Volunteer Job

I wanted to say congratulations to all who have been nominated for a Vivi Award.  I am very surprised that I was nominated for Most Inspirational Journal.  That is all I will say about that.  Except thank you all who voted for me.  It is such a great honor.  Thank you, thank you.

A few weeks back I mentioned that I was in a Cancer Survivor's group.  It is for Cancer Survivors and their spouses.  Well, I just wanted to mention that they created a really cool volunteer job for me! 

What the volunteer work entails is going into the oncology unit at the oncology department near my home and doing crafts with the patients while they get their chemo. 

First let me say this is a really nice oncology unit.  It is a very nice atmosphere there.  Yes, it is HORENDOUS going through chemo (when John had Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma I went with him every time he had a treatment), but this oncology department tries to make it as comfortable as possible.  There are wonderful chairs for the patients to sit in while getting chemo, and tables in front of the chairs.  The patients can do things while sitting there and waiting for the chemo to be done (John's chemo used to take three or four hours to complete).  They can even eat if they are not too nauseous.  I used to bring lunch and drinks in for John because he was able to eat!  Also, each person has his own TV to watch at his chair.  

At any rate,  The Cancer Survivor's organization got the idea that we could go in there and do crafts with whomever wants to while they are receiving chemo.  We have several projects in mind.  

We have two purposes to have somebody go in and do projects with those getting chemo.  The first is to have the patients have something fun to do to keep their mind off the chemo.  (Not that they can really keep their mind off of the chemo, but we hope to keep them a little distracted.)  The second is to tell them about our Survivors group, in case they want to come, or get any services from us.  We want to provide any services to them that they want. 

Well, I am excited about this, and amazed that they picked me out of everybody to do this.  If I don't do it alone, then I will be the director of everyone who does it.

One thing that will be hard is that I will have to work around the times that John needs his medicine and care.  I will either tell them I will have to go early morning before I have to wake him for his first dose of medications, or after 12 noon when he takes his second dose and goes back to bed.  And before he needs to each lunch and get hydrated.  The timing will be tricky, but John is my first priority.  Maybe I will only do it once or twice a week, for a couple of hours.  I will tell them WHEN I can do it.  

Another thing depends upon when John will have his 
bone marrow transplant.  If it is soon, the whole thing is going to have to wait a year until after he has it. Because he will require a year of care at home.  We shall see.  I will make it work out.

Well, that's about it for now.  Hope you all are doing well.  Love you all, Krissy :)