Things about Sam and Leslie

Sam just finished his eighth cycle of chemo!  He had treatment all five days this week, including a Labor Day infusion.  We were worried that his treatment was going to get pushed back a week because of his lack of white blood cells and Labor Day, but Sam came through over the weekend and made a few more neutrophils and was able to begin his treatment on Labor Day.  Even though a holiday infusion sounds like a drag, it was actually kind of pleasant to be at the hospital without such a large crowd.  Vanderbilt only does holiday infusions for the patients in which the timing of the chemotherapy is critical, so we feel fortunate that the holiday didn’t alter his schedule.  There was only one other cancer patient receiving treatment on Monday, so we had a rather peaceful Labor Day at the infusion center.

This cycle is definitely draining for Sam.  He receives a lot of chemotherapy and spends most of the week at the hospital.  Luckily, there’s always delicious food in the refrigerator and naps to look forward to.   Click on the following link to view highlights from the week:  CYCLE EIGHT VIDEO!

Magic Fridge

Sam and I joke about our refrigerator.  We call it the Magic Fridge.  All we have to do is open up the door and (insert oohh ahhh sound effect when reading) it’s filled with meats, pies, quiche, breads, and endless amounts of cookies!  We really appreciate all of the help with the Magic Fridge contributions.  It makes our life so much easier and it always gives us something to look forward to after being at the hospital all day or coming home from work.  Food, movies, naps, and family time is about all we look forward to these days, so thank you all for adding such a variety of food to our days.

If you live in the 37027 zip code, odds are, we have some sort of plastic container that belongs to you.  In due time, we will get all of the containers back to the rightful owners.  Until then, we’ll spend a majority of our free time wrestling with this cabinet and routinely picking up plastic containers off the floor every single time we open up the cabinet.  Funny thing is, I bet you all have this same problem with your plastic containers and you don’t even have a Magic Fridge!

Off Weeks

We try to keep our off weeks as normal as possible.  It’s not easy.  Sam is usually really tired and we’re restricted on what we can do.  Sam comes with a rule list about a mile long.   Our off weeks usually consist of one or two appointments at the hospital, work, and early bedtimes.  We act like we’re 80 years old.  Honestly, it’s not so bad.  We have an excuse to lay around in our sweatpants, eat at restaurants at 4:30 in the evening, and watch a lot of movies.

This is us!

Sam is getting strong again!  Whoop!  Whoop! 

So it turns out, the doctor was right!  When the surgeon first said that Sam wouldn’t miss his clavicle, we thought she was totally crazy.  It seemed beyond our belief that Sam wouldn’t be impacted at all by missing a big bone.  His progress has been incredible.  When he feels up to it, he works on rehabilitating his shoulder and making it stronger.  The fact that he doesn’t have his right clavicle doesn’t bother him one bit and he should be able to do anything and everything once chemo is over.

I guess all of those extra years of school do pay off!

Here is a short video that shows Sam’s progress.  Sam is able to armpit fart with his right arm and raise the roof.   Click on this link to see the proof:  PROGRESS VIDEO!

Now that I’ve subjected you all to the most absurd video ever, I should thank you.  With such a long week, it’s easy for us to see how this would be impossible without all the help we receive.  You guys make it so that all Sam has to do is show up to the hospital and tolerate chemotherapy as best as he can.  All of you, the doctors, and nurses take care of the rest.  Thank you very much for sending snacks, meals, emails, and cards our way.  This would be a lonely and difficult ride without you.  You Mommas are the best.

Love and gratitude,

Sir Armpit Farts A Lot and Leslie Bledsoe