We Can See the Radiation Finish Line

We Can See the Radiation Finish Line

 

 

About two more weeks of these daily trips to the Radiation Oncology Center.  The effort is still a breeze and we’re getting to know our 11AM peers, but the combination of schedule and fatigue and hair loss is becoming tiresome.  Not that Patti’s complaining, but it’s impossible not to notice.

Dear friend Jill McNamara provided a first rate monogrammed ball cap for Patti to wear in public.  She’s a bit self conscious but of course has no reason to be.  Her eyes are as bright as ever and that spirit makes her ‘patient of the year’ in every office we visit.  I’m very proud of her.

Supposedly, there can occasionally be bursts of irritability.  Hmmmm….. haven’t seen it yet.  But I have noticed how interested Patti has become at pointing out my many (many) shortcomings.  Gee, I hope this new hobby passes with the treatment.

Last weekend was another fun visit to Erymwold.  A smallish picnic on Saturday turned into a buffet lunch for twelve.  Visiting were great friends the Powers from Savannah plus some of their family and Doc and Sheri Eldridge from Athens plus two more of theirs.  Kiley and Karl drove over from Atlanta later and stayed the night.  These sort of things wear on Patti, but when she knows they have an end, it allows her to rally for awhile.  Every day more cards arrive from friends old and new.  It’s impressive how comforting people can be with just a few words.

Please understand that if these posts become less frequent, it’s more likely good news than not.  Treatment will be over soon.  Then we will enjoy remission for years to come!

Starting to Become Routine....

The Good News is:  This is getting routine 

The Bad News is:  This is getting routine

The last week has been just fine.  Nothing dramatic to report and of course that is good.  Chemo via pill every day soon after the anti-nausea medicine (boy is that a help!) then off the 11AM radiation treatment.  The way these radiation clinics are organized you end up seeing a lot of the same folks daily.  Their appointment is the same time as yours but they may be a bit ahead or behind on the calendar.  There’s a nice couple about our age from north of town.  His tumors are more scattered than Patti’s.  There’s also a middle aged lady in a motorized buggy that comes alone via MARTA bus from the south side of town.  It’s hard not to feel sorry for her since she has such a complicated travel ordeal.  Patti and Kiley ask names and start conversations.  It sorta humanizes the experience.

As we were told to expect, there is now hair loss on the temples and fatigue sets in early.  Patti rallies for a chance to decorate Erymwold and is busy planning rugs and drapes and tile.  As I’ve said before, this project in Athens is a wonderful escape and we just love spending our weekends in the country.

Last Sunday our friends the Tribbles drove over from Atlanta for lunch.  Their group included two beautiful daughters and Nanky and Jack.  All visitors are encouraged to bring leaf rakes and swing blades.  The Tribbles will do better next visit (insert winking smiley face here).  Also visiting briefly last weekend were nephew Alan Hodgson from Winston-Salem and his wife Lindsey plus young daughter Margaret.  Alan brought gray brain cancer wrist bands for our whole family.  Anyone seeing an opportunity to support the cause by sporting one of these bands is encouraged to do so….

Thanks to everyone for your continued interest.  Patti has received so much love from so many friends and family.  It really is humbling.  This fight will be won.  Patti will make it so.

Great Weekend in Athens

 

 

 

 

Master’s Weekend, 100 Miles from Augusta

Friend Liz left Wednesday back to her winter home in Scottsdale.  Patti appreciated the visits from Liz and brother Bob so much, but the next few days were worthy of rest.  Many friends and daughter Kiley make their way to Augusta each April.  Patti and I have been before but this weekend was about getting back to Athens and Erymwold.  As the sun comes out on all that green, you can hear stuff growing, not all of it what you were hoping for.

Patti and I arrived Friday mid afternoon and set about mowing the back lawn and straightening up inside.  If your property has over 100 trees and most are huge, stuff tends to fall from above and litter the ground.  I’m not talking just leaves, this time of year limbs large and small make their way down.  No hill for a climber….

Patti and I went to Sears on Friday late and found the perfect refrigerator.  Surprisingly great service and it will be delivered on Tuesday.  A nice dinner at a casual Italian place in Athens then home to bed.  Patti was feeling almost normal.

Let me go no further without saying that Patti is receiving at least a half dozen cards daily.  She loves them all and keeps them close.  Thanks everyone for your kind words.

Saturday, Doc Eldridge came out to ‘willingly’ help with yard work following a fun lunch at our friend Chris Lloyd’s new restaurant in Five Points in Athens.  Good naps and then dinner with Doc and Sheri at George’s Low Country in town.  The day had been warm and sunny.  Perfect.  Near midnight, we went out to the pasture with a big spotlight, spooking the deer resting in the lower pasture.  Six to eight sets of  bright eyes staring back from the blackness.

I guess by now, you can figure that Patti is not a feeble sick soul.  She looks great and naps when required.  Radiation treatment continues to be routine and the chemo is only a burden due to its scheduling. 

Sunday, today, was more yard work and a great visit from my nephew Mac Hodgson and wife Kathleen.  They traveled from Atlanta to pick up a large mirror from the estate and to bring us a fabulous bloody mary brunch.  Everything but the plates was in their kit.  What a treat.  More naps and back to Atlanta to watch the golf tournament ending.  It was Master’s weekend after all.  PT checked out early.... the last three days were wonderful, but she knows not to overdo it.  This fight is long, but it will be won.

The Joy a Friend Can Bring

 

 

THE JOY A FRIEND CAN BRING

OK, so now it’s Wednesday morning and our friend Liz Gett from Boston has just left.  It’s been a wonderful few days, though Patti is looking forward to some rest after two dear guests (Bob and Liz).  Liz is a former college roommate (Marymount in Arlington, VA) and just brings a world of joy with her.  Without exaggeration, Patti has not laughed so much in months.  What a tonic!

Radiation is becoming routine.  In and out in thirty minutes or less.  Today we had our first visit with Dr. Jonas the Oncologist.  He prescribes the chemo and will manage a lot of the treatment going forward.  Dr. Jonas has a great personality and makes everyone feel comfortable.  We will be seeing him weekly for a long, long time. 

Both doctors are encouraging moderate exercise and PT is looking forward to that to begin.  Maybe today, certainly this week.  She's feeling that good.  She is spending time reading morning devotionals suggested by friends and has even promised a very fit young acquaintance that she will consider meditation.  HHHhhhmmmmmm......

If you’re interested, I’m busy too.  Spent Sunday and Sunday night at Erymwold planning some landscaping, picking up sticks and attending a Tree Commission meeting to talk about a dear white oak at Erymwold that must come down.  We don’t need their permission, but I wanted them to know.  Yes, Patti gladly let me spend some time away.  She’s in great hands with the kids and friends and dear Nanky Tribble who stops by almost daily with a camellia and a joke and a story.  Friends make smiles and smiles make the cure.   Prayers help too.

 

A Nice Spring Day Can Do Wonders

 

 

A NICE SPRING DAY CAN DO WONDERS

OK, one week of radiation treatment is behind us, and I must say the clinic can really show some speed when they are at their best.  Our last three visits averaged 30 minutes or less from parking to exit.  Piedmont Hospital has a special radiation oncology center on Howell Mill Rd.  They give patients a personal magcard for easy access to reserved parking just feet from the special door to the clinic.  Treatment takes just minutes and we’re on our way home.  This is so much easier than having to park at the big hospital or to drive to Emory.  Of course, it’s the treatment that matters.  We think we have the best.

Thursday, Patti’s older brother Bob Thompson arrived in Atlanta for the Final 4.  He’s staying in a guest suite downstairs from Club 22.  Bob lives in Annapolis and has a million stories of his career, primarily as a sports marketing entrepreneur.  Great guy.   Bob met his wife Alison, and I met my wife Patti, at the same beach house in Southampton, summer of 1980.  Both couples were married the next year, one month apart.  Patti and I took Bob to Athens on Friday to tour Erymwold, the farm and the Classic City.  How much fun is it to show off Athens to a first time visitor?  Patti did great.  She got a bit tired, but not exhausted.  That could have been the delicious BBQ lunch.  She slept a straight thru 12 hours last night and is feeling good today.

Bob and Patti took a walk in the sun on this glorious day and the Vitamin D is good for all.  We’ll have a normal Sunday tomorrow then treatment starts again Monday morning.  Wait, that's not true.  Patti's college roommate Liz from Boston shows up tomorrow afternoon for a visit.  This will provide plenty of grins, guaranteed.

Patti wanted everyone to know they should not be afraid to call her directly now.  Maybe a text first would be smart.  She naps frequently, but otherwise she’s as good as ever.

Lastly, this blog has now received over 3100 page views which is incredibly gratifying to our family.  We all send big hugs.

Day One of Radiation

If Today’s Experience Was Given a Grade:  D-

 

 

First day jitters or bad luck or whatever, we had a rough morning.  After being told that ‘not everyone gets nausea on this chemo pill’ we proved that a lot of folks still do.  Patti was game but she just could not be confined into the claustrophobic mask while feeling like she did.  The staff at the radiation oncologist was as helpful as possible, but it finally took three hours and an injection to decide the treatment would not start today.  Kiley was with us and we think we know how to schedule these powerful drugs better.  

Since last we wrote, things have been quite good.  Patti has had several visitors including the Owings’, her cousin Betsy and a host of Connolly sisters from Augusta who bring such mirth they should bottle it.  Good wine has been enjoyed; free food and flowers galore are still showing up.  If you are interested, it’s the cards that make Patti really smile.

2795 Peachtree Rd., #2205, Atlanta, GA 30305

The photos here show Patti in her eventual radiation position.  The big grey machine in the background does the work.  Also we have a picture from last Friday night providing photographic evidence that friends can make anyone forget their troubles for awhile!