Taking Advantage of Found Time

Wednesday - July 18, 2012

Ele-phonse is NOT enjoying a "great week"

I truly feel that I am enjoying a vacation from all things medical ....  Well, not quite.  I am still infusing myself with an IV antibiotic every day and I delved (perhaps stupidly) into a rather chilling internet wormhole about neuropathy that continues or recurs after chemotherapy ends.  Does this mean that my fingertips will indefinitely be tingly and without full sensation and function?  Or that this debilitating pain in my feet will crop up intermittently and cause me to hobble like a babushka?  Hmmm.... Carolyn alerted me to this possibility and encouraged me to get some answers when I am next at Dalton.  I am organizing some information and questions for my next consult. It goes without saying that we are active advocates who are educating ourselves as we go along this cancer journey ....

ANYway, I was musing about my lovely unexpected break from this week's hospitalizations .... Joe and I have been tackling some chores, catching up with friends, but mostly just resting up.  I have been banking sleep, taking a two hour nap yesterday with Sadie burrowed in along my side.  After venturing downtown for dinner and frozen yogurt, I managed a short walk with the dogs before my foot pain compelled me to return to my leg-up position on the couch.

Although separated by miles and individual responsibilities, we are very fortunate to be in such close contact with Megan and Jonathan.  "In the olden days"- when Joe and I were first in China in 1981 - 1982 - phone calls were expensive, cumbersome, and rare ordeals.  I recall telephoning my grandmother for her birthday and not being able to dial direct, having to wait for our Beida dormitory "concierge" to place the call, waiting for almost an hour to get through.  Mail took weeks!  Now, we are able to be in touch with Megan via Skype, blogs, Facebook, and email.  In addition to these avenues, Jonathan texts regularly when he finds time during his 19-hour workday at Tech.  If I have an update or a question, he responds immediately. So ... while the children are not HERE in person, we are up-to-date and connected.  I hope that such regular communication dispels most worries they may have about my treatment and health.

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Hurrah for COOKING!

Hurrah for lunch with Tama and Natalie! Yay Matoaka friends!

A great day in my "great week" meant more energy than I have felt in ages!  In fact, I am officially declaring that I have not felt this good for 204 days - since I was felled (a la Greek myth) by a sudden onset crippling migraine on December 28th -  the first (and welcome) sign of my lymphoma.   What a lovely day!
Hurrah for energy!
Hurrah for minimal discomfort (in my feet) versus pain!
Hurrah for being fully alert!
Hurrah for feeling healthy and for being HAPPY!