LIFE Interrupted

“Stay focused on your treatments coming up. Some patients have a harder time than others. Sophie, you might experience nausea and vomiting. For some it’s mild, for others it’s severe. We’ll take it one step at a time. When you’re done with chemo we’ll move to the next step.”

Sophie felt numb all over again. The plan Doctor Roberts had laid out for her was a lot to take in. She didn’t feel like anything was clear in her mind.

“Do either of you have any questions?”

Sophie looked at Josh. He was just as overwhelmed as her. “I’ll probably have a thousand of them when I get home but right now, I can’t even think,” she replied.

“I feel like Sophie does,” Josh agreed.

“Don’t hesitate to call the office and ask to speak to me or one of my nurses. Any of us will respond as soon as possible and do yourself a favor, avoid the internet. It is not your friend.”

Sophie chuckled. She had already googled so many things about breast cancer. Diagnosis. Treatments. Drug names she couldn’t even pronounce. How to decide if you need a mastectomy or lumpectomy? Josh had finally hidden her tablet.

“Already been at it, I see.”

“She has,” Josh agreed.

“Well stop. You’ll just feel worse.”

Sophie had to agree. Many articles frightened her. She thought she could use the information to form a list of questions to ask Doctor Roberts today, but it had only made her confusion and fears worse.

The door opened and Madge, Doctor Robert’s nurse joined them. She laid a paper in front of Sophie. “This is your schedule for the next few weeks.”

Sophie found herself staring at the woman, wondering if life was good for her. She was kind and compassionate. She was cute. Shoulder length, straight hair that was mousy brown. Warm brown eyes that kept traveling between the paper and Sophie. She was taller than Sophie’s five feet two about Micki’s height. Thin like Sophie, probably walked a lot because of her job, if nothing else.

“Sophie, did you catch all that?” Madge asked.

She hadn’t caught any of it. She looked over her shoulder at Josh. He smiled at her. “I got it.”

“Good.” She patted Sophie’s shoulder. “I’ll meet you the day we insert your port on Monday morning at eight a.m., lower level, suite 800. We do minor surgeries like this there. Doctor Kendal the surgeon will do the port. She’s in this center too. Then chemo is at the main building across the skywalk. I’ll meet you that day too. Either Doctor Roberts or her Physician’s Assistant, Jodi will be there to kick off the first chemo.”

She nodded.

“Wear something comfortable you’ll be there a couple hours with me. You might want a blanket of your own that is warm. Some patients get cold during chemo.”

Sophie nodded again.

“You doing, okay Sophie?” Madge asked her.

“Can Josh come with me?”

Madge smiled at her. “Of course, he can. Many spouses come hold hands and offer support. That first few times of the unknown are scary.”

“Thank you.” Sophie kept looking between Madge and Josh.

“Anything else?” The nurse asked.

“Nope, I don’t think so.”

“Call if something comes to mind. Otherwise, I’ll see you Monday morning.”

Slowly, Sophie

rose from her chair. She didn’t know what to ask but a million questions were going through her mind. She nodded at Madge. Josh cupped her elbow.

“Ready to go?” He asked her.

“Yeah, let’s get some lunch.” Sophie laced her fingers through Josh’s and he glanced down at her. She found herself holding onto him more these days.