Early
this afternoon I had an appointment with one of the doctors who treats my
pulmonary condition for a monthly injection of a drug called Sandostatin LAR
(octreotide acetate). Barry had learned to give me the subcutaneous injections
of Neupogen (filgrastim) that followed each cycle of my chemotherapy, but the
Sandostatin is a bit tricky to mix, and must be delivered as an intramuscular
injection, which taxes the talents of most of us mere mortals who lack medical
training. In recent months when we have been spending more time in Sharon, we
have been fortunate to have a good friend who is an M.D. and has done a
terrific job with the injection when the timing was such that I needed to be up
there at the time one was due.
We
are in New York today but Barry had a full schedule after my appointment which
will not end until the annual Mount Sinai Radiation Oncology Residents Dinner
this evening. So he was able to drive me into the City this morning, but he
could not take me home after my appointment. When I was done, he walked me
outside and helped hail a taxi and sent me on my way.
Fortunately
the taxi driver was very nice and talkative. He told me that I was his first
fare for the day, so I could not resist telling him that he was my first taxi
ride in well over a year! He asked a lot of interesting questions and we kept
up a lively conversation all the way back to Riverdale. I hope my simple math
was correct because I certainly intended to leave a generous tip.
For a 61 year old
woman this may seem a small milestone. But I have been increasingly troubled
about having to be so dependent for everything. It was really nice to do
something on my own. As they say, every long journey begins with one small
step.
Love,
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