Not too much to report this week. On the weekend, I made our typical 'the chef''s away and Mom's cooking' specialty - quiche (real men don't eat quiche, right?). Jeanine took Tom out shopping while I went to the hairdresser. Tom's chair is collapsible, but it is outfitted with a contoured back that must be snapped in and out of the chair when it's used, so I wasn't sure how she'd do with it. I think it was a bit of an eye opener for her, because she commented later on the effort it requires to unload and assemble/tear down and reload Tom's wheelchair in the van.
Part of the reason Tom wanted to be out shopping was because he wanted to buy some treats with one of the gift cards from the Little Bald Angels (thank you, thank you!).
But Thomas' most anticipated shopping trip was on Sunday. Tom let me stay long enough after church to have one cup of coffee, but was anxious to head straight over to EB Games... he had pre-ordered one of the new 3DS gaming systems that was only just released that day. We are so appreciative - he had the money saved up for the game system, and some friends from church helped him out so that he could get some new 3D games right away as well. That's the problem with these game systems, right? A new gaming system means new games! Still, when you spend as much time sitting around waiting as Tom does, diversions that pass the time and help take your mind off your worries are almost a necessity!
Sunday evening I had a get together with some old friends, including sweet Marie, who moved to Vancouver Island about 5 years ago. It was great to enjoy some laughs together. (P.S. Ladies, I found out the answer to your question this week: if all goes well, I should get my braces off on June 13th!. And double P.S., my family wants the lasagne recipe!)
Monday was a quiet day, Tom was really not feeling up to going anywhere. The health nurse came and drew blood to check his counts. Fortunately, this time she was able to access his port on the 2nd try. We learned later in the afternoon that all other counts were essentially normal, except his platelets - still really low at 24. His platelet count was only 18 on Thursday, so at least it's moving in the right direction.
Tom and I met my Uncle Stan, Auntie Lottie and her sister Betty for lunch on Tuesday. Uncle Stan is my mom's only remaining brother (of seven) and he and Auntie Lottie are like the glue that keeps the family connected. Their home was typically a gathering place for family, and I'm not the only relative that for a time in our youth called their house home. It was so great to see them! Isn't it crazy how you can live in the same city as folk and yet hardly ever see them? Although it's true we've been a bit distracted...
The rest of the week's been a bit of a blur: he felt well enough to make it to choir three days, and he also had 3 physio treatments. He played guitar with the music therapist on Tuesday, and we got to know the social worker/counsellor assigned to our family a bit on Wednesday.
He had a clinic visit today, and his platelets have moved up to 42. Dr. H thinks this trend should continue, and Tom will be at the requisite minimum level of 75 by early next week, in order to proceed with the next round of cyclophosphamide and topotecan. Tom's planning on going to choir again on Friday if his energy permits - he's feeling pretty tired tonight, so we'll see. It might be the new meds - it's hoped this drug will help ease the muscle tension that limits the range of motion in his legs, but as with any new drug, it takes the body a few days to acclimatize.
Assuming chemo is going well, the Chris Knox Foundation has made some tickets available for 4 of us to go to one of the draws at the the World Men's Curling Championship, which is being held here in Regina this coming week. We're keeping our fingers crossed he'll be well enough to enjoy the opportunity. Several other clinic families will also be able to go, thanks to Chris Knox and their wonderful supporters.
We learned today that his MRI scans will be April 26/27, so I would imagine we won't have any news on his progress until early May. The 'scanxiety' begins...I personally find the period leading up to scans and then the results ties my stomach in knots...it's always easier to deal with the known and rather than the unknown. In the meanwhile, I have to keep reminding myself to just live in this particular moment and let the monents that lay ahead arrive in their own due time. I'm not saying we've all got that figured out yet, but we are trying.
It's feels like it's been a very busy week, with lots of outings and visitors, and I think next week will feel busy too, since it's another one where we spend hours in the clinic nearly every day. (This is where the shiny new game system will really be put to the test!)
While a lot of what has happened since Tom's diagnosis and relapse has been - well - shitty... it's also been so comforting to have all these amazing people all around us. We are reminded of how many amazing people there are every day, as you can see by our recap of the past week.
Thanks for checking in on us, we're grateful for everyone's support and help. I still can't believe sometimes how many people read this little journal, especially since the details are so mundane. It means so much to us.
TTFN,
Thomas' Mom
