Just back from my first treatment with Dr. Niemtzow, former radiation oncologist now acupuncture specialist who has devised a treatment for xeristomia (Lack of Saliva, in lay terms) AND IT WORKS! I can talk without my teeth sticking to my tongue and lips! I can swallow without a drink of water! I can dissolve breath mints in my very own saliva! and spit! HOORAY! Tomorrow he promises even better results, and I can look forward to enjoying eating and tasting again! Sorry for so many exclamation points but I feel like I’ve been given my life back. ahhhhhhhh
What we’ve been waiting for.
Today another trip to Johns Hopkins. First an appointment with the speech therapist, who says the difficulties I’m experiencing with eating and dry mouth are all related to lack of saliva. All hope is not yet gone–there is an acupuncturist who used to work as an oncologist we will be in touch with, and time has not yet run out on recovery of salivary gland function. Plus, it was very affirming for me to hear that the symptoms are real and have a source outside my own madness.
Then the really great news. We saw the radiation oncologist and the chemotherapy oncologist. They looked at the PET scan and into my throat with a laproscopic imaging device and they both feel that the tumor is gone, no activity! There is still healing/damage in the back of the throat, base of the tongue, bottom of the ear canal, and there is some scarring at the top of the lungs, but they don’t need to see me for six more months! It’s done! They feel confident that the cancer is gone!
And, we have crocus, forsythia, and daffodils blooming in the yard. Timing is everything.
Friday night and the end of a good week.
Cathy had a full week of work and got there on her own. She was tired when she got home and took a 1-2 hour nap each evening. We have an incredible time at her birthday celebration on Sunday which I think buoyed us up through the rest of the week.
The weather is changing to spring and that makes all of us happy, dogs included. We are heading to Sarasota, Florida in 2 weeks for our annual vacation, this time with Erick and Patty again. (Cathy’s brother and his wife) This time we’ve spent our wad and have a place right on the beach. Going to sleep and waking up with the surf sounds in our heads is my idea of heaven on earth. It’s a bit bittersweet this year, because the Cincinnati Reds have taken their spring training to Arizona. This means that Erick will have to suffer through the Orioles spring training and spend lots of wind educating his sister and sister-out-law about which players to watch, etc. He’s an encyclopedia of baseball information and we come away from the games feeling like experts. Ha, ha, ha!
Let’s not forget March Madness! I promise to post news pictures this week, so stayed tuned. Oh—-CONGRATULATIONS TO WASHINGTON, D.C. and all the same sex couples who now can get married. It’s about time we all took our relationships seriously enough to be responsible for each other. We can’t wait for Maryland to follow suit. Watch the headlines so that you know when to expect your invitation. XO from the Nation’s Capitol.
Cathy’s friends (???)
Make her cry, and she made us cry. Her birthday/suvivor party at Ruth’s was the best in the world. Big girls/boys do cry.
The baby bird leaves the nest
This past week has been really incredible.
Cathy has gotten up at 8 AM, fixed her breakfast and trotted off to work, all on her own. The house has been unnaturally quiet and the dogs and I find ourselves napping quite a bit until Cathy comes home from work. Then she takes a nap for about 2 hours. She’s even eating full meals at dinner.
Our day-to-day life is getting back into it’s previous habits.
However, it will never be the same. Our perspectives have been altered. Our priorities sharpened and our lives, more focused. The challenges now are how to take these new lessons we’ve been given and to incorporate them into a world view that brings us more joy and meaning. We have come to take nothing and no one for granted anymore. It’s scary and liberating at the same time.
Cathy and I can’t even begin to articulate what your support has meant to us along this journey’s path. My hope is that you all have come away with a new sense, too, about life and what is important. The kind gesture, encouraging comments and spirit of your love has enveloped us at the precise time when we needed it the most. We are eternally grateful for each and every one of you.
As Cathy continues to heal and gain strength, perhaps the messages on this blog aren’t as urgent. Some people have expressed regret that Cathy’s wholeness will mean the end of it. BUT! We don’t have to wind it down or leave it behind. We can continue on with it. As administrator, I can change some of the features and the design of the graphics. As long as you all are willing to participate, this blog can morph into whatever it will be. I propose keeping it going. What do you all think?
Night out
Yesterday we went to see a movie, and out for sushi…our first big night out since forever! And, I drank a beer, first since the tonsilectomy. Real life coming back!
One more for the road
I went to work all the days the Gallery was open this week, for about four-hour days. It was alright, not too exhausting. So, the blog is probably winding down…On March 9 I get a pet scan to see whether the cancer is gone; it gets read and interpreted for me a week later. So I’ll post the results, hoping for the luck of the Irish, on St. Patty’s day.
This could really be historic.
It keeps snowing and snowing. I can very happily use the “free” hours at work, since the government is closed, and there is plenty of time for napping while its white outside. The doggies thought they wanted to go for a walk, but soon decided a SHORT walk was plenty!
Can we go in, please?
going under
“Historic” snowfall
That’s what they call it when it lands on DC. Here are some snaps of what it looks like:
It is beautiful, and there is plenty of time to enjoy it because the Government is closed. So, we are snuggled in and healing.
I did it!
Beth drove me down to the National Gallery today for a four-hour stint. It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be…in fact, it was a little anti-climatic. I’ve been through so much, enormous changes, and the workplace seems like a very smooth,unruffled pond that didn’t change at all, except for the construction and plywood everywhere. Both reassuring and unsettling, the sense of time warp. The good news is that my energy held up just fine. Now tomorrow is predicted to have “historic” snowfall, so we are in a perfect situation to stay in, plant starts for our garden, and watch the fire burning in the fireplace. 