Port Day..........

My buddy Jody didn't tell me that it hurts to have a port in. I was thinking this would be a piece of cake and compared to my lung surgery, it is. But dang.
I woke up early this morning knowing that my dad would show up at 7:00 when I told him to be at my house around 7:30. That's what I love about him, he's always on time and early to boot. Off we went to Des Moines, I was a little envious of him because he had a mug of coffee and of course I couldn't have mine until after my procedure. We arrive at the parking garage, drive up a level and we see "Parking for Cancer Patients" signs and we kept driving. On the next level, there those signs are again. Dad turns and says, "well I guess that is you" and he pulls in. Dad had a saddened look in his eye and sound in his voice. So, being the mood lightener I am, I replied "yeah, that's me." Than I said, "Dad, wonder how many times I'll get poked today?" Have I told you all how sick and tired I am of getting poked, even if it's by a pretty nurse, I suddenly don't care or want any more pokes!!!! Hence the port. All the nurses will have to do is give me a tiny poke into that port and that I can handle as long as they don't have to dig around for a vein.
Dad and I didn't have to wait too long to get called back. I had to get an IV and my blood drawn, that equalled THREE pokes. I felt bad for the nurse, her name was Steph too, but that's not why I felt bad for her. I felt bad because I gave her a hard time, if you can imagine. She got my IV in ok, but she couldn't draw any blood. I told her I was all dried up, so bless her heart, she gave up on me and had the other nurse try. Eventually they got what they needed. Those nurses deserve a Gold Medal, Purple Heart, or something. I can't imagine doing their job and they are so sweet too. My dad and I joked around with them about getting poked and how I was going to get a tattoo above my port that says "Insert Here!." Seriously, I don't want any more needles in my arm.

Hmmm, as I look at that picture, my port seems to be extremely low. Guess I will have to flash some people when they plug me in for Chemo, that will be interesting. While they were preparing for the procedure, I had a flashback from my lung surgery. The room was the same cold temp, there were a lot of nurses clanging instruments, one trying to put oxygen on me, and the other putting the sleepy meds in my IV. One nurse was commenting on my bright shoes. He wouldn't even cover up my feet because he wanted to see them glow in the dark. I started wondering where in the World was I and what is this crazy guy going to do to me today. My feet are cold dude, cover them up. That's when the sleepy feeling hit. I could barely feel the needle digging in me to numb my neck and chest and than I was out. Before too long, I was in a wheelchair and the lovely nurse wheeled me to Starbucks. She than wheeled us to the parking garage where my dad took over. It was the sweetest thing. My dad escorted me to the car, opened the door and made sure I could get in ok. He did the same when we got back to my house. He and I are a lot alike.
The crazy thing about this port experience, is that you can feel the catheter tube in my neck. It's actually kind of cool, but a very odd placement for that sucker. They tell me that I will be sore for a couple of days or at least until my little incision heals, but that I will always feel it. I can no longer count on one hand the number of scars/incisions I have from my shoulders to my belly button. Wonder what a tattoo would look like if I connected all the dots and lines??? Just kidding mom, I would never.
Well anyway, just thought I would share today's experience with you in case there is anyone out there who will have a need for a port.
I also need to clarify my Staging because I don't want anyone getting the wrong idea or information. I am a Stage 3A. There is not a whole lot of difference between Stage 2b and 3A. We did not really go backwards, just got clarification on where I actually stand after my surgery pathology report. Absolutely nothing changes, not with me and most certainly not with my will to fully kick this crap and never see it again! I need you all to pray that it rains tonight and holds off tomorrow morning. My wonderful Team Steph will be walking in the 2nd annual Free to Breath Walk, which raises awareness for lung cancer. This is something I have been extremely excited about! Come on Mother Nature....don't you of all people know that I am a pretty big deal?