Round One

Abby was admitted to Children's Hospital yesterday to begin chemotherapy. She was supposed to start yesterday, but there was some confusion about lab work that needed to be done 24 hours before starting chemo, so today was her first day.  Yesterday started out rough. Abby got very afraid when they tried to access her port and needed several people to restrain her to allow them to get to the port. I don't think it actually hurt her too badly, but more so that she was scared and felt out of control. The room she was assigned is not private and had a patient in yesterday, but was discharged yesterday afternoon. Today, she has the room to herself and hopefully it stays that way as long as possible. The room is very small. This afternoon she got her first dose of chemotherapy. She will receive chemo treatments 3 hours a day for 3 days. Cori and Craig said she was doing well until approx 30 min before the treatment was over. I got to the hospital today just as she was completing the treatment. She was in obvious discomfort and complaining of feeling dizzy, nauseous, headache and stomach ache. She is on medication for the nausea and the stomach ache is from the steroids. She is given medication for the stomach pain and is being tapered off the steroid. 

Abby has a "Child Life Specialist" which helps her through the process and explains things to her at a child"s level.  Today she talked to Abby about cancer, chemo and some of the things that may happen to her (hair loss, feeling sick, etc.) I think it was shocking and overwhelming to her as it is for all of us who know and love her.