Some quick bits and pieces: Val’s feeling much better than this past weekend. She still has aches, especially in her joints, but they aren’t as bad and can be muffled by regular application of Tylenol or other pain meds. We went to the cancer support group yesterday and probably won’t Continue Reading
cancer
radioactive
O Best Beloveds, Today was a much better day. Val’s aches have diminished and seem to be on their way out; she’s much cheerier and more contrary (a sign of normal Val health). Today was the bone scan, just to cover all possible test bases. Apparently the PET scan (which Continue Reading
going on a bear hunt
chemo day one: an assortment of blurry glimpses through deborah’s window first, the 7 a.m. pre-infusion consult: all that info coming at us, a deluge of side effect after possible side effect, scary, exhausting. hardly any sleep the night before. scribbling notes, tiny guideposts to keep val safe. safer. starting Continue Reading
First day of chemo: all went well
Hi all, Val’s first day of chemo was long but went very well. No exciting allergic reactions; not much discomfort except some aching in her arm during the infusion of one drug; good spirits; visits from friends; attentive medical staff. (Also, as an extra bonus, it turns out there’s a Continue Reading
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
This will be a quick and informational post, with details and impressions to follow: We met the medical oncologist today, Dr. L, and I’m happy to report she struck us as sharp, personable and committed. She was patient with our questions and, like us, interested in pursuing aggressive treatment. (She Continue Reading
fear, hope and roasted beet soup
One thing about this is the fear. For me so far it’s been a fear of many flavors, but it never ever quite goes away. It sucks at the shoreline of my heart, rearranging my guts, cresting up menacingly and sinking back to build the surge all over again. My Continue Reading
small mercies
Salut, mes amis. Guess what? I have some news that is not horrible! Normally I like to make a proper anecdote, with suspense and story arc, but I won’t make you live through the whole day with us. I’ll give it to you straight up: Val’s PET scan, in the Continue Reading
snippets and faith
Some things that are happening right now: Val is laughing on the couch as Favor tells a story about a time her head was mistaken for a beaver. Grapes and split-pea soup and wine are being consumed (by disparate people). The dog is asleep with her fuzzy muzzle flattened against Continue Reading
Updates on the Val front: biopsy results
Dear friends, Last night we had more than 10 friends with us as we awaited the call from the pulmonologist who performed Val’s biopsy on Tuesday. Dr. Rettmann called around 7:00 (after his surgeries for the day) and was informative, compassionate, patient and helpful. Here is what he told us Continue Reading
some moments last longer than others
my friends. ABSTRACTION: there is before and there is after. and then there is the chance that it is all a big mistake and then there is again. again after that. That. a still and condensed moment when i was thoroughly abandoned by my self. I watched it beat tracks Continue Reading