Monday, September 20, 2010

Go ahead and start taking notes...

...because you are on your way to becoming an un-certificated "first responder."

1. Stock up. There is a storm brewing and you need supplies. Become a member of a wholesale club because you will want to buy in bulk. Why risk the germ infested waters more than you have to? There is power in the pallet.

2. Buy one of those really big desk calendars and slap it on your fridge. The one with tear off paper pages, because tearing it off and crumpling it is the reward. There will appointments and medications flying erratically from week to week. (And for my family, the dreaded Broviac care and home maintenance plan.)

3. If your child is lucky enough to sport a Broviac, pick up some Press-N-Seal and a nice waterproof, long sleeve smock. And never, NEVER leave home without your hemostats.

4. Never go home without topping off the gas tank. Cancer has a sick sense of humor. Just get the gas. And keep a bag packed and in the car. Cash is good in the wallet, too. Oh, and all phone numbers to hospitals, doctors or emergency rooms along side the charged phones.

5. Get a haircut. You'll thank me. You will be the last thing on your mind until one day when you will feel your hair graze places it hasn't in years. So you take a look at your hair in the mirror and you look a little longer than you should have. Your brows are wooly, your wrinkles are plenty and yes dear, those are bags.

6. Which leads me into you. Go. Get out when you can. Take your mother-in-law up when she says she will come over for a bit. Go get a shake or a coffee, grocery shop alone or go sit in a dark theater with some nachos and an airplane bottle for your Coke. Don't feel guilty; your child will still have cancer when you get home.

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