Durable -- Word for the Day - Wed. May 28, 2008

Durable
DEFINITION: (adjective) long lasting.

Since our discovery of Chemo Sabe's illness beginning on April 10, I have reflected on the first realization of my feelings 22 years ago at the start of our relationship. I was standing on a street corner after an accident in which the only vehicle I ever had worth anything was totalled. I only had one more payment on it and, boom, he had totaled it in a matter of seconds. I asked myself then, "Are you going to stick around in the hard times as well as the good? Or, are you going to take the easy way out and walk away?" I have never regretted the decision I made that day. We became "Durable".

We had a good day except for the waiting. We arrived for our appointment at 11:00 a.m. sharp. Chemo Sabe has been doing exceptionally well with his timeliness. Today was probably because I took him to work with me! ha.

He had lab, paperwork, medication instructions and then down to the Infusion Center. Our appointment there was 1:00 p.m. and we got there at 2:50 p.m. Not our fault. We got to our vehicle at 4:00 p.m. Just in time for the evening interstate rush traffic.

Our waiting time is usually never boring even when the time is long. We can be sitting and staring at the same thing (person) and then we look at each other without saying a word and roll our eyes or start laughing.

When we got to one check in station today the nurse was asking questions. One of the questions she asked was, "Do you have any symptoms?" He looked at her and said, "Yes, I do --- Fear". We all laughed. I could imagine Easton saying, "Well, yeah."

We had been waiting in a little room for about 30 minutes for a RN to return with prescription authorizations. We had already been in this room for 1-1/2 hours with another person. When the RN entered she asked, "Jim Rice?". We said, "No". She apologized and started for the door. We laughed and she realized we were teasing.

So, you see. We are "Durable" by out attitudes. We aren't kidding ourselves that there will be some days we will not feel so positive about the long waits. We see how other act. Good for the most part. But, when our bad days come, we will remember the light at the end of the tunnel.

He will be taking five medications beginning tomorrow. Four are antibiotics and anti-fungal and the fifth is a steriod, of which he will take ten (10) a day. The pharmacist wanted to make certain we knew the (10) wasn't a typo.

We get a day off tomorrow and return on Friday for the port, more lab work and more instructions. Then on Saturday we get the bag to carry for four days. We will have to return to the hospital every 24 hours until June 3. We have a follow up with the doctor on June 6.

Chemo Sabe has to fill out a "Smiley Face" sheet each day on how he feels. I am certain today it will be marked, "Great".

We are so lucky to have you all. We are so lucky to be able to get treatment so close to home. We have met only a few from Arkansas, but the rest are miles and miles from home. We are the fortunate ones.

We found out today what stage Chemo Sabe is in. He is a Stage IIa. I know you are just hanging on to the edge of your seats waiting for the medical definition. Stage IIa is greater than a Stage I and lesser than a Stage III. We heard it from the horse's mouth and it is even written in the book. Now you know the rest of the story. On our way out we ran into a man and his wife we met at the cancer party two weeks ago. They might get to go home this week. He was in Stage IIIa when they discovered his.

A new tenant in the "Care" house across the street from church was diagnosed when his kidneys failed last year. He has dialysis every day and was in the hospital all last week with high fever due to infection. He may get to go home this week. We are fortunate.

We are retiring for the evening. We are both working tomorrow. And, we are both glad we are working. Takes our minds off things.

Again, we are so grateful to each of you for your prayers, for making us laugh and for making us "Durable". Love, Pepper