Marching along

I am sitting in the chair getting weekly Herceptin injection through my port. I completed radiation treatment # 11 on Sunday. The cancer center did radiation on Sunday for those requesting, so that we can have 4 days for Thanksgiving. I jumped at the chance to get the treatment regime completed earlier. In talking to the radiation oncologist, Dr. Zoberi, he explained I would have 28 treatments - which in my calculation would be done on Christmas eve. When I started last week, the radiation technician gave me a calendar with my schedule and I was scheduled until January 7th. I was confused. When I talked to Dr. Z. on Tuesday, he explained that the last 7-10 treatments were "boost" treatments to irradiate the internal mammary nodes, which would be a smaller area in my chest. However, the boost treatments could be scheduled with my other treatments, with the primary larger area treatment in the morning and the boost in the afternoon. So Dr Z arranged this for me and on Tuesday and Thursday I will get two treatments. Hopefully, I will be completed by Christmas eve.
The Hope Lodge accommodations are clean and simplisitc. Everyone must do their own laundry, includeing towels and bedsheets that are provided. We also are to keep the rooms clean. No housekeeping staff. The kitchen facilities are very good with four complete cooking stations. Each resident has a locker to keep dry foods in and a bin with our room number on it to put foods in the industrial-sized refrigerator. There is a family room with TV on each floor (3) and a large TV room near the kitchen area. There is gated parking by the Lodge and parking is free, too. The Lodge has about 50 rooms and last Thursday night it was full. Today, it's about 1/2 full. Most residents will go home for Thanksgiving. Today and tomorrow a local radio station is broadcasting from the Lodge all day having a radio-thon as a fund raiser for the Lodge. I read in the promotion materials that it costs $1000 to keep the home open for one day. Several community/church groups are making meals for all the residents of the Lodge. Last week a St. Louis Univerity Relay for Life team provided a turkey dinner for everyone.
My sister Carol was here from Tuesday to Sunday. She flew in and I found the airport without any difficulty. We did try to do one fun thing a day while she was here, so we saw the Catholic Bascilica (built in 1907) with 42 million mosaic pieces in the ceiling; the botanical gardens, historic St. Charles, Hermann wineries, Missouri History Museum, Clayton Row (antique shops).
I have been reading a lot- I am reading the Barbara Bush biography - interesting in the light of the current political climate. I have papers to grade and return - all through the wonders of the web- and I am completing an Advanced Pharmacology class.
I look forward to the holiday and being home for a few days. Lindsay and Aaron will travel with us on the day to Marlin's brother and sister in law who live on Grand Lake. I hope Lindsay will help me put up the Christmas tree and decorate a little.
I am grateful for the mail I have gotten while in St. Louis and know that the many prayers said are helping me cope.
Blessings to your family -
Love to you, Ellen