June 19, 2025

 So this week has been busy! 

One of my oldest and dearest friends came to visit from Washington (state) for the weekend. It has been about 7 years since we've seen each other. We spent the time catching up, piddling around the house, ran a few errands so she could see some of the lake area, and lots of laughing. Monday she attempted to go back home.... constant delays caused her many issues but she made it home safely.

I had treatment Monday morning. Not sure if it's good or bad, but nothing new to report about treatment. I'm still not having any issues or side effects (other than hair loss) and my labs are still looking ok. I had a different nurse this week. She was sweet. 

Today, after work, I drove up to Richmond for my early AM VCU appointment tomorrow. This appointment is for a CT Scan of my lower abdomen area. I had a partial hysterectomy 10 years ago. In order to be able to do the DIEP Flap reconstruction later on, the plastic surgeon wants to see how much scar tissue there is where I had my previous surgery. She wants to have all the information she can in front of her before we're having to move forward. She's my kind of doctor, for sure! 

Since my appointment is at 7:45am, with no food or drink before, I thought it'd be best to drive up the evening before so all I had to do in the morning was wake up and drive over a couple of blocks.

VCU offers free hotel accommodations for patients at a facility called The Doorways. This facility is a 501c3 non-profit place. There is NO PARKING on site other than a couple of places by the door to park and check in. The lady at the desk gave me a map to where I needed to park. This map was very blurry and I couldn't really read it. After I checked in, I attempted to find the parking garage I was directed to but after 2 attempts, and driving around a parking garage I wasn't sure was correct (and no one around to ask) I gave up. I found a parking garage by the hotel that is pay parking. It was better than the other option as late in the evening as it was - almost 8pm, getting dark, trying to rain, creepy people everywhere.... Plus I would have had to call the security folks and wait for them to call the shuttle to take me back to the hotel from the designated parking area. No thank you. I did not feel comfortable with that option. After I got my truck parked, I called Nathan. I needed to hear his voice to calm down. I was almost in anxiety attack mode... the tears were welling up. I kept him on the phone with me while I walked across the street to the hotel, just for safety and comfort. 

The hotel offers a variety of options in the kitchen area for breakfast. I might cruise thru there in the morning and see what I can take with me for after my appointment to eat on the drive home.

The room itself isn't bad at all. A couple of beds, tv, mini-fridge, dresser, bathroom...you can tell it's a little older but very clean. The windows could be a little more sound proof tho... I can hear the constant traffic going down what I think is Broad St. I'll sleep with the TV on and hope traffic settles as folks go home. 

Tomorrow will be an adventure. As I was driving around, I saw the vastness of the VCU compound and main hospital.... Finding where I need to be will be fun... (insert sarcasm)

For now, going to try to get some sleep.