Wed, 18 Aug 2004

Charles Dickens

Hey there. Garrett is down for a nap and Jade is home from chemo and upstairs trying diligently to get some lunch, so I thought I'd take a minute and do a quick update.

We are at day #3 of chemo for the week and it's going ok. They rearranged the order of a couple of the drugs at chemo and that seems to have helped a little but Jade is still quite nauseous. Eating and drinking is just tough but if he doesn't eat or drink every couple hours then it only gets worse. So, he's in the kitchen trying to find something that doesn't sound completely awful - - just marginally awful.
We did get out of town last week and it was so nice to be gone for a few days. We stayed at a relative's cabin in Island Park, just outside of Yellowstone, and it was wonderful. We mostly just hung out - - went on a couple walks, went to Old Faithful one day, nothing major. Garrett and I went on rock and stick hunts. I got a couple naps which was my #1 goal for the week. It was beautiful and definitely a needed break for body and soul. I haven't dumped the pictures from our memory stick onto the computer but maybe we'll get a picture attached with the next email.

Jade met with our new oncologist on Mon and it went pretty good. She was nice enough and will try to help but as we've said before, she specializes in lymphomas not sarcomas. It helps to have a treatment plan from our old doctor to follow and have her help implement. We'll do chemo this week and next then have a CT scan on Mon the 30th of August. Not sure when we'll get those test results back though - - probably at his next appt on the 7th of Sept.

They will be trying a couple different drugs to help control the diarrhea this week. Jade takes Immodium AD every two hours and it puts a dent in it but certainly doesn't stop it by any stretch of the imagination. Every time I go to the grocery store to buy Immodium AD (and we usually buy 100 tablets at a time) I'm always shocked the cashier doesn't have a comment for me like, "Are you sure you don't need toilet bowl cleaner or bleach with that? Really, just 4 boxes of diarrhea medication?" But, bless their hearts, they keep their comments to themselves but I'm sure they tell someone else when they're on break, "You can't believe this woman I helped earlier who must have the most awful diarrhea............" So, we'll see if we switch to another prescription medication if it helps any better.

I've been thinking a lot about Charles Dicken's famous line from "Tale of Two Cities," "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." It seems like that is playing out in a micro and macro way in life. You just get so sick of chemo and cancer sometimes and it can feel so awful some days but then you realize how lucky you are to still have your spouse here and be fighting it. To see and hear Jade and Garrett play and laugh is incredible. It helps me realize every day is a gift. When I watch the news it's amazing to hear of the "worst of times:" the terror threats raised in NY and DC, the awful hurricanes in FL and the day to day uncertainity we live with. But I continually hear about the kindness of others and especially how that kindness is shown to us and our friends and family members ...... and it gives me hope. I love hearing the Olympic stories of the human spirit and the drive that indivduals have. I keep having the "best of times, worst of times" echoing through my head. It makes me recognize what a choice it is to focus on the positive and the blessings and opportunities we have rather than be consumed by the "worst."

Well, I'm sure I've rambled on long enough. Thanks for listening though. All in all, Jade's doing ok. His hair has grown back being on this chemo. It's super, duper short but fun to see the dark fuzz come back in all over. Take care of yourselves and enjoy the last weeks of summer.

Love ya......................Tanya and co.