It's Valentine's Day

Following Tuesday's treatment, we had our weekly visit with Dr. Yao, which resulted in a modification of the pain med dosage.  This change has significantly reduced the pain, which allows John to get some quality rest during naps and overnight.  He does, however, say that he feels a bit "goony" when he takes the full dosage of 10mg.....I wonder if he means "goonier" than usual?  Hmmm!

We enjoyed our weekly"potluck" dinner here at the Lodge last evening.  The staff provided a huge turkey which roasted all afternoon, and the residents completed the meal by adding side dishes:  mashed potatoes/gravy, stuffing, corn souffle, steamed veggies, and a myriad of desserts.  It smelled like Thanksgiving!!!  It was a wonderful evening of good food & fellowship with a great group of people.

We were, however, saddened by the news one of our fellow residents received yesterday.  Her husband has been battling lung cancer and has now been given possibly 6 months to live.  He'll be released from the hospital tomorrow & transported home, where Hospice will step in and try to make their remaining time together as pleasant as possible.  The amazing part is how all the lodge residents, once they heard the news, pulled together around her, providing any support we could.  We may be battling different cancers, but are together in this journey and are constantly aware that "there, but for the grace of God, go I".

It's Valentine's Day......a day of romance, a day to express your love for the special person in  your life.  I am blessed to be married to a man who does not wait for this one day a year, but expresses his love daily, in so many different ways.  Hope Lodge is not where I would choose to spend the day, but as long as we're together, we can celebrate Valentine's Day anywhere.

We look forward to tomorrow, as John receives his final radiation treatment in this 4-week round, and we can head back home to a life that resembles something close to "normal".  It will be a couple months before they re-scan and we know how successful this treatment has been, as radiation continues work for that long after the last treatment.  So, for now at least, we'll have a break from treatment and a chance to live life.

This evening, we held a "Town Hall" meeting at the Hope Lodge.  A few of us "more experienced" residents were able to pass on things we've learned over our various stays to some of the newer residents......info about Hope Lodge, the various weekly happenings, and how things work around here, as well as things we've learned along the way which make navigating this journey through the cancer world easier, whether being treated at UH or Cleveland Clinic.  Things like transportation schedules, financial help programs, well-being programs for both patient & caregiver, etc.  Normally it takes some time to get acclimated and learn about all this.  I remember the fear, the feeling of being totally over-whelmed, the "deer-in-the-headlights" feeling when we first arrived here & began treatment 15 months ago, so we felt it might be our way of giving back a little if we could make the journey a bit easier for those who follow us.  After all, we're all in the same boat.