Tag Archives: The Bow-Tie-Guy

Cardiologist…Day Two…


While we know that the tumor has shrunk, we also know that the tumor still have its ‘activities’ within the body.  Like a rumbling volcano, the tumor will react to certain foods and hard swallows.  ‘The Little One’ really has to be careful on how and what he eats, or else he’ll have an ‘eruption’ filled with gastric acid and sharp pain.

The location of tumor has made it difficult for us to decide the origin of  the sharp pain, hence the need to see the cardiologist.  Pleased with the weight loss, the cardiologist went about his work in the most pleasant of ways.   The EKG showed that the heart was in good shape and that the pain that ‘The Little One’ has been experiencing is directly related to the tumor.

Of course, these are all scientific speculations and based on his years of experience as evidence from the EKG.  While there is relief in this news, that fact of the matter is that the pain still is a part of his every day life.    As we age, we all have to accept the little bumps and bruises to our health that come along in life.

Each one of us handles those little bumps and bruises in a different manner, and my suspicion is that those of us who have a healthy acceptance  of our health calamities,  tend to fare better with their reality than those who don’t.  I certainly see a healthy attitude of acceptance in “The Little One”.

Acceptance goes a long way in building a healthy attitude.  Of course, we have our bad days and ask ourselves…’why me’…that’s just a part of human nature.   The lesson that I have learned from this experience  while watching  ‘The Little One’s’ attitude  is to simply just give up control;  but boy…do I have a long way to go with that!

Just like the doctors who can’t control the outcomes of the test, we can’t control the reality of disease. We know that the tumor has shrunk, but we also know that the tumor is still causing some issues.  Yet what we can control is how we react to the pain and issues that it creates,  and that my friends,  is where the secret lies.

 

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A Trip to the Hospital


The phone rang and there was a trembling voice on the other end…”They are admitting me to the hospital”  The Little One said.  It was not difficult to hear the fear and anxiety in his voice; the psychological aspects of going through chemo and radiation are often overshadowed while in the mist of the treatments.   Even more unbelievable…his doctor wheeled him to the hospital emergency room herself! 

While no one really relishes a trip to the hospital, this was the best way for ‘The Little One’ to help regain his strength and take a break from the cancer treatments.  The chemotherapy and radiation has zapped his strength;  low white blood cell count and low potassium levels seem to be the culprit in this sordid mess.     All fixable items on the health dept chart when recognized early and treated properly.   We are thankful for the chemo-therapist for his swift action and recognizing that was something amiss.

Try as we might, we just can no longer do these treatments apart.  Independent as he is, these treatments are just not something that you can do on your own.   The issues are enormous;   house and doctors in Florida, job and family in St. Louis.  Yet one thing is certain…home is always where you are when you are with the one you love.

Last Saturday I met with a wonderful geriatric social worker in St. Louis by the name of Jeanette.  The hour I spent with Jeanette was worth its weight in gold.  One of the great lessons that I was reminded of during my visit last week with Jeanette is the need to network and explore expertise other than your own.  (Now is not the time to be a legend  in your own mind.)  There are more options available than meets the eye, it’s just getting to the right resources in time to make the proper decisions.  I am thankful for her knowledge and thankful to Sherrill Wayland from Metro SAGE St. Louis for the great referral.

As I have previoiusly mentioned, being a caregiver is a privileged…Yet in order to be a good caregiver you have to sometimes detach your emotions and explore knowledge and resources outside your area of expertise.  There is no need for the caregiver to go solo!  My visit with Jeannette reminded me that in order to think outside the box, I have to get out of my own world.

As we move into the final stages of the chemotherapy and radiation treatments, we are doing this together…side by side, one by one.  Now that I am in Florida, one decision is firm…’The Little One’ will no longer be ‘physically’ alone to go through these daunting treatments.  We look ahead with hope, with anticipation and most of all…with all your love, prayers and support!

 

 

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