The C word

...Christmas

By TEAM ANISSA

December 26^th, 2014

Week 23

December 26, 2014

Over the course of our seventeen years together, our Christmas traditions have evolved from the two of us waking up Christmas morning at Anissa’s parent’s house, to driving to their house on Christmas Eve (still pre Isabella & Jonathan) after the Magical Caroling Christmas Truck goes by, to spending Christmas morning at home once Isabella & Jonathan came along and then driving out on Christmas Day.

This year was different, and for good reason. Anissa’s third chemo treatment was scheduled for December 26th. Going out of town was not a possibility. So instead, we spent a lazy Christmas morning with the kids and had family over later that afternoon. It was perfect.

A few months ago when we first saw the chemo schedule and was entering it into the home calendar, the idea of a treatment on December 26 seemed like a cruel joke (because cancer isn’t enough of one). Now that we have a better idea of the up and down days following chemo, a treatment the day after Christmas was actually a blessing. Side effects were non-existent and because of the steroid Anissa needs to take the day before chemo she had the pre-chemo super powers.

At this point, the chemo’s cumulative effect hasn’t completely kicked in. Anissa still has a fair amount of energy and isn’t too tired throughout the days (with the exception of the 3rd and 4th days following treatment.)

At the end of a long day, after all the gifts were unwrapped, the family left, after all the food and dishes were put away – the four of us settled down to enjoy A Miracle on 34th Street, Anissa’s favorite classic holiday movie. Anissa takes a steroid, dexamethasone, the day prior to chemo which gives her super hero like powers and the ability to stay awake for 24+ hours at a time… so in the end it was only Anissa who actually managed to stay up to watch the entire movie.