Cycle 7 Begins!

Today marks the start of the last cycle! And actually, with the timing on this protocol, Catherine will finish her treatment before the Cycle should end. For the first time, I have actually figured out the number of days left - 75. Seems like a big number, but it will be here before we know it. My head spins at the thought. Today was actually the last lumbar puncture with chemo (she will get a lumbar puncture and bone marrow aspirate at the end of treatment to confirm her remission status). The last 2 LPs have gone so smoothly, but today's was a mess. Usually Dr. Farzana is at the office on Wednesdays and does Catherine's LP. These are the only days we see her and somehow her presence makes Catherine relax. Well, Dr. Farzana left for a 3 week trip to India today for her nephew's wedding. So, Dr. Joe, still quite pumped about the Giants Superbowl win, did the procedure. As I have said before, I never stay in the room, but I'm not far either. I could hear Catherine whining and saying, "you're on me!" (one of the nurse's roles during the LP is to actually lay over the patient to ensure that they stay perfectly still). Then for the 30 minutes that she had to lay flat, Catherine cried...the whole time. She has felt nauseous and had a headache, and been quite whiny the entire day. I must say I am whiny too - these days totally wear me out. I am ready for the day to be over!
Yesterday, Catherine asked me if the leukemia can come back after her treatment is done and if it does, will she have to take all this medicine again. Obviously I told her the truth which is yes it can come back and yes she would have to take the medicine again. What I didn't add that always races through my mind is that the treatment will be longer, stronger and come with a much lower cure rate. Thinking about it consumes me at times. Everynight I tell God, I can't do this again - I am not that strong. But then I think, is anybody that strong? No. As my friend who scheduled her breast cancer treatments around her infant son's open heart surgeries said, if God gives you what you can handle, then clearly he doesn't know me very well. So I try to calm myself down and just go about my business as usual.
On a happier note, the Make-A-Wish people came and threw Catherine an ice cream sundae party. I had 35 kids here and about 30 adults. It was so much fun and so special for Catherine and Alex. I hate that we even qualify for this, but it is going to be an amazing trip. They provide everything - transportation, lodging (we will be staying at Give Kids the World which is solely for wish families), and spending money. Not to mention the fact that we get to skip all the lines! We leave in 11 days so the countdown has begun.
That is about all for now. Things continue to move along as they should and hopefully they end as they should.
Thanks for checking in on us!