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I arrived at Fred Hutch cancer center August 6th 1999. They tested my lungs, heart, teeth and I saw a gynecologist. I was told that the extreme chemotherapy would register me infertile. Well, I already had six children, so no worries there!
Unfortunately the doctors found an infection surrounding my central line. They treated the infection with a “big guns” chemo, Vancomycin. As the drug flowed into my central line my head immediately started itching terribly. I didn’t know it but I was having a major allergic reaction. I endured it for thirty minutes and finally mentioned it to the attending nurse. She promptly apologized saying that some patients reacted to the antibiotic that way. Whenever I received that antibiotic after that, I was given benedryl before each dose.

After a week on the Vanco I was told by the doctor the infection was still stubbornly present. They decided to add two additional antibiotics to my regimen. Less than a week later a rash began to envelop my body. When I pointed out my concerns to the doctor he basically said we would continue to watch it. Well, we watched it all right. It blossomed into a full blown second degree chemical burn from the inside out.

The nurse who specialized in skin rashes came to my aid. She gave me a combination of Lanocaine and Lanolin lotion to rub all over my body. I recall laying on the bed in the apartment while Beverly, my sister, rubbed the soothing pain-relieving lotion on my red, burning skin. It was difficult not to think about the pain so people tried to distract me. My friend Marion Davis came to visit one evening and stayed two hours. It was a welcome visit and did force me to think about other things. My daughters, Michelle and Kali came also that night to pick up free Mariner's tickets. They had not seen me for a little while and were actually startled to see their mother in such an uncomfortable situation. For me the discouraging part was the delay of my stem cell transplant. I gained some notoriety around the clinic however. I was known as the

“Queen of Rashes!”

I would have rather been known for something far less painful!

My friend took pictures of me in the original chemo chair after treatment was over. I’m very happy that I did that instead of trying to forget about it all. It is part of my life forever.