The Hope Lodge

It was a hectic two weeks preparing for our move, but things are in order at the office.....thanks to the help of a lot of good people.  My sister, Michele, is moving into our house to care for the cats and the house, and she takes on the full load for caring for our brother, Bobby, in my absence.  Without her, I don't know where we would be.

And so, on November 17, John had his 1st radiation treatment, along with a low-dose chemo (which he'll receive once a week), a combination they've apparently found to be very effective.

We checked in to the Hope Lodge early that evening.  What an amazing place!!!  A beautiful Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired building with about 30 private bedrooms/baths for those undergoing cancer treatment/surgery, along with family members and/or caretakers.  In addition to the private areas, there are several TV-viewing areas, a beautiful livingroom w/fireplace, a library, a workout room, a large kitchen w/5 cooking stations, and a dining room.  We're all provided with our own refrigerator, freezer, and pantry spaces for food storage.

Last evening (11/21) some of the ladies got together and prepared a spaghetti dinner, complete with salad and garlic bread, for all of us to share.  Dinner was followed by entertainment provided by a group of University of Akron students who are involved with the Akron Cares organization.  It was great of them to come and give us all a couple hours of fun and laughter.

The people staying here at the Lodge are all shapes, sizes, colors, and from all walks of life.  So far we've met people from North Carolina, Fort Wayne, IN, Bradford, PA, Erie, PA, Michigan, Buffalo, NY...and various points in Ohio.....to name a few.  You might think it would be a very sad place to be, but in many ways it is just the opposite.  It's comforting to talk with others and compare "notes", but there is also a lot of laughter and such positive attitudes.  You quickly realize that, no matter how difficult your situation, there's always someone else in worse circumstances.  Being here has already been SUCH a learning experience.

John and I have decided that, during these early weeks while he still feels up to it, we are going to take advantage of some of the great museums within walking distance.  To that end, today we spent the afternoon at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens, since it was too gray and rainy to be outside.  Might as well make the most of the time we'll spend here.