amyth, I'm so glad to get an update from you! You've been on my mind a lot, and I'm hoping/planning to put together a care package soon. Are there any foods/treats that would be especially good to send (or avoid)? Do you have a way to make tea or coffee? I don't know what your setup is like or what the meds are doing to your stomach, but I'd love to send you something useful.

amyth, so good to hear from you! Thank you for the encouragement and wise words.

Thank you so much, Kate! My status changes from day to day, and everyone has been so generous. I struggle with coming up with physical things I need. I can't have live plants or fruits or vegetables (risk of fungal infection). Other than that, my appetite has been slowly diminishing, but I can make tea, and it's nice to have because I'm always cold. Thankfully, no nausea yet. Tea bags are probably better for convenience.

Things that are probably most useful are things like Amazon gift cards because I never know what I'm going to need next, like when I lose my hair in the next week or so. I just had an eye mask delivered to myself and it was a godsend, because my room never truly gets dark, but I wouldn't have thought of that two days ago. I have been gifted things like an Audible subscription and an NYT crossword subscription which have been amazing, and I never would have thought of those. But I'm avoiding the news right now.

Things like really simple games or sending me Spotify playlists would be awesome!! Or just cards!! (ETA: and by cards, I just mean handwritten notes, not playing cards. I already have an epic game of Canasta going on with Terry that baffles/amuses the nurses that involves multiple decks of cards that we learned from his 89-year-old dad. Just hearing from people in any way—email, snail mail, anything—is so nice!)

If you or anyone wants to be added to the WhatsApp group with group updates about what's going on with me (and daily affirmations from my niece) just say so in thread or email my profile addy and I'll add you!

Back when my mom had rounds of chemo - nothing as intense as yours, amyth - what she wanted was book series that were interesting enough to keep her interest during chemo but not so compelling that she'd read the whole series before the next round. She liked Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin books and Barbara Hambly's Benjamin January books. Are there series you'd like to try to see if they work for you?

If you or anyone wants to be added to the WhatsApp group with group updates about what's going on with me (and daily affirmations from my niece) just say so in thread or email my profile addy and I'll add you!

Me, please! Also, hugging you gently!

Barbara Hambly's Benjamin January books

So good, although I don't think I ever read the last one.

I am interested in that WhatsApp group!

Man, a friend at work just told me she has cancer! WTF, cancer.

Thanks for asking, bennett! I have a huge stack of books in my room right now, thanks to my book club and others, and I wonder when I'm going to get to them. I treasure them, and I hope to get to them someday, but right now Good Omens fanfic is hitting that concentration/interest sweet spot. That may change, but they say the next round of chemo the side effects will be much worse neurologically, so I have to be ready for anything

That's going to have to be my new motto: be ready for anything.

Jesse and Amy: insent

I'd like to be added to the WhatsApp group, please!

Kate, I sent you the link!