Third Chemo Session + A Buzz

Thursday 5/16/2024 - Sunday 5/19/2024

Lil’ Strawberry

More bracelets from Aunt Carol have been sent out this week. Don’t forget to share a photo with us! There is always the creative option as well to make your own version of a Team Alexa bracelet. Feel free to reach out to me via phone or whatever if you’d like a bracelet sent your way.

Thank you to Sloaney O. + Family for the wonderful bracelets , Alexa wears them everyday. ♥♥‼

Okay, big changes as you see in the photo above, so let’s jump into it.

5/16 | 8:00AM | St. Johns:

Once again, we prep the night before + then the gang starts the day around 6:00AM + packs all that is needed for the visit before heading off to St. Johns. Alexa will be going with Moo to this chemo session again. After a quick bite, Lex + Moo head out for the third session, along with the drinks of Gatorade + Coco Wawa (coconut water), Moo chopped up some fresh fruit as well. The infusion ward was a bit empty so Moo got to have a comfy chair right next to Lex.

Lex + Moo 3rd Chemo Session

Over the weekend, we spent a lot of time outside + Alexa developed a sun rash (or something). Dr. Peddi came to check in before treatment started, Lex flagged her rash + concerns with other symptoms she’s been experiencing, but it all came back as normal/standard for general chemo reactions. For the rash, Alexa was prescribed steroids + it will go away after she does the 7-day pack.

Rash + the constellation of Aries (her zodiac sign)

The rest of chemo went the same as before, Alexa took a nap while Moo hung around. We have started looking into grants for some financial help with everything going on, so Moo was filling out applications during this session.

After chemo they headed back home + Alexa spent the rest of the day doing work for Two Muse Studios/resting. Her hair has begun falling out more than the previous week. Alexa stated she could feel the day that her hair stopped growing. During the chemo session today she has made the decision that tomorrow, Friday, we will cut her hair.

5/17 | 11:00AM | Home:

This morning we cut Alexa’s hair, we tied up most if it so it can be donated (ponytail), + then buzzed the rest. Hope to see those beautiful brown curls + waves again soon, but oh man does she look beautiful without hair too.

“She’s like an elven creature” - Brittney Russell

With her new look, Lex + Moo ran around town to check out a few wig places, some fancy and some…..eh. With this big change Alexa has been very calm which surprised Evan + Moo (but as I type this and think back, it just seems so her…I’m not sure why we were surprised.) Also, once again she has had a positive reaction to chemo this week.

The following day, on Saturday 5/18, we did the same with some wig stores. No luck just yet finding anything worthwhile, but we did end up at the Century City Mall where we got dim sum so we got that going for us, which is nice. It was a great way to celebrate having Moo in town for her last day, the grub was promptly followed by going home + couching it up, because we all needed to lay down afterwards.

Century City Mall (Pre-Dim Sum)

Sunday morning we took Moo to LAX, it was rough saying goodbye. After 2 weeks together you get into a grove, and it was so nice to fall into a day by day routine vs just having a vacation visit; less running around with places to see + more time just doing daily tasks together. It was so nice, and will be nice again when she returns in July.

The rest of day we spent at Mar Vista Park with our friends, Lauren, Kyle, Baby Jack, + Marshall. Evan got sunburnt.

Evan will accompany Alexa to the 4th chemotherapy session this week on 5/23, it feels a bit more stressful since we have immunotherapy on top of normal treatment, and it did a number on Alexa last time when we did that session previously. We will take the week as it comes + on Thursday head back to St. Johns around 7AM.

5/23 | 8:00AM | St. Johns:

- Chemotherapy 4th Session + 2nd Immunotherapy session (Evan attending)

5/30 | Time TBD | St. Johns:

- Chemotherapy 5th Session

6/6 | Time TBD | St. Johns:

- Chemotherapy 6th Session

6/13 | Time TBD | St. Johns:

- Chemotherapy 7th Session + 3rd Immunotherapy session

6/20 | Time TBD | St. Johns:

- Chemotherapy 8th Session