November 4, 2009 10:50 PM

What a difference a year makes!

This time last year I was admitted to the hospital and immediately underwent the implantation of a "Hickman" catheter to allow for the infusion and taking of liquids without the need to "stick me". Since I was definitely going to be in the hospital for a month, that would have been a lot of sticks and your body just can't take it.

After I went to my room, they took me to do a bunch of tests - all in preparation for the start of my chemotherapy the next day. I'm not going to go into a lot of details about what went on at the hospital because I started this blog on the 5th so you can find out all the daily details and why this blog was started by going back and reading the entries from that time.

A few behind the scenes details leading up to my entrance into the hospital. The night before, my wife and I went to dinner at a friends house with a few more of our other friends - eight of us in all. It was great to be out like and, for the time being, to forget about what was in store for me and to get that support that I needed as my journey was about to take its most decisive step to that point.

Prior to going to dinner, my son came over and buzz cut my hair so that it would be much less noticeable, when the inevitable occurred, and I lost my hair. It really felt strange having such short hair with the most obvious being that now my head was cold! A year later, I find that I don't notice the cold as much. But that night, there really was a need to where a hat.

On the way to the hospital, we stopped and bought the notebook computer that was my constant companion(other than my wife) during my 3 hospital stays. It allowed me to write my daily blog entries; to converse with family, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances via e-mail; to while away the time playing games; to keep up date regarding news events; and to serve as a DVD player so that I could watch some movies. All in all, a Godsend! I have new found respect for those who went before me without such modern devices.

The start of my chemo was something that I both looked forward to and dreaded. At last something was being done to address the disease that I had - but at what price?

Tomorrow I would begin to find out...

Bob