September 23, 2020

-

 September 23, 2020


I have been thinking about a mom I met at the hospital.  In December she noticed that for 11th day in a row her 9-year-old daughter has headache.  Hmm.  She took her to dentist.  No, everything fine there.  Took her to optometrist.  Eyes are ok but they told her to go to emerg.  An enlarged nerve they saw.  Tumour on brain and it was removed Christmas Eve.  After recovery, she saw the spark again in her daughter's eye. Phew.  Then she was called in February, get to hospital as treatment was to begin.  The tumour was cancerous.  Radiation burned the girl's throat so she has a feeding tube and now can't keep anything down.  They just came back to hospital while we were there because it was pretty bad.  Mom challenged but says in some ways it is easier to be in hospital because she is there to attend to her daughter.  At home she is mom as well to her two younger boys, driving around, cook, and all that mom's do.  I do hope she gets the healing she needs.

Just one example of looking around and feeling gratitude.  Not that our road is easy but there are always people worse off.

For the most part today was a down day for Marlon.  Low energy, tired, feeling sick and general ick.  Poor guy.  At least he can read a bit and listen to audiobook.  He is dreading our trip to hospital tomorrow.  He knows what he is in for and not looking forward to various needle pokes and general discomfort.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

July 7, 2022

-
Image
On May 23rd, the week before the chemo that weakened Marlon enough to put him in the hospital, the dog, the boy, and I drove to Montreal. (I am aware of the use of the word 'go' when writing. In German, the verb 'to go' means walking. You don't 'go' in a car.) Before we left, as I was packing up the car, I noticed a fair sized spider web between the driver's side view mirror and the car. I left it alone, figuring the wind would blow it off. It was so nice to see Linsy and Moira and spend time with them. I have missed having Linsy around. It was neat that, when we got there, Olivia, Jamey, and Roka, their dog, were there. They live 15 minutes away from us but were there visiting their son. Mina was definitely happy to see Roka (and all the others too).   Mina got used to walking on sidewalks and being in the city. Other people and dogs, not so much. Moira has given me a belt with a dog lead on it for hands-free walking. It worked but was even bett...
Read more

November 10, 2022 (2)

-
Image
Today, I dropped Marlon off at outdoor school and met up with a friend I have only seen a handful of times in the last 20+ years.  She was in the area for the passing of a family member. i then went for a walk with Mina.  I watched and she poised herself in hunting position and pounced.  I saw a squirrel run up a tiny little tree but also heard this pitiful whining.  At first, confused, I wondered if she had pounced on a nest in the ground.  But the dog ran to me, crying and whining, holding up her paw.  We were a ways from home and she hobbled carefully home after we sat for a while and she calmed down.  She will often run the perimeter of fields, running this way and that.  I saw her longing to run the field as we made our way back but she was uncomfortable and limping. A short while later, I went to pick up Marlon and watched in amazement as he hobbled to the car.  Yes, he had hurt his foot within an hour of the dog hurting herself.  ...
Read more

July 5, 2022

-
Image
Decision was made that Marlon was to go check blood counts on Monday.  We drove down to Hamilton together, quick finger poke, and then leave again.  A couple of times, we drove around the parking garage for almost a half-hour looking for a spot, but Monday was smooth.  Busy place. Blood counts are good so dental work begins.  Marlon's doctor was impressed with the dentist when she spoke with him last week.  In support, I sit next to him in the dentist's room and hope my own anxiety, discomfort, and fear don't affect him. Halfway through the drilling of four teeth which was quite intense, they took a little break to check in with Marlon and see if he was up to continue.  He agreed to do more but said he was most concerned about the tastes of the filling material.  With the pain and discomfort of the first part, one would think that would be the least of his worries but he is very sensitive to taste and flavour.  As it turned out he didn't gag or re...
Read more