The Malady Lingers On
In My Bloodstream: Lisinopril, omeprazole
On The Stereo: Perhaps Love: John Denver, Placid Domingo
It was a busy week. Kath was off work for spring break, but medical issues threw us a curve. Kath's turn this time.
We got a call from the doctor who handles her auto-immune issues to advise her that her platelet count had dropped alarmingly and she needed to see her hematologist and get some additional blood work and a CT Scan to ensure that she was not bleeding internally. She did not have such a doctor, but she found one and had done what was needed. The diagnosis was ITP, condition of clumping platelets which they will now monitor closely.
Good friends, Bill and Susan Ennis arrived on Wednesday, from Toronto, to spend a few days with us. Kath was coughing badly, continually, the entire time they were here. Her immune system is compromised, and she just cannot kick any illness, colds included. We also, unexpectedly, had to drive to Naples for a rescheduled appointment with her rheumatologist on Friday. The Ennis' had to fend for themselves. We did not get home until 7:30 that evening. Thankfully, the Duggans took us all in for dinner that night.
Being under the weather, we entertained ourselves at home on Saturday. Knowing my love of music, George and Barb Van Fossen had purchased and had shipped from Holland, a DVD, a few months ago. It is Andre Rieu's, Falling in Love in Maastricht. The concert contains over 30 pieces of music, with a great orchestra, singers, dancers, costumes, and a most animated and happy audience. After dinner, I played it for our guests. We laughed, sang, and clapped along, and Bill and Sue spontaneously joined the dancers in a waltz by Strauss. Pretty sure they enjoyed it. All of it. Kath and I had no trouble watching and listening to it again.
We had late nights of reminiscing and not enough exercise. We will make it up this week. Our guests left after breakfast on Sunday. Sorry to se them go. Kat and I played our weekly golf game with Jim and Janis and headed to the Hannas for dinner. We set a date for a reciprocal dinner with them and, hopefully, the Senecas. Rieu will be played again. We will eventually sleep, but our times with friends are too good to miss. We are most fortunate.
Kath's cough is finally subsiding, and she left this morning, to teach. Break is over. Rest never happened.
I, too, am back at my computer.
I thought I had better tidy up where we left off, last week. We talked about two people with some uncanny abilities, who entered into my life.
There have, since, been two others with special abilities, and a touch of magic, at least for me. The first:
We were at the home of newer friends, Lisa and John Boyle, about a year ago. We were joined by Gayle, Lisa's twin sister, and we all prattled on about family and travel, our community, and eventually, about cancer. Gayle, as it turned out, was extremely religious and spends much of her life in missionary work, in dedication to those less fortunate.
We were taught a game called Farkle, and all five of us played our first game. For those who have not played this game, it is competitive, raucous and often rude. All of us were really engaged and each took turns giving others grief, not the least, being Gayle. She was spirited in her play, to say the least. I was slightly taken aback, as her chosen vocation would imply a more subdued outlook towards life. Nope. Not here and not now. In this game, she was making me less fortunate, and having a great time doing it. Her "needle" was endlessly inserted in my side. I'm sure it was equally done with others, but I was all about "me". We wasted a good couple of hours mostly laughing. More of our time needs to be lost, as we had done, that day.
We were saying our goodbyes, and expressing our thanks for the their hospitality and I was was walked to the door by Gayle, who put her arm around my waist and wished me well in my cancer fight. Her squeeze and sincerity caught me by surprise. When Kath and I got into our car, I immediately told her that something special had just happened. I had felt an undescibable spirituality in her hug, as we departed. I felt loved and peaceful. Knowingly or unknowingly, Gayle had passed on a gift. I am thankful, not just for that, but for her and people like her, who will make our world a better place.
Catherine Muir is a cousin of my bride. Her mom and dad were close to Kath in her younger days, and before we married, she insisted we visit them and their three daughters in Ottawa, as they all had been a large part of her life. Mary Catherine was their youngest. We had not seen or heard from her for years, although her sister, Susan, has spent a lot of time with us, and, to this day, we meet her and her terrific family, fairly regularly. That was made much easier by the fact that she and Tony, her husband, bought a condo on Marco Island, not far away from Fort Myers.
As luck would have it, Mary Catherine and her partner, Kelly, had taken a year off teaching to travel the world and participate in a program of volunteering. They had arrived back in the U.S. in May of 2014, and were using Susan's condo as a temporary home until they sorted out their lives. They had sold everything they had to finance their adventure, and now needed a new home, somewhere, and more importantly, jobs to continue their careers.
Catherine, as she was now known, called us. We were happy to hear from her, and we arranged to meet them for lunch the next day on Marco. They had no car yet and were somewhat limited in their possibilities of travel. We walked the beach with them, heard a great deal of their travels and continued exchanging stories over lunch and after. At one point, as we were arranging pictures, Catherine and I had our arms around each other. I felt her love immediately. I have given, received, and shared a lot of hugs in my long life. Each and every one, I appreciated. But this particular one was overwhelming in its sincerity. She clung to me and left no doubt in my mind that she truly cared. Catherine had grown from a shy little girl, to a somewhat reserved, but openly loving and caring adult. Kelly has found herself someone very special.
They have since settled in Vegas, married and continued onward in their careers. They, along with our girls, helped Kath celebrate her 65th in Sin City. I stayed home to make sure our lights were turned off at night.
Steph and Catherine celebrating Mom in Vegas, Feb. 28, 2016
And those four people, some friends, some strangers, have remained in my thoughts and in my heart. There is no doubt, whatsoever, that they have no idea of their power they hold, but they, each, helped me heal and gave me hope and love. Might have been caused by circumstance. Emotions, moods, expectations, random luck, health, and who knows what else. Stars aligned or lightning struck, fate intervened, who knows why I was touched. I cannot deny what I felt, and continue to feel. Each is imprinted in my memory. My life is better because of them.
I hope you, too, have had an opportunity to find something special, and perhaps unexpectedly, in your life. It can be passed on to you through a conversation or a hug. Or just a touch. You also could have the ability to provide that touch. I think it comes from the innate good we hold inside. Share it if you can.
Take a moment to make a call to someone this week. One of your friends or a family member might be waiting. Find a moment. Share your love.
Head wounds next week, if I can find some rest.
We got a call from the doctor who handles her auto-immune issues to advise her that her platelet count had dropped alarmingly and she needed to see her hematologist and get some additional blood work and a CT Scan to ensure that she was not bleeding internally. She did not have such a doctor, but she found one and had done what was needed. The diagnosis was ITP, condition of clumping platelets which they will now monitor closely.
Good friends, Bill and Susan Ennis arrived on Wednesday, from Toronto, to spend a few days with us. Kath was coughing badly, continually, the entire time they were here. Her immune system is compromised, and she just cannot kick any illness, colds included. We also, unexpectedly, had to drive to Naples for a rescheduled appointment with her rheumatologist on Friday. The Ennis' had to fend for themselves. We did not get home until 7:30 that evening. Thankfully, the Duggans took us all in for dinner that night.
Being under the weather, we entertained ourselves at home on Saturday. Knowing my love of music, George and Barb Van Fossen had purchased and had shipped from Holland, a DVD, a few months ago. It is Andre Rieu's, Falling in Love in Maastricht. The concert contains over 30 pieces of music, with a great orchestra, singers, dancers, costumes, and a most animated and happy audience. After dinner, I played it for our guests. We laughed, sang, and clapped along, and Bill and Sue spontaneously joined the dancers in a waltz by Strauss. Pretty sure they enjoyed it. All of it. Kath and I had no trouble watching and listening to it again.
We had late nights of reminiscing and not enough exercise. We will make it up this week. Our guests left after breakfast on Sunday. Sorry to se them go. Kat and I played our weekly golf game with Jim and Janis and headed to the Hannas for dinner. We set a date for a reciprocal dinner with them and, hopefully, the Senecas. Rieu will be played again. We will eventually sleep, but our times with friends are too good to miss. We are most fortunate.
Kath's cough is finally subsiding, and she left this morning, to teach. Break is over. Rest never happened.
I, too, am back at my computer.
I thought I had better tidy up where we left off, last week. We talked about two people with some uncanny abilities, who entered into my life.
There have, since, been two others with special abilities, and a touch of magic, at least for me. The first:
We were at the home of newer friends, Lisa and John Boyle, about a year ago. We were joined by Gayle, Lisa's twin sister, and we all prattled on about family and travel, our community, and eventually, about cancer. Gayle, as it turned out, was extremely religious and spends much of her life in missionary work, in dedication to those less fortunate.
We were taught a game called Farkle, and all five of us played our first game. For those who have not played this game, it is competitive, raucous and often rude. All of us were really engaged and each took turns giving others grief, not the least, being Gayle. She was spirited in her play, to say the least. I was slightly taken aback, as her chosen vocation would imply a more subdued outlook towards life. Nope. Not here and not now. In this game, she was making me less fortunate, and having a great time doing it. Her "needle" was endlessly inserted in my side. I'm sure it was equally done with others, but I was all about "me". We wasted a good couple of hours mostly laughing. More of our time needs to be lost, as we had done, that day.
We were saying our goodbyes, and expressing our thanks for the their hospitality and I was was walked to the door by Gayle, who put her arm around my waist and wished me well in my cancer fight. Her squeeze and sincerity caught me by surprise. When Kath and I got into our car, I immediately told her that something special had just happened. I had felt an undescibable spirituality in her hug, as we departed. I felt loved and peaceful. Knowingly or unknowingly, Gayle had passed on a gift. I am thankful, not just for that, but for her and people like her, who will make our world a better place.
Catherine Muir is a cousin of my bride. Her mom and dad were close to Kath in her younger days, and before we married, she insisted we visit them and their three daughters in Ottawa, as they all had been a large part of her life. Mary Catherine was their youngest. We had not seen or heard from her for years, although her sister, Susan, has spent a lot of time with us, and, to this day, we meet her and her terrific family, fairly regularly. That was made much easier by the fact that she and Tony, her husband, bought a condo on Marco Island, not far away from Fort Myers.
As luck would have it, Mary Catherine and her partner, Kelly, had taken a year off teaching to travel the world and participate in a program of volunteering. They had arrived back in the U.S. in May of 2014, and were using Susan's condo as a temporary home until they sorted out their lives. They had sold everything they had to finance their adventure, and now needed a new home, somewhere, and more importantly, jobs to continue their careers.
Catherine, as she was now known, called us. We were happy to hear from her, and we arranged to meet them for lunch the next day on Marco. They had no car yet and were somewhat limited in their possibilities of travel. We walked the beach with them, heard a great deal of their travels and continued exchanging stories over lunch and after. At one point, as we were arranging pictures, Catherine and I had our arms around each other. I felt her love immediately. I have given, received, and shared a lot of hugs in my long life. Each and every one, I appreciated. But this particular one was overwhelming in its sincerity. She clung to me and left no doubt in my mind that she truly cared. Catherine had grown from a shy little girl, to a somewhat reserved, but openly loving and caring adult. Kelly has found herself someone very special.
They have since settled in Vegas, married and continued onward in their careers. They, along with our girls, helped Kath celebrate her 65th in Sin City. I stayed home to make sure our lights were turned off at night.
Steph and Catherine celebrating Mom in Vegas, Feb. 28, 2016
And those four people, some friends, some strangers, have remained in my thoughts and in my heart. There is no doubt, whatsoever, that they have no idea of their power they hold, but they, each, helped me heal and gave me hope and love. Might have been caused by circumstance. Emotions, moods, expectations, random luck, health, and who knows what else. Stars aligned or lightning struck, fate intervened, who knows why I was touched. I cannot deny what I felt, and continue to feel. Each is imprinted in my memory. My life is better because of them.
I hope you, too, have had an opportunity to find something special, and perhaps unexpectedly, in your life. It can be passed on to you through a conversation or a hug. Or just a touch. You also could have the ability to provide that touch. I think it comes from the innate good we hold inside. Share it if you can.
Take a moment to make a call to someone this week. One of your friends or a family member might be waiting. Find a moment. Share your love.
Head wounds next week, if I can find some rest.
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