Wahoo!!! Jadan made it to Day 5 of his first week of chemotherapy. It was a pretty good morning. So far, Jadan’s appetite has been demanding. And he has done exceptionally well with his meals. After enjoying a beautiful morning, Jadan gave Subi some goodbye snuggles.
We were excited to see Amanda, one of Jadan’s new best friends, and her special message, which couldn’t have been more perfect for our last day of chemo: “I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning to sail my ship!” If you didn’t know, Jadan LOVES watching the weather, especially storms.
Anytime we see clouds starting to build, Jadan narrates the process and what to expect. Over the last year, we have had some really great storms. The sky seems to open up and drop all the water at once. Jadan will sit on the front porch or walk in the rain, enjoying the beauty. During our last storm, I spent some time outside and was thrilled when I heard the rain hit our metal roof. It sounded like a rain stick! So cool!
On his way to the chemo chair, he ran into Howard, his pharmacist. After hearing about Jadan’s night, he mentioned that if Jadan decided not to pursue Physics, he could study to become a pharmacist. He thinks Jadan would excel at “being a legal drug dealer.” Howard has an incredible sense of humor and an excellent bedside manner. We have appreciated the time he spent coming over and checking in on how Jadan is managing with his chemo meds. He is a very thoughtful guy!
As Jadan worked through his nausea from the steroid, I read out loud the Lawḥ-i-Karmil (The Tablet of Carmel) from Baháʼu’lláh. This tablet is a charter for establishing the world spiritual and administrative center of the Baháʼí Faith on Mount Carmel. I am especially fond of this tablet. Two years ago, while traveling in Israel, Laurie, Anya, and I read this tablet out loud on Mount Carmel while visiting Deir el-Mukhraqa Carmelite Monastery. It is truly a blessed spot.
Once his steroid was administered and his light nausea passed, it was time to read, eat, and get a foot massage. He had the munchies for quite some time. Once again, the lunch of choice was hashbrowns and tortillas from Frontier Restaurant, one of Albuquerque’s most iconic and famous places to eat.
We also had a visit from Jadan’s doctor. He’s been watching Jadan closely this week and was very pleased with how well he’s been doing—especially on day 5. His overview of the week was super positive. Before he left, he said, “Oh, by the way, you will have bone pain,” as he referred to Jadan’s Neulasta, an on-body-injector for Saturday’s med. This drug will stimulate the growth of white blood cells in his bone marrow, which are essential in fighting germs. However, patients have experienced intense bone pain as a side effect of this process. Dr Purdy shared his hopes that Jadan may not have any pain since he is young. His injector is set to administer the dose 27 hours after the completed chemo treatments. Since the center isn’t open on Saturday, they stick the injector into his abdomen, which will give the dose shortly before 4 pm Saturday. Once administered, it can be removed. I’m calling it a robot shot.
As Jadan wrapped up for the day, his nurse flushed his port, removed the needle, and gave him the okay to head out. Lavender oil has helped him with the chemo smell. As each med is changed, there is a strong smell. Smelling lavender during this procedure keeps the nausea away.
As we were leaving, Dr. Purdy’s nurse stopped by with some super cool chemo merch. Subaru (yes, the car company) and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society partnered to create a soft, cuddly blanket that lives in a heart-shaped zipper pillow. Who knew a blanket could be so cute?
And guess who LOVES it? Yup – The Subi! She thinks it belongs to her.
Fun fact: Did you know the word Subaru is the Japanese word for the Pleiades star cluster? That is why Subaru has stars as its logo, and it is how Subi got her name.
Chemo Art day 5: I am grateful for all the Soul Gardeners who translate their love into inspired acts of love. I am especially thankful for all my family and friends’ love, support, and prayers.
As we move into the next phase of Jadan’s first of four sessions, all are invited to include the Long Healing Prayer in your prayers over the next two weeks. The music by Elika Mahony, complemented by the ocean sounds, immerses our souls in the ocean of healing.
Soul Gardening: Jadan's Cancer Journey 