Yesterday was a difficult day for us. The soles of Gus' feet are starting to hurt from the chemo.  That is one of the side effects we were warned about.  The hospital was running almost an hour late on the CAT scan and then the technician had difficulty getting the IV started in Gus' arm for the scan.  

After the CAT scan, we met with the oncology doctor and he wanted to move the PIC line into Gus' right arm because of the yeast infection on his left.  After 6 days of taking the antifungal medicine, the yeast is worse than ever.  We only have to have that PIC line for two more weeks so we did not want to go to the emergency room and go through that procedure again.    Gus was keeping his composure and co-operating with whatever the doctor wanted to do.  I was not.  It was the first time since starting the 3½ month chemo-radiation treatment plan that I was ready to quit traditional medicine. I questioned the doctor about just discontinuing the chemo infusion so we didn't need that PIC line, but of course he wants to run the full regimen of the 5-FU with the radiation.   

What gave us temporarily a reprieve is the nurses who take care of the PIC line had one more trick up their sleeves.  They have a dressing that allows the skin to breathe under that bandage.   Also Gus and I did our reading last night and discovered that one of the medicines he is on reduces the effects of the antifungal drug.   Our prayer is that between the different dressing on the PIC and not taking his two medicines at the same time, the yeast infection will be controlled and the PIC line can stay where it is.  

Gus realized afterwards just how upset he had been and he just didn't let his emotions surface until we were by ourselves.   We just sat in the cancer unit waiting room for awhile until we both had the strength to face our walk again.  

 

On our way home from Bozeman, we stopped and visited our Amish friends outside of Whitehall.   We realized we needed the simple beauty they could offer us.   After a couple of hours, we came away refreshed and renewed.   It is beautiful to see the love and respect this man has for Gus.  We plan on going back in a couple of weeks for a meal and taking Scott and April with us.  Their boys love to be with Scott and Scott loves to be with them.  One of our fun memories is going to the Amish community dinner and the sons would compete to see who could serve Scott the quickest.   The younger ones had to keep working and taking care of other customers, while the older ones could sit with Scott and visit.