It’s time for another quick update on Jack. Hooray – he is doing exceedingly well! Two weeks ago we went to the local department store at the mall and bought him some new pants – and this week we went out and he bought a sport coat. He is looking pretty spiffy, I’d say! And his eating has improved: he enjoys meals, though he sometimes forgets it’s time to eat… and he still doesn’t enjoy beef or chicken; they are too dry for his tastes, as he still hasn’t recovered the ability to generate much saliva. Nonetheless, after regaining 10 of the 100 pounds he’d lost, I declared that he’d better watch out before the only thing I buy to put in the refrigerator was salad! He is getting around much better and using his wheelchair more for balance (by pushing it) than riding. I cannot believe how great he is doing – and my gosh, he is going to need his first haircut in months very soon! That truly astonishes me – and is probably much more than symbolic in defining his recovery.
Jack’s back pain still exists – but it is manageable with drugs. He actually stopped taking any pain pills at all for a week and a half – but I decided he was a little too cranky – the pain inhibited his ability to enjoy standing or walking much at all, much less sitting upright for any extended period of time. He is now back on a low dose of pain killers – and much happier for it.
This past Wednesday, Jack had an appointment with his oncologist. She decided to start him on a new chemotherapy that will hopefully arrest the growth in his cancer that lab tests revealed this week. Keep the prayers coming, please. The miracle workers at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center can use all the help we throw Jack’s way!
We are enjoying the summer by staying indoors most of the time – Jack has fallen into a pattern of watching a new movie most evenings. It’s a nice time to relax and I can usually do some catch-up work while the movies play. Despite the fact that he usually only has one trip to M.D. Anderson a week, between my work and his care, time still remains at a premium for me. With the chemotherapy, the trips downtown will increase, as he has to be tested more frequently for side-effects evidenced in his blood counts.
Bushels of thanks go to my quilting friends who are keeping me afloat – Jerrianne E, Cynthia C, and Marsha F, in particular, have been angels in my life in helping me meet my commitments. I may hate Jack’s disease, but it has shown me over and over that many of our friends have extraordinarily huge hearts. Thanks to everyone for your help, your prayers, and your friendship – we remain in your debt!
With love,
Jack and Sue
