Hello Family and Friends:

This is a postscript to my previous weekend posts that were more about status than impressions & commentary.

Carol’s attitude is really remarkable …she keeps the nurses laughing and has them shaking their heads because she is the most healthy looking patient on the floor. Sometimes they (and doctors too) listen to what she has planned for her day whenever she will be un-tethered, and you can see them smiling with a sense of awe and their cartoon bubble saying “you go, girl!”. Then they sort of pretend they didn’t hear because they know that while where she wants to walk may be just outside of their purview, their nods express their unstated understanding that the most active patients – and those who get dressed on days they feel good – feel the least like patients and the most like themselves, and do much better.

The nurses, PA’s, and even the housekeeper have impressed me in general as striking a balance of being focused on their responsibilities and demonstrating thoughtfulness even while they may be short-staffed and stressed. They make the time to smile and be social with Carol – or is it that Carol inspires that and they wouldn’t be like that otherwise? Hmmmm….

I do feel that most of them are part of an amazing breed of very compassionate & dedicated people, and every minute they take to consider Carol’s need for exercise, freedom, a bit of independence is a gift that Carol happily accepts & appreciates, furthering their tendency to feed those needs. Carol noted that one of the nurses was very strict and matter of fact in the beginning but what I see (and she agrees) now is a balance of caring and relationship-building with someone who respects and appreciates Carol’s insatiable desire to defy the current situation!

Sharing this short weekend with Carol has been a gift to me -- as our time together always is --and to be here when she feels well was of course a bonus for both of us. Getting to know some of the people caring for her has been especially comforting knowing she is in some exceptionally good hands and among sweet hearts (who are clearly enjoying finding their way inside Carol’s heart and vice-versa).

So here’s to Mary, Archana, Leila, Chris PA, Dr. Estrella, Dr. Baz, Angie, Edwina, Xinia, and others who may not always hear about the brightness and comfort they bring to both the people in their care and their caregivers!

And here’s to my sister, to her continued defiance and inspiration to us all,

-Susan (Carol’s sister)

P.S. to the P.S. Carol asked at what point she might be allowed to go home to Sarasota (between this stay and her bone marrow transplant) and the answer is when her A.N.C. level is above 500. Currently it is too low to even be detectable but her doctor said that when it does spring back it can spring back relatively quickly.