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Hello again,

Papa and I got home about noon today.  He is very glad to be home!  So far he is settling well.  Kari was here to help us.

He has decided not to do the radiation and chemotherapy.  He was wavering a bit and two days ago decided not to do it.  That day he woke up and his speech had gone almost back to the level it was when he entered rehab.  He had been getting slightly weaker also.  Yesterday I asked the doctor to get a CT scan done to see if there was bleeding or swelling in the brain.  That was done and showed no signs of either.  The radiation oncologist said he should be put back on a higher dose of steroids.  That is beginning today.  We’ll see if that helps.  Also, his platelets are low and chemo would likely lower them more.  So, we are trusting the Lord for His will!  One day at a time!  

I got two plaques from the rehab gift shop that I think are very appropriate for us that I will be setting on the kitchen counter for us to remember:  

     “Don’t count the days, Make the days count”  and

     “I know it’s what I said, but it’s not what I meant”

Thanks for your continued prayers.  We’ll probably need them more than I even realize now!

Oh, tomorrow we have an appointment with the neurosurgeon and next week with Papa’s heart doctor.  They will have to continue the balancing game between what he needs for his heart and his brain.  In a couple days, a nurse will be visiting to set up home therapy–speech, PT and OT and nursing.

Love and gratefulness,   Nana

 

My Reflections:

Today I catch J Jr. reading to Little M:

Does my heart good.

Later, I meet up with Nana & Papa at their house.  Papa is back home!  I help get him settled in (not that there’s really much that I do, but it feels better being there and making sure everything is okay).

I ask Papa if he’s okay with me starting a blog about his journey with cancer, about what the days ahead will look like (I figure getting his permission is the right thing to do, but I don’t mention that I already wrote my first post last night).  I explain to him how I was looking for stories about people with his type of cancer and how I couldn’t find much; how I wanted to write this story so others could know about what it might possibly look like.  Papa said something to the effect of “Sure!, no problem.  Feel free to write about the good, the bad and the ugly.  You can even tell them I’m more like C Bear & Little M now [in the way I talk & act].”

That evening after dinner, after I’ve returned home, our neighbors graciously watch J Jr. & C Bear so J & I can go for a walk with Little M in a nearby park.  To just walk and talk and get away for a bit.

Walking, & talking, & getting away for a bit… while Nana & Papa are back at their home; walking & talking & “getting away for a bit” no longer being things they can take for granted.

Glad Papa is finally home.  Glad Papa is in such caring & patient hands.  Kudos to Nurse Nana!