Information Overload...

Today was our first visit with Dr. Zurenko, our new radiation oncologist. We were originally assigned Dr. Grisell but after the office found out we live in Lyman they said we could see Dr. Zurenko in Greer if we wanted to. Dr. Grisell was nice and everything but we were willing to see another doctor if it meant easier trips. After all, we're talking 30+ radiation visits so the closer the better. (Take that Exxon!)

Dr. Zurenko was just a regular guy. I really liked him alot. Easy to talk to, very good "bed side manner". Allison was a little less enthused than I was. When I asked why..."I like female doctors". I tried to make her laugh, "females aren't smart enough to be radiation oncologists"....OK, no smile, she's not liking that answer too much. But all in all, she actually did like him so he's a "keeper".

He talks about the process. He jokes, saying that the drive over to the hospital will take longer than the procedure will actually take. He says after having gone through chemo, this is a breeze. Once a day for 5 weeks she'll have a "broad" treatment, then for the next week and a half she'll have 8 more "targeted" treatments for a grand total of 33. Her boob should glow in the dark when its all over! OK, I just made that up, but wouldn't that be cool (and scary at the same time)? :)

We leave from there and drive to our next appointment...Dr. Christman's office to go over the chemo process that she begins on December 28. This is the building where my bride will be pumped full of poison and as much as I want to hate this place and its people I can't help but feel a sense of peace by all the angels, Bibles and Christian "fish" I see everywhere. Like I said before, these people are serious about cancer and really care about the people that are forced to go there. I say "forced" because now that we're going through it, I can't see how anyone would ever volunteer for this.

Allison has blood drawn and we move to a familiar location...another exam room. It looks the same as all the others...blood pressure device on the wall, exam table, sink, syringe container, purple sterile gloves...God help us, I'm beginning to hate the appearance of all this. Lu Ann is our nurse practitioner, very nice but still I giggle (you know, my immature sense of humor). The only "Lu Ann" I know is Lu Ann Poovie, Gomer Pyle's girlfriend. The whole time she's talking all I hear is this blonde Southern Bell saying "I love you Gomuh".

Lu Ann gives us 6 prescriptions to have filled...oh boy. These are to help with the side effects of the chemo. Are you serious?? Can we not find a cure for this disease please?!? Allison has never taken medication, none of us have really. Only on the rare occasion that we have had to go to the doctor and gotten a "Z Pack" or something. Allison is a lightweight when it comes to medication, if the box says "may cause drowsiness" then it generally sends her into an 8 hour coma so this is going to be very interesting.

At home we talk about the day's events. Allison had mentioned weeks ago before we knew if she would even need chemo or not..."why shouldn't I have to go through chemo, what makes me so good that I should think I don't have to go through what so many others have had to go through"? Its THAT kind of attitude that makes me love her more today than I did on our wedding day 21+ years ago. All of a sudden God speaks... I don't know why but often friends and family tend to feel comfortable enough with us to discuss their "issues". Everyone has them, you know. And many times we've offered advice and encouragement. But up until now we have simply been blessed and haven't truly had a difficult trial, or at least nothing like what we're going through now. Through this trial and how we handle it, hopefully God will provide us the opportunity to tell others going through similar crises how He carried us through ours. And maybe, just maybe, we'll be able to put into words how gracious our God was and how faithful He is in carrying us through our most difficult trials if we will only trust Him.