurse at the Zang? This is a picture of her and mom from today. We had to go for our meeting with the nurse practitioner, Cheryl and talk about Chemo Education, blood work, insurance stuff then Sarah. She had to give mom EKG and of course just talk about everything.

This was Paiges first time there and I hope she learned lots. We got a tour of the place and all the other stuff they have to offer. They have a "look good feel good" class which mom wants to go to, so we will definately do that. They talk about make up and such and also ways to wear scarves and hats around your head when loosing your hair. However, they do have other options. As Cheryl explained, excersicing is one thing they want you to do while having chemo, they promote that while offering yoga and other classes. Cheryl was pretty tough in a good way. She talked about the eating and the just laying around. She said absolutely NO not eating and explained different things to do to help. She also talked about sleeping, she said the more you sleep the more you want to sleep. So called "power naps" turn into more sleeping.

I will be honest, mom was not with it today. Effects of surgery and the anesthesia from yesterday or anti anxiety meds I dont know but she was not with it today. This morning she was upset about hair loss. But the focus was not on her and how she would feel, it was on Alan and others who might not see her on a daily basis and then BAM no hair. Needless to say this stirred ALL kinds of emotions in her and just blew her up for the day! I have to say the people at the Zang were really supportive about this especially Sarah. I guess they hear it all and see what helps others. Now Alan via a friend told us about a place in Dublin called Hope Boutique and these places you need an appointment which is what we will get. However, Sarah had a great idea and I have heard about this before but when it does not hit you at home you tend to forget. Sarah was saying how some people, knowing this is going to happen or are in the process of it happening, have what they call a "SHAVE YOUR HEAD PARTY"! Think about this, this is way for YOU the patient to take control of a side effect. Kinda like get it before it gets you! Personally I think this is fantastic idea and could bring mom a lot of laughs and support! But before this is planned, I need to know I have some people on board for this, so who reading this blog is in????? I have really been considering this, why because its my mom and my hair will grow back, plus the one who will sign up will all be men and it is easier for men. I want to know the WOMAN who is out there that will support this, is there any takers? PS: let me remind you or lay some guilt on you this is what mom was focused on ALL day and she HAS to do this.

Ok enough about hair. Wow, again today total overload of information, do this if this happens, do that if it doesnt blah blah. There are so many things and tiny things to absorb! The Zang is really a nice comfortable place but of course during the tour when we went to the 2nd floor (chemo floor) mom did get upset, but I think I would too. It just really turned out to be not so good of day, but tomorrow WILL be better.

I need a reply for any takers on the head shaving and if interested you can go with us to Hopes Boutique.