Friday, Saturday, Sunday: Take it Easy

An easy weekend as Bob adjusts to this round of chemo.  He's been eating well, listening to music, getting out into the garden, and resting.

Thursday: Nourishment & Movement

 

Bob wants to know: What is his contract with the doctors?  They realize that he is a goal guy, and the attending says, "Eat as much as you can, and move as much as you can."  This has become the focus of Bob's day.  His feeding tube has been removed, so he is calculating calories and getting out of bed several times each day these past couple of days.  Today, taking a walk with the physical therapist, he was determined to go all the way to the garden and back. The nurses and staff came out to watch, clapped and cheered as he went by.  They all love his spirit.

Tuesday/Wednesday: "Progress, again"

When we arrived at the hospital this morning (Maggie has had 2 nights of good sleep at home), Bob was not in his bed.  We found him walking around in the hallway with the physical therapist.  Back in the room, he started organizing us to get his photos together so he could see them better, save the food he likes to take advantage of "calorie opportunities", and joked with the doctors as they said, "every day you're improving: progress, again!"  He's more talkative and in good spirits, starting the new round of chemo today, a good day.

Monday: Labor Day Greetings

Bob was up and dressed for a short time today; sends his best to all of you.

Saturday/Sunday: Gathering strength

Peacefully uneventful days, with a few minutes out in the garden.  Bob is staying steady.  A strong weekend will allow a new round of chemo to begin on Monday.

If he holds this course, it's likely there won't be any real news for some days. He has some good momentum, and it looks like his strength is gathering.

Friday: Gratitude

Today was my hands-on orientation to the World of Bob.  Tonight, back at Maggie's, I am humbled by the kind of time and work she and Meganne have been putting in daily, and by Bob's courageous fight.

The care that is consistently delivered --by every single person I met at the hospital--is impressive. It seems that we have our own private doctors and nurses just waiting outside Bob's door to help.  It's a team that inspires confidence and gratitude.

The hospital is beautiful and cheerful: inspiring art on the walls, live music where it's accessible to patients, billowing gardens that go on and on around the hospital grounds and visible through the windows, cafeterias with appealing and healthy food. Today when I asked him if there was any food I could bring him that he might have a craving for, he thought carefully and said quietly, "a small martini."

Although he sleeps much of the day and is often uncomfortable, Bob is fairly alert when he is awake:  he queries the doctors,  asks for the sports page, makes plans to sit up for awhile, contemplates the qualities of the foods he likes best, keeps his sense of humor handy, and is graciously kind to, and appreciative of all who have helped him: his family, the nurse checking in, or all of you, keeping him in your thoughts. 

These past few days he is inching along, each day a little better than the day before. A short visit from Brother Chris, on his way to the lake today, brought a twinkle to Bob's eye.

Thursday: busy

I arrived today, checked out the hospital.  Bob was tired, resting quietly, but everything around him was a beehive of activity.  Writing from my phone tonight, more tomorrow.