After my surgery, I could not drive for quite a few
weeks. Because of post-surgical
draining, I had to go to the surgeon’s office initially twice a week – Monday and
Thursday afternoons. Gradually that
dropped to once a week, then quickly down to no more times for that. I had friends and in-laws offer to drive me
to appointments.
The few days in which I had preliminary testing before
I began chemo, my friends Becky and/or Patty were my drivers. Of course, after the tests were over, we’d
head over to Perkins Restaurant to eat at least a muffin and drink coffee. While sitting there, we would get caught up
in talking and laughing, as well as kind of singing along with the “oldies”
that were the restaurant music. We did
this the mornings I had a CT scan, the EKG, the bone density test, and the bone
scan. It was good for me to be able to
be with friends and to have some good laughs.
When I got my chemo schedule, the Hospitality Committee
at church once again came along side to be a help. People could sign up for meals that would
come the Wednesday after chemo. I had
drivers for my infusion appointments every other week over sixteen weeks. Those who did that did not need to stay the
hours I’d be there; but most chose to.
So, although I had my Kindle with me, as well as puzzle books, I rarely
did much with those. Instead, my
companion for the day and I would chat and watch HGTV on the little tv in the
infusion room where I was. My most
frequent driver was my friend and sister-in-law Patty. We had some fun times in spite of the
situation. Probably mine was the only
room there from which the med people could hear some laughing going on. Two of my drivers were very curious about the
needles and the tubes and the bags of drip that I would get hooked up to. They would be right up on their feet,
checking the process out – which was ok with me. Others just sat and chatted.
When I first started chemo, I was still seeing the
surgeon at least once a week. So, there
were ladies who signed up to drive me to these appointments as well. These appointments did not take too much of a
time commitment.
Tuesdays after chemo I would have to go back to the
facility to get a neulasta shot. I had
drivers to take me there. The Fridays of
the following week I had blood draws. I
had drivers to take me for that as well.
Most times I felt fine, but my fear was that the time I would decide to
cancel a driver, that might be the time I needed the driver. Near the end of chemo, I had a time when I
really needed that driver. When my
driver was my friend Wendy, we’d always go for coffee at some coffee shop, if I
was feeling good. I was. That was a great way to break up the monotony
of these trips.
Because chemo infusions can get thrown off because of
low white blood cell counts and because I knew I would soon not have to make
frequent visits to the surgeon, the Hospitality Committee ladies and I decided
that the sign-up sheets would be done in increments. The first one would cover the first four
infusions (eight weeks). The second
would then replace that with the final four.
After chemo I had radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is quick, but it goes on
every weekday for about 33 times or so.
To me, that seemed like a lot to ask of the church people – rides every
day. So, this is what happened. My sister-in-law Patty always took me on
Mondays. That is her day off work, and
for several reasons, she liked the chance to get out of town for a bit. (When she drove for these appointments, we
tended to stop at Dunkin’ Donuts on the way home because I knew she liked the
iced coffees.) Ladies signed up for
Wednesdays and Fridays. I thought I
could handle the other two days, although I had some of the ladies at church
say to me that if I needed a ride to let them know. I finally did that near the end of my
radiation therapy because of the burns I was dealing with. I could have driven myself, but having
drivers was a BIG help.
My final day of radiation therapy, my driver, Wendy,
and I went on up to Homer to a coffee house and celebrated.
Why did I like the idea of the sign-up sheet? In a crisis, people will offer to help. They want to help. I did not have to make the decision very often
of asking someone myself if she could assist me. Ladies had volunteered. I did not have to wonder who would not mind
spending hours on a Monday with me for chemo.
Ladies volunteered. How easy is
that? Also with the sign-up sheets,
people knew what could be done, rather than guessing. It really was great.
I often commented to some of my drivers of how blessed
I felt by this support the church was providing. Do we make a mistake in not sharing our needs
with our church family? I know there are
those who take advantage of the goodness of people; but why do we hold back? We give Christian brothers and sisters the
opportunity to help us out and be blessed by doing so.
“Encouraging the Eatons” was a blessed experience for
Dennis and me. I think that it was a
blessed experience for all of those who volunteered. This was a long time to be doing this, and
yet we never lacked for a volunteer.
Galatians tells us that we are to do good to those who
are in the household of faith. I know
that I will be even better about volunteering as opportunities arise in the
future.
