Slogging through the Chemotherapy: It’s like enduring and then SUCCEEDING in Hebrew school

Tuesday March 12 was the first  day of my new chemo regimen. In this new regimen, I receive two types of chemo at once, including IP chemo which goes straight into my abdomen. This chemo is 2 weeks in a row and includes an extra day of IV hydration.  I have not written a blog because, as the youths would say, this new chemo is “WOOF.” and has knocked me off my feet. Last night, as I lay awake, I couldn’t stop thinking and then it dawned on me: it is like Hebrew school.

First day of Chemo

YES, HEBREW SCHOOL. My first chemo was not unlike my Kitah Aleph class.  I was full of anticipation: nervous about what would happen; how long would it take: and if would it hurt me.  After my Hebrew School class, I mean chemo session, I I was like “YES, I can do this.” It was a whirlwind, but I survived it… Not unlike Kitah Aleph, where in the span of one year my students learned to read Hebrew, understand over 100 words, and learn to sing our basic prayers. I hope too that my Kitah Aleph students felt like they could do anything after their first year of Hebrew School.

First day of Hebrew School 2017

I continued on with my treatments, just as my students continue to Kitah Bet and Gimmel classes. We all had a better idea this time around of what to expect, but both me and my students wonder when we would see the end.  I knew I was getting better and some results were showing progress. There were times, however, where I couldn’t see any real results and I was also wearing down with every new treatment. Like my students, if we want to see results we need to complete the assignments. For me, that means attending all chemotherapy sessions.  I must keep up my health and these appointments help me do that. My family (or the editors of my blog) would certainly not allow me to miss an appointment just because I just didn’t feel like going.

First day of Hebrew school 2017

In Bet and Gimmel, differences between students become more apparent. Some students want to speed up the learning, while others are just trying to hang on.   They know they are making progress, but don’t always like coming to school on a regular basis. Like mine, I know that their families’ play a huge role in keeping them on track, especially their parents, or perhaps an influential sibling, encourage, cajole, and make sure they get to school on time every week. I hope these families have made the pledge that Hebrew school is just as essential to their families’ spiritual health as chemo is essential to my health as a cancer patient.   

Now, when you reach Dalet, you can see where you are going:  you have a B’nai Mitzvah date, you might be planning on taking Hebrew in one of our nearby public High Schools, or you might just be happy to know the date of Hebrew school Convocation.  We always used the name CONVOCATION, to make sure our students KNOW they weren’t GRADUATING, from Hebrew school, but we hoped they would go on to Confirmation and maybe continue using Hebrew, at least at synagogue and of course camp.  

Confirmation 2016

I would say that I am in the Bet and Gimmel of chemotherapy.  I don’t have my end date and I know I have to get through about 8 more hard chemo appointments scattered over 9 -12 weeks.  Monday of this week my chemo was canceled due to a slight infection. Nothing is guaranteed. Just like a snow day, I was happy not to have chemo today, but know that I will DEFINITELY have to make it up and set up new calendar dates. Because I am no longer in Chemo Aleph, I have a little more working knowledge to handle these ups and downs.

As always the whole family thanks everyone for their day to day kindnesses of bringing us meals, checking in on us, sending cards, and doing mitzvot in my honor.  There are lots of chances to do mitzvot and, as we get closer to Pesach, if you are in Chicago check out Maot Chittim.

Need more info:Click here

Hebrew school and Chemotherapy are not unlike a marathon; you need training and must stick with it until you have completed the task.  To that end, I am trying to stay healthy, but make it into work at Lakeside as often as I can, especially for Adult Enrichment on Sunday mornings!  Hope to see you there!

Last Chemo, representing OSRUI and reading book for book group!