The doctors and nurses encouraged patients to walk around the ward. The ward is set up with the nurses’ station set up as an island in the middle of the ward with the rooms around the outside. Twenty times around the loop is 1/8 of a mile. When I was feeling anxious or bored, I would grab my IV stand, Barney, and do the loop. I must have walked 15 or 20 miles while I was there.

*****

Sunday, January 12, 2003

*****

I was waiting for Dr. Wetzler to come by to let me know if I was going home today or not. I tried to eat my breakfast while I was waiting, but the chemo has totally destroyed any sense of taste that I had had; I can’t even make spit. Everything tasted bland, but sweet at the same time. No amount of salt seemed to get rid of the sweet tastes.

I think just the thought that I might go home today made me feel better. If I did have to stay, I was getting a shower. It had been almost a week since my last one. But, it was my lucky day and around 2:00 p.m., the doctor said I could go home.

*****

End of Round Two -- Back Home

Monday, January 13, 2003

*****

The doctor let me come home yesterday. After dealing with the paperwork and packing up all my things, I got home about 2:00 p.m. All I wanted to do was sleep. I set up my place on the couch, got my favorite blanket and hat and settled in. Chemo has made me constantly sleepy and cold. I used to sit around in shorts and a T-shirt, even in the winter. Now I have to wear a sweat suit, socks and a hat to even begin warming up. I usually added a down comforter too. I just couldn’t get warm.