Day Plus One-Hundred-Fifty-Nine

The last couple of days have been uneventful. Yesterday, Jody showed some real signs of improvement. It used to be a struggle to climb the stairs at bedtime. Now she goes right up the stairs and into the bedroom, typically sitting on the bed and resting before going through her nightly ritual. Before she would go up the stairs halfway, rest, continue to the top, rest, and then into the bedroom. I was concerned about how steady she was, so I would follow her. As I mentioned she has good days and bad days, sometimes the pain makes her very lethargic. Jody takes medicine for the pain, which adds to her unsteadiness.

Yesterday was a good day so we took down all of the Christmas decorations. It felt good to have everything picked up. It feels like we are moving on to the next season. Every small change seems to pick up Jody's spirits, mine too. The four walls can be confining. Come Spring I am planning to get out a lot more, maybe some golf, or go to the sports bar and watch March Madness games. Everything depends on how Jody is feeling.

Today is a so-so-day, Jody is feeling a lot of pain in her chest. She had to take some pain medicine to get moving this morning. Jody decided she needs to catch up on her ironing, so I set up the ironing board in the living room in front of the TV complete with her little heater to keep her warm (she loves the heater... swears I keep the house too cold). "Oprah" is on now soon to be followed by "Judge Judy" Judge Joe Brown", Doctor Phil and "Maury... You are NOT the Father!" Watching Jody mesmerized by the thrilling drama these shows have to offer is entertainment enough for me. Typically I read or go to my office.

Jody's scars from the surgery continue to heal. The steri-strip bandages are holding on by a thread and of course she will not let me touch them. The doctor told her they will fall off on their own. We have an appointment with both the surgeon and her transplant doctor on Wednesday. We are both anxious to hear how Jody is progressing, even though we both know she is improving. It helps to hear it confirmed by the doctors.

Anything you can do to keep her spirits up helps. The doctors tell us we are running a marathon and not a sprint. These set-backs can be demoralizing. Jody is now telling everyone she is not going out and she is determined not to have anymore set-backs. Deep down Jody and I know there will be more. The cancer support group we go to calls set-backs "bumps in the road" to recovery. Everyone has to hang in there for her, this disease is not like... you get sick... take the medicine... and then you are better. In Jody's case the cure is as hard on her as the disease. The disease has a definite outcome, the cure has lots of twists and turns and the outcome is never certain. I know it is a lot to ask, but pace yourself... call on a whim.... email her whenever you have something to tell her... send pictures of things happening in your life... cards and letters make her smile... You are never bothering us, and if the time is not right Jody will let you know. Do not be offended or think you intruded if Jody cuts you short or does not seem to be into what you are saying. There is a lot going on and none of it has to do with you.

There is a book called "CANCER Etiquette" by Rosanne Kalick. It has a lot of great information in it. You can find it on Amazon.com used for $1.29. It is a great reference for me to use.

More to follow