Jennifer | CaringBridge

Journal entry by Jennifer Scutari — Jan 17, 2024

It wasn’t a smooth day, but the bell has been rung!

Edited: VIDEO won't load on here, so I am including pictures and do plan to post the video on Facebook. I include a picture of my "chemo bag". This bag came to every appointment with me and held my "keep me busy" stuff, glasses, phone, charger, tissues, pills, appointment and other papers, snacks, drinks, blankets, and more I am sure. I thought I would never want to see it after, but it has been so handy I look forward to turning it into my beach and travel bag! Thanks Abby and co-workers who got it for me at the start of this journey, it has been a great help!

Back to the "problem of the day".....I’ve had 11 infusions and multiple CT scans using my port. Every time it has been easy and I’ve always had a good blood return…until today, my LAST infusion. My port decided to clog and so my 1 1/2 hour infusion turned into a 4 hour stay at the infusion center.

After a clot buster/blood thinner was infused into the port we began the wait. I got a lot of lap steps in wandering the hall raising and lowering and fist punching the air to get the blood moving. I sat leaning forward, pushed the boobs out in the air, squashed and curved in, laid on my back, laid on my side, laid and stood with my hands in the air…you name it we tried it, but it was just a matter of waiting. At about 10:00 am we finally got a blood return and we were able to start the infusion process.

That part was easy. No hiccups or bumps in the road once we got started. Start to finish we were done at 11:00 and I was ringing that bell within 10 minutes!! It felt amazing to ring that bell.

I will miss the excellent staff at Tunnell. I will still get to see them for my 6 week port flushes and 3 month blood work. It’s hard to say and feel you would prefer not to see such wonderful people again, but we part happy to only run into each other at the beach or the grocery store. They are all angels who have played a part in my struggles, healing and getting me to remission.

So begins the next chapter of recovery and regaining strength and normalcy. I’ll happily take back my “boring” life as it was before. It wasn’t really boring, but compared to what we’ve had to do the last year, it’s much less rigamarole for sure!

We are happy and planning for the future. We have discussed and want to plan a trip to Portugal in the fall. Feel free to give us suggestions on what we should see and do if you have ever been there. We plan to go to Lisbon and then up to Porto, but will take any suggestions and consider what we can make work in the 10 days.

Thank you all again for being on this journey with me. I will continue to update every 3 months as I get my blood work and CT scans, until it becomes rote and boring and just time to move on. I'll know when we get there, and it will be a happy day too and something to look forward to. God bless you all!

P.S. You can see, I do have hair...but its totally in transition. Maybe my next post in 3 months I can produce something that resembles a hairstyle. Wish me luck!

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January 17, 2024- Bell Day!!

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