—Heads up: entry contains thoroughly icky details— Here is a remarkable thing. A few weeks ago, shortly after chemo began, while out to lunch (I mean that literally), in the midst of a paroxysm of coughing, Val hacked up a biological gobbet of something unusual. It was unlike anything Continue Reading
chemo
Monday’s better than Sunday
Greetings all, I’m writing from Carbondale, Illinois, where I am visiting my sister (before heading off to my hometown in Indiana for the rest of the week). I spoke with Val on the phone this evening and here’s the report on her health and well-being: We appear to have established Continue Reading
Day after chemo 2: feelin’ fine
Long day, very sleepy, all good so far. The steroids (or something) seem to give Val energy: she’s out in the garage working out. She feels fine and exceedingly chipper. I feel pretty good too, having enjoyed toddler storytime and a bike ride this morning, and dinner with a friend Continue Reading
2nd chemo and all’s well
Long long ago when this morning began… Valerie’s day: Bloodwork analysis, 8 a.m. (all excellent). Chemo infusion 8:45-5:00. Stripey socks and a gleaming head. Friends visiting in shifts the entire time. No pain in her arm this time. Brief dopiness by initial benedryl, then largely unaffected by the drugs. Chauffeured Continue Reading
Cherry pie, Mickey ears, tennis shoes.
some things from this week: some people’s hair grows longer and longer. not val’s: the remaining stubble of her hair grows shorter and shorter. when last we saw our heroine, her hair was as short as she could get it with an unguarded electric shaver – clear down to the Continue Reading
increasingly visible
Val’s hair began to let go its moorings on Saturday. Early this week she went to a professional to have it shaved short, so the tender follicles wouldn’t be so often tugged. But the hair kept falling, coming away in tufts at the gentlest touch, so Thursday she asked me Continue Reading
Fly Terriers, Kazoos, and Other People’s Grandpas. And Hair.
Our dog Tuley was rescued from a sidewalk on the day she was born and her provenance remains a mystery. People ask us all the time what kind of dog she is, and we hate to disappoint (or miss an opportunity to embellish), so sometimes we say she’s a Cairn Continue Reading
The Urge to Kill
Back in the saddle again. Maybe a little less lucid than sometimes. Pain pills and their support staff of diuretics . The last few days have been an exploration of what this body of mine will do with this particular cure. This treatment. Which is not a poison. It is Continue Reading
this & that (plus finches)
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
Sunday: aches & acupuncture
Here it is, real summer at last, according to the calendar. A happy belated Solstice to you all. All is approximately well. A few side effects are starting to kick in for Val. Friday afternoon she started to feel a metallic taste in her mouth, as predicted by the oncology Continue Reading