June 4, 2011... Sophia and 6 of her school friends ran a lemonade stand in a local park and raised $138.80 for the Triple Breast Cancer Foundation!! Way to go, girls!!
June 8, 2011... the big day arrived and off we went for our first pre-treatment consultation and chemo administration. It was a warm, sunny spring day, so the drive to the Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge facility was uneventful.
In true Italian fashion, we arrived with baked goods to share with the nurses and doctors who will be an important part of our family for the next 6 months (and beyond as we continue with routine post-treatment check ups)! We met with our primary doctor first, Dr. Mila Gorsky, and she answered all the crazy questions we had compiled since we met with her on May 20! She was very patient with us!! She is also very positive and optimistic (as are we!) about the outcome of the treatment plan we decided on together. Since the nodes and margins were clear of any cancer cells, we are poised to BEAT THIS!!
At ~3:00 PM, the actual treatments began. Our main nurse Tara was AWESOME... so organized and thorough. Everything was done via IV. Pina's veins were GREAT!! There was a series of drug pushes (of the A drug) for about an hour (they have to push it in the vein and then pull back on the syringe to check the blood flow). Then there was about 30 minutes of IV of the C drug. All the while, Pina was receiving fluids via IV for hydration. Hydration is so important during treatment. It all went as smoothly as it could have. Pina was the perfect patient! She was smiling ear to ear when she talked to the Bressner Boys on the phone!
About 2 hours later, when all was done, we had a little excitement when Pina went to the restroom. She unknowingly pressed the "Help" button and set off all sorts of alarms. Nurses came out of the woodwork to help the patient in distress! Once they realized it was an accident, things settled down. What a way to make a first impression:)
The first night was not so bad. Nausea here and there, but they have provided a lot of medications to keep it under control. Appetite is not normal, but Pina is eating little bits here and there to keep her body nourished!
The follow up shot was yesterday (6/9). Since it was after school hours, Sophia went with Nonna and Nonno for the ride! We know Nonna Jenny was with us on her special day!
June 10... a lot of sleeping today, but that is to be expected. Nausea medication is a God send... so far so good. Hands are shaky and mind if a little fuzzy, but hey... we'll take it! Nick is keeping her mind off of it all by having a date night where they are watching a silly movie.
"The capacity for hope is the most significant fact of life. It provides human beings with a sense of destination and the energy to get started."
