Celebrating, With or Without You

If we overlook the increasing side effects of this week's treatment--and the chemoradiation that's not going to be done (the proverbial elephant in the room)--it's time for a little celebrating. Even if Kevin isn't up to it yet, everyone else is ready to celebrate for him.

No more chemotherapy is a big deal. Finishing on your feet is a bigger deal.

Co-workers have been dropping into Kev's office today to see how he feels and congratulate him on finishing. After all these months, they know the schedule by heart.

It was injection day and the oncology nurses surprised him with a card and a mug. Lots of hugs.

No more oxaliplatin. No more leucovorin. No more 5-FU. No more huber needles and skin eating tape. No more saline flushes that leave a bad taste in his mouth. No more heparin locks. No more IV tubing tangled in the bed sheets by morning. No more infusion pump. No more neulasta injections.

Even with the treatment doubts and the side effects, this is--indeed--good.