First chemo

My doctor rang this morning to say I am to be admitted today to begin chemotherapy. My first dose of chemotherapy involved an Intra Thecal (IT) to protect my brain from leukemia cells. It has to be administered through my spinal canal by injection. (Ouch!) The doctor and nurses tried their best to get me to sleep (sedated me twice) but I was too alert ... I had woken up from my 2-hour morning nap a minute before they entered the room! I had my eyes wide open during the entire procedure and Mummy and Daddy had to keep me very still. For IT to be effective, I had to lie on my back for at least 4 hours. It was really boring staring up at the ceiling.

I was also rather hungry cos I had to fast for the IT procedure - no food or drink for at least 4 hours. I had 120ml of milk at 8am and didn't eat again until 6.30pm as I was feeling very groggy. In the meantime, I was given 4 bags of platelets, a cocktail of powerful drugs, as well as a hydrating drip. I had so many tubes going into Mr Hickman that they got tangled up and the machines went "beep" and had to be reset heaps. The drugs will be administered for 20 hours, after which I will be given a 4-hour break. Then it starts all over again. I think I'd better rest now. Goodnight.