December Chemo

We go in for chemo. It is the usual which starts with facing the ladies behind the glass who take your name and then grab the chart, tell you to sit down. I look out around the room and it is filled with people either entering into the process, in the grip of it or coming out the other side. I saw a guy there who brought his kids. Man if that doesn’t scare them then nothing will. “Geez yes Mom I will eat those brussel sprouts. I don’t want to end up like Dad.” I bet it is more like “Did I do anything to make Dad so sick?”

Her name is called and we go to get blood drawn. If your white cell count is too low then you can’t get chemo. There is an irony there, being too sick to take treatment which is designed to nearly kill you to make you better. Anyway the blood is drawn and we are escorted to an exam room while the lab work is done. As we pass by there is a lady who is in an adjacent exam room. The door is open and I catch a part of the doctor’s lecture to her.

“You should start to lose your hair in3-4 weeks. You should probably cut it short so it isn’t such a shock. Hats are a necessity to keep your head warm.”

I remember those words. She has a little smirk on her face and her husband stands next to her and he is white as a sheet with the deer in the headlights look. He is living a nightmare and his wife is smirking at the doctor like it is a joke. Man, just wait lady and mister you better get your act together quickly. You two have no idea.

I think that guys whose wives or significant other is just beginning to walk down that road need somebody to be a guide for them, sort of an escort through hell.

The doctor says that things are really great. It is mostly scar tissue and the other tumors are probably in serious decline. That is all good news. He sets her up for chemo and a new appointment. We are a bit confused. Isn’t this the last one? What then? He has no time.

The chemo seems to take forever. Cindy is sleeping and a lady comes in and takes her place in a chair. The nurse greets her and then looks at her chart. The conversation that follows is a spirit killer.

“ Did you speak with your insurance carrier?”

“ No what’s wrong?”

“This treatment isn’t covered.”

‘What? You’re kidding.”

“No, you need to call your doctor’s office.”

The conversation continues and the lady leaves to sort things out. Now imagine if you will that you are faced with a threat and someone denies you the only alternative and solution to that threat. That is academic enough so think about this. You could die without the treatment and you can’t have it because your insurance carrier won’t pay for it and without it you need to come up with $3-5000 now. It may be fair under the rules but it is inequitable and I hope there is a particularly hot corner in hell for the insurer.