The blog finds me hanging out in the infusion ward at Dana Farber at about 3:30 pm. So far I’ve had my blood draw, some pre-meds, and am almost through my big bag of Rituxan. I’m now being infused at the maximum rate of 400 ml/hr. I’ve had no adverse side-effects to this drug which I know is not the case with everyone. Still to come: my spinal tap and intrathecal injections, plus CHOP (actually, I’m not getting the Prednisone, but I’m getting the other stuff). Chris, my nurse, is estimating that I’ll be out of here by 5:30, but that’s assuming that my IT, which has to be delivered by Dr. Jacobsen or Dr. Zuckerman takes place with no delay. (I actually got out at 6:15)

I’m happy to be starting in on the last two rounds of chemo. I’ll know better about how the lymphoma is responding after they analyze my spinal fluid, but I’ve been doing well up until now. I am more fortunate than many people, in that I have a very supportive family and circle of friends and neighbors. I especially want to say thanks to all those neighbors who have been bringing in cooked meals to Bradley Lane. With Mo’s schedule being dictated by my appointments at the hospital, having home-cooked meals on hand has been a great boon!

Touch wood, I have had no complications with my disease so far. Some of my room mates have had multiple problems and their quality of life has suffered as a result. I am not sure how well I would do if I also had heart disease or brain damage, or any other of a host of possible complications.

Driving in this morning, and looking at the grim hard frozen snow-covered landscape, it seems difficult to believe that Spring will ever come. There’s certainly a few good weeks of Winter left in New England. But Winter *will* give way to Spring, and my chemotherapy will also come to an end and give way to recuperation. In both cases there is nothing I can do but wait it out and get on with life