Greetings nearest and far-est and dearest, This morning we met with TerriSue at 7:30 to go over the details of Val’s bloodwork before chemo. Val mentioned that she had her second scan yesterday, and TerriSue replied, “I know,” and her face broke into a beaming smile. The prettiest smile I’ve Continue Reading
chemo
blood counts good
Hi team, Val’s pre-chemo blood counts today were good! Once again they just cleared the neutrophil high jump by about 50 spare cells. This means Val still doesn’t have to start the Neupagen shots. Fan-freaking-tastic. Tomorrow we learn the results of CAT scan number two, which happened this morning and Continue Reading
mysteries of the jetbridge
Hello all, it’s been a while! Did you miss us? Val was in Montana, but she’s back now. And I have just returned from nine days away, first visiting my Rhode Island family and then at a training in North Carolina. I brought you a mystifying souvenir: I took this Continue Reading
like shaved chocolate, like magnetic filings, like fragments of the whole
Here are some things that happened today and yesterday, both very fine and decent days. Yesterday Valerie called me from Montana. She and the dog were (she explained) sitting on a hill in the back pasture, regarding the sky. Only Tuley did not think they should sit still when there Continue Reading
the stranger becomes familiar
It’s so different now, entering the chemo world. At the beginning, in June, we were crashing along in the dark, trailing our abraded fingers along the cold stone walls, straining to hear every sound, trying to get oriented. There were words words words pouring over us in buckets, menacing and Continue Reading
blood and love
First, I would like to apologize for my lack of communication in the last couple weeks. I am experimenting with new ways of being in the world and it turns out to be very time consuming. Plus, I had company. Also, I have been eating beef which takes a great Continue Reading
Next up: chemo on Friday
Hey kids, if you’ve lost track (it is a bit of a shifting target): Val’s next chemo (number 4 of 6) is this Friday, September 5. Chemo 5 is currently scheduled to be on Thursday, September 25. Her next scan (scan 2 of 3; they happen every 2 chemo cycles) Continue Reading
doing fine. no particular news.
hi all, the short-short health update is as follows: everybody feels quite okay right now. val was pretty tired the first week after chemo this time but now she’s feeling mostly rather bouncy (you know, like Tigger). now that the olympics are over and everybody is getting more sleep i Continue Reading
Purple Haze
The latest round of chemo has rendered me uncarbonated. Hardly any pain at all, just not a lot of gumption. I would not say i feel effervescent at this stage. It’s a little like having small people dangling off your arms and knees who mildly complain of all the movement. Continue Reading
Chemo 3: side effects not as strong this time
Just a quick update to say that so far Val’s having less pain this time around on the weekend after chemo. Tired and spacey with smallish twinges and burbles, but mostly better than the first two rounds. We are staying up late watching Olympics (who knew there was Olympic trampoline??) Continue Reading