It’s Been a While ….

Hello Everybody, It’s spring; so let’s make it a good one, a spring that’s springing with love and happiness!  Does that sound optimistic and cheery?  I guess so; but, you know, I’m really not positive every single second.  In fact, lately, I’ve had more down days than up; but May has long been my month of celebrations — there’s Mother’s Day, there’s my Anniversary and Paul’s, there’s my Birthday, and then there’s the start of nice weather.  Believe me, it’s no fun to have cancer — but it’s even less fun to get eaten up with gloom and doom — so remind me from time to time to look over my gratitude list.

[Post from Paul] And now … for something completely different!

Yesterday, at about 2:30 am, our family was awakened by the sound of the doorbell ringing insistently.  I managed to shake the sleep out of my body, check that Pam — lying next to me in the bed — was all right (actually, she was awake and urging me to answer the door) and haul my pajama clad self toward the front of our house where I was met by a man in uniform who identified himself as a member of the Boston Police and told me he needed to come in.

“We’re pursuing a dangerous suspect.  He may be right here in your home.”

Of course, I allowed him to enter.

Recovery Update — Thirteen Days Out

Loved ones,

Who ever knows what the future has in store?  I certainly wouldn’t have guessed, while we were all celebrating Independence Day last year, that I had two brain surgeries heading my way over the next eight months.  You know that commercial on TV, the one for AT&T where that guy is sitting around with a bunch of kids, asking if “two is better”?  He’d better be careful before he asks me — I might give him an answer he doesn’t want to hear!

[Post from Paul] Home Again, Home Again

Make no mistake about it.  I’m beat.  Pam is beat.  Liqa is beat.  Just the same, though, we’re all home!!!!

Turn’s out that Pam’s three day hospital stay was a two day stay.  Surprised?  I sure am!  Pleased?  Very much!  Pam is in wonderful shape.  She’s getting around easily, her pain is well managed by her meds, she looks good and she’s home.

Who’da thunk it???

[Paul's Live Blog -- 7:15 pm] Dahling, You Look Mahhhhvelous!!

Liqa and I got in to see Pam in the Neuro ICU.  She was beat, she was thirsty, she was hurting from the surgery, but she looked so strong.  We spoke for a short while and she was happy to see us, but she wanted to go to sleep.  She’s not going to be interested in seeing visitors for a while.

We’re both back home.  I’m grateful to have a real computer to blog from.  I’m going to have some dinner, get some sleep, and then get back to Pam around midnight.  I’ll stay with her overnight and then Liqa will relieve me in the morning.

[Paul's Live Blog -- 4:31 pm] Rejoice With Us!

Dr. Johnson came down in his surgical scrubs to tell us that he removed the tumor successfully, and that Pam “was great”.  I asked him if he got it all.

“Basically,” he explained, “the frontier of the tumor is up against a ventricle and we didn’t want to disturb that, but the bulk of it is gone.  We got everything we’d hoped to get.”

We’ve been told we’ll be able to go up to the 9th floor to see Pam in about 45 minutes.  I feel relieved, and I feel grateful.  Grateful to live in Boston, near so many great hospitals; grateful to have such a resilient wife; grateful for my fabulous family and my fabulous friends; grateful for all of your prayers.

Pam told me, before she went in, that she never feels alone.  Part of the reason is that you all love her so much — another part of the reason is that she’s learned to let people love her.

I can’t wait to see her!

Paul

[Paul's Live Blog -- 3:48 pm] Anticipation, Anticipa-aa-tion

Well, we know more about the new Pope than we know about Pam’s surgery.  The pope may be the only person in the world being prayed for more than Pam.

Dr. Johnson still hasn’t come down to talk.  I don’t know what that means.  When they said they were “wrapping up” the surgery were they 100% sure they were done?  I’m trying not to speculate.  Speculation will just lead me down a dark alley.

My Mom’s here now, as is my brother Steven.  We’ve said some prayers, told some jokes, reminisced about Steven’s 4th Grade basketball exploits, basically been behaving like Bradfords.  Thank heaven the knitting group has broken up!

It’s now about 6 1/2 hours since Pam went into surgery.  I miss her!

Paul