I am reminded today of all the blessings I have, too many to count, but worth reporting some here.
I have a group of friends and colleagues who love me and keep in close contact with me. These folks come from all over the globe, many of whom I have not seen for quite some time. Love knows no bounds.
My extended family is there for me every step of the way; the title “in law” is not relevant; these are my brothers and sisters, who are located around the States, but they make the effort to get to Phoenix quite frequently. Their presence and love are much appreciated.
My sister and parents are a source of strength. For the most part, I gain their strength over the phone, but that is sufficient. My sister has been able to visit a few times, although it is understandably too hard for my parents to make that trip. I’m just lucky to have them to talk on the phone with me. It is a real source of comfort.
My children are simply the best. Period. I can’t say enough good things about them. Laura is currently staying with us – she has a break in her work and wants to be here to help, and is she ever a help. She has taken over the medication spreadsheet, which has changed significantly over the past 18 months. We need a new one that doesn’t require hand-written changes to it. She also keeps me fed with snacks, drinks, etc.
And perhaps the biggest thing Laura is able to do for me is to be here with me. It is such a special treat to have her here. I am so very lucky. I could certainly get used to this.
Dan does his best to be here … he is here as often as possible. For example, he was here the past two weekends. Not bad for someone living in San Diego! Moreover, he calls every day he isn’t here. In other words, he stays in close contact. And when he is here, he does so much to be helpful. Much of what he does includes baking bread, cooking, and buying craft beer.. He is so much help! What I enjoy the most is having him just hang out … it is great quality time. This weekend, Laura, Dan and I hung out and watched basketball. It was a great time to bond, as if we needed it.
When I look at Dan and Liz, I am so grateful that Dan has found Liz as a life-partner. They are clearly best friends. And when I look at Laura and Dan, I feel confident that they will stand tall in my absence. I don’t need to worry about them. I am ever so thankful for that.
And then there is Cathy. She has taken the summer off to be with me. She was with me an awful lot already. I just don’t know what I’d do without her (or Laura or Dan). She has sacrificed so much to be my caregiver. Yet, somehow, she hasn’t skipped a beat at work. That is not what she would tell you, as she has had to work extra hard to do her work and take care of me. I’m afraid I’m dragging her through “… times and bad”. Of late, she seems to have taken her caregiving to a new level, if that is even possible. I think it is harder to be the caregiver than the patient. And I’m sure she is a better nurse than I would ever be. I am just glad we haven’t had to find out. I know she, too, will stand tall in my absence, which is a real relief to me.
We seem to be shifting to a new level of care … although we are not giving up. We’ll see how I’m doing with this new chemo. I am going in tomorrow for a CT-guided neural block. Before I tried an endoscopicaly guided block, which wasn’t successful, but we are hopeful that this will be – it is worth a try. After that we are going to Piper to see if I am fit for chemo, which would be administered on Thursday or Friday.
Cathy’s sister Mary has a friend in San Luis Obispo, CA who wants to open a bakery shop. She kindly made the cake topper shown in today’s picture. In case you can’t read it all: it says “Team Bacon” along the bottom, in purple writing. I am sitting on a basketball (not a toilet) with a Team Bacon t-shirt, where the bacon looks like a strip of bacon. And at my feet are strips of bacon (that look like they just might be made of chocolate.) It is very clever, and very thoughtful. Though I must say that the basketball looks a lot less comfortable than the new recliner I am sitting on. (The recliner was definitely Cathy’s idea, as was the cable TV. Now I can recline and watch basketball. I’m not complaining, but I wish she wouldn’t have done it.)
As usual I want to close by thanking you for all your support. It means so much to Cathy and me. Go Team Bacon!
