The kindness and encouragement that I have received from you readers has been strengthening... and Weakening! Emotions are raw - especially in the days following chemo. This is a difficult journey. I hope by sharing, I will also gain some clarity and vision.
I do NOT feel particularly "brave" or courageous walking this walk. It is what I need to do. It's the path in front of me that can't be denied. I am not alone. By bringing you with me, I am sharing the burden!
Many of you have mentioned the importance of family and friends and hoping that the boys are offering support. They ARE! I only started with the my diagnosis and John DeWeese's phenomenal support to set the bigger stage of what is going on here!
Before MY diagnosis the boys had to muster up major courage and face another tough piece of reality. We all became closer, more open and vulnerable, and much more appreciative of each other five weeks before My diagnosis... because there is more of this story that must be told - more that makes it seem like one huge nightmare!
But first - a picture of happier times - of the team!
I do NOT feel particularly "brave" or courageous walking this walk. It is what I need to do. It's the path in front of me that can't be denied. I am not alone. By bringing you with me, I am sharing the burden!
Many of you have mentioned the importance of family and friends and hoping that the boys are offering support. They ARE! I only started with the my diagnosis and John DeWeese's phenomenal support to set the bigger stage of what is going on here!
Before MY diagnosis the boys had to muster up major courage and face another tough piece of reality. We all became closer, more open and vulnerable, and much more appreciative of each other five weeks before My diagnosis... because there is more of this story that must be told - more that makes it seem like one huge nightmare!
But first - a picture of happier times - of the team!
 |
| The family at Will and Katharine Ann's wedding May 2014 John, Tyler, K.A and Will, Me, David Sr and David Jr. |
On Monday, June 20th I called David - the DAD - to see how he was doing. He had been feeling poorly for awhile and was not getting any answers for his increased fatigue and back pain. He told me he had to go to the emergency room right away because something had shown up on his blood test. After establishing that he should NOT be driving himself, I picked him up and we proceeded to St. Francis Hospital in Hartford. After a full day in the ER, many tests, Xrays and Doctors, David was diagnosed with Multiple Myloma, Kidney failure and oxygen issues. He was in very poor shape with little strength.
The next two weeks were as blur as I spent most of my time at the hospital. Will, K.A., and Janet - Dave's sister were there as well. It was hard to stabilize him with all the variable out of wack. He was in and out of intensive care, consciousness , and (we felt) life. After the first week he became delirious and seemed to be going down hill too fast. I called the boys home and they all arrived within 24 hours - petrified and knowing not what to expect. After a couple more days of delirium Dave started coming around, recognizing that all had gathered. With the panic in his eyes, and the encouragement that "the Team" had gathered to help him fight the fight, he slowly started coming around. I believe their being there gave him strength and courage to keep up the fight.
John and Tyler staid a week, Davey two. Great that they could take the time off from their responsibilities. David Sr moved from floor to floor in the hospital for the next month - ER, heart, Cancer, Kidney... whatever was the issue of the time, and there were many. After a month he went to a rehab facility to gain strength - but got pneumonia and was back at St Francis by the end of August. More of this incident later - let's focus on Dave here.
Dave is receiving Dialysis three times a week and Chemo once a week. As of two weeks ago he was liberated from hospitals and Rehab facilities. Although he can not take care of himself yet, he is happy to be living with his sister who is taking great care of him. He is getting stronger every day eating real food and breathing fresh air!
This IS a family affair. Having four boys home and tensions running high with fears of death, loss, unknown, we were all held together with our love for each other and great concern. We all spent time every day in the hospital sitting with David, talking to Doctors, trying to make some sense of what we were experiencing.
During the first two weeks i would occasionally get a text from John D. telling me that he was in the lobby of the hospital... just in case I needed him! OMG. Amazing support. And I did need him. We all needed him. He helped us all understand some of the medical information we were getting as well as keep us calm and focused. He asked pertinent questions that we wouldn't have know to ask. We were each very grateful to have his input.
But there is MORE. During these first five weeks - and especially during the times the boys from out of town were around, John FED them - either at a restaurant near the hospital or (more frequently) he cooked dinner at his house! Every evening we would gather around a meal and recap the day, talk about our feeling and reactions and ask more questions - while getting the needed sustenance to face the next challenge. BTW - did I mention that John is a fabulous cook?
During this whole time, I am unknowing that there is a wicked demon of similar ilk lurking in MY body, yet to be discovered.
The next two weeks were as blur as I spent most of my time at the hospital. Will, K.A., and Janet - Dave's sister were there as well. It was hard to stabilize him with all the variable out of wack. He was in and out of intensive care, consciousness , and (we felt) life. After the first week he became delirious and seemed to be going down hill too fast. I called the boys home and they all arrived within 24 hours - petrified and knowing not what to expect. After a couple more days of delirium Dave started coming around, recognizing that all had gathered. With the panic in his eyes, and the encouragement that "the Team" had gathered to help him fight the fight, he slowly started coming around. I believe their being there gave him strength and courage to keep up the fight.
John and Tyler staid a week, Davey two. Great that they could take the time off from their responsibilities. David Sr moved from floor to floor in the hospital for the next month - ER, heart, Cancer, Kidney... whatever was the issue of the time, and there were many. After a month he went to a rehab facility to gain strength - but got pneumonia and was back at St Francis by the end of August. More of this incident later - let's focus on Dave here.
Dave is receiving Dialysis three times a week and Chemo once a week. As of two weeks ago he was liberated from hospitals and Rehab facilities. Although he can not take care of himself yet, he is happy to be living with his sister who is taking great care of him. He is getting stronger every day eating real food and breathing fresh air!
This IS a family affair. Having four boys home and tensions running high with fears of death, loss, unknown, we were all held together with our love for each other and great concern. We all spent time every day in the hospital sitting with David, talking to Doctors, trying to make some sense of what we were experiencing.
During the first two weeks i would occasionally get a text from John D. telling me that he was in the lobby of the hospital... just in case I needed him! OMG. Amazing support. And I did need him. We all needed him. He helped us all understand some of the medical information we were getting as well as keep us calm and focused. He asked pertinent questions that we wouldn't have know to ask. We were each very grateful to have his input.
But there is MORE. During these first five weeks - and especially during the times the boys from out of town were around, John FED them - either at a restaurant near the hospital or (more frequently) he cooked dinner at his house! Every evening we would gather around a meal and recap the day, talk about our feeling and reactions and ask more questions - while getting the needed sustenance to face the next challenge. BTW - did I mention that John is a fabulous cook?
During this whole time, I am unknowing that there is a wicked demon of similar ilk lurking in MY body, yet to be discovered.
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