One More Bag

I'm sick, and I'm just here being sick, and it's okay. Ryan's holding down the fort, cruising the halls with Chelsea, following her diligently with her pole of chemo. She's almost finished 6 out of her 7 bags of Ara-C. They change the tubing every three days, so today she has 2 empty bags and one almost empty bag dangling from her IV pole. They'll change it all out tonight, when they hang her last bag of chemo ... ever. I've been looking forward to saying those words for some time now. last ... bag .... of chemo. (deep breath) I can't explain the feeling, it's one of relief for the life we're leaving behind, and one of excitement for all the life we have ahead of us. It's a feeling most can't understand and I hope you never will. Some parents we know have already experienced this, they've had their end of chemo parties, sang their goodbye songs and have began their new lives with their childen, ... cancer free. Others, smile when I tell them of Chelsea reaching the finish line, and ask in wonder how it feels. Their end is coming, it's just a little further away. Right now I am thankful for this little gem returning to our room, wearing her pink helmet covered with stickers. She hops up onto the bed to greet me, points to the computer screen as if asking what it says, then hops down gleefully and heads back out into the hallway. We can do this.

Today's stats?
ANC - 496
WBC - .98
HGB - 10.5
PLT - 214