While this is a delicate time -- waiting and hoping with every positive thought & bit of karma, that the new donor cells will boost the others to take over -- we focus on the moments when we share smiles & hugs, a game of upwards, and a walk whenever possible! Dad took a few walks with his girls which was very nice.
There is also the positive energy that comes with team work...taking turns shopping, prepping & cooking food (among other daily "chores") ... all less of a burden when divided & conquered. There's that satisfaction of seeing a meal come together & being enjoyed by all...life's simple pleasures (not to mention the even better pleasures of good leftovers for later or the next day, right, Daniel?!).
There are times of the day & eve that are difficult because of pain and/or fever (related to GVHD and neutronpenia), but the times that are pain & fever-free are when Carol's energy returns and we are able to just "be" ...and we all feel that surge of freedom and relief.
Yesterday was a real gift -- Carol & I spent several hours at Turtle Beach -- warm breezes, perfect temp in 70's, clear gorgeous water. She was feeling good all afternoon so we closed our eyes for a little while to breathe in the ocean sounds, walked a bit towards Midnight Pass (one of our favorite places), and just felt very thankful to have a good span of time to enjoy the beach in each others company. We decided dinner was second priority & stayed as long as we wanted to...made a late dinner & stayed up to watch 2nd half of a movie we'd started the night before. Guess you can say we squeezed everything we could out of that day!
Today Dad & Joyce came over to visit for a while...after a slow-ish start, Carol & I fit in a walk in the neighborhood -- it was great to see her pace pick up since her energy somehow rebounded...despite her need for platelets today...mind over matter? Then we headed to Moffitt for Carol's appointment & I left for the airport.
Thank you again for sharing the last 4 days with me....love-filled & lots of amazing team work :-) Susan
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[Carol, a gift of a poem]
ReplyDeleteMidnight Pass
The pristine pass of velvet sand
Accepts the imprint of the man
Moistly forming a perfect mold
Of his naked foot and childhood soul
For even though the man be eighty
Or the passing woman nearly forty
The captured form is a younger age
Of bounding youth through endless sage
When hearts leapt free and love engaged.
Yet in a second of only hours
The ocean wind removes this flower
And tucks its secret treasure deep
Of friendships formed and still to keep,
For whom will pass will start anew
The century past and century new
Of man and child and passer through,
And with this Midnight Pass will promise to
Keep you in heart and remember too.
- by Virginia Hoffman
So good to hear things are getting better for you. Cheers!!! all my hopes.
ReplyDelete"chris the boat man"
Dear Cous, I can't seem to keep track of you, home, Moffitt, home, beach - that is you - always moving forward. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Love to all of you, Arlene and Paul
ReplyDelete