I'M BACK!
Some time ago a close friend of mine said about me:"You're constitutionally attuned to look for the silver lining even in the midst of a mess." I laughed in agreement because I recognized the truth of that for most of my life including the years of these illnesses. However, as you know from previous entries, it has definitely not been true for the past several weeks. Then yesterday I returned to taking the dexamethasone, the steroids, and I felt like I had returned to myself. In addition to that I had a good seven to seven and a half hours sleep with minimum medication. I was up by 7:30 and went for a mile and a half walk. I am delighted!
I have just returned from a week in Boston where I saw all my specialists and some of my friends. It was a very busy week. I was still not in very good shape, mostly very tired. I had a bone marrow test that was not very painful and the results of which I will learn later this week. My cardiologist visit went well with me dropping two heaving medications I've taken for seven years. And the kidney appointment was spent mostly discussing peritoneal dialysis since I am at 13% kidney functioning and dialysis usually starts about 10%. But then the nephrologist said that he saw a patient that day who was at 5% and still going strong. And I thought: "That would be me!"(As long as I can maintain my positive mood and attitude)
Speaking of positive moods, I was recently thrilled to hear from my former teacher and current friend, Malidoma Some, that he had read my blog while he was in Bobo, Burkina Faso in West Africa. I had spent part of four different years there with him before I was diagnosed and social conditions are rudimentary, to say the least. Malidoma is a shaman who brings the spiritual knowledge and ritual practices of his native Africa to the United States and Europe. I met him many years ago at a workshop in Cambridge, Mass and then again in a year-long training in African rituals that we did in the Berkshire Mountains in Massachusetts. I am also pleased to know that the blog is read by a friend in Ireland. It is just nice to know about this global readership but the truth is that I am deeply gratified to know that people anywhere do read what I write and find inspiration, amusement, or comfort in my words. I love to receive emails that inform me of people's reactions; it is a central part of the Love in Cancer; A Love Story.
Some time ago a close friend of mine said about me:"You're constitutionally attuned to look for the silver lining even in the midst of a mess." I laughed in agreement because I recognized the truth of that for most of my life including the years of these illnesses. However, as you know from previous entries, it has definitely not been true for the past several weeks. Then yesterday I returned to taking the dexamethasone, the steroids, and I felt like I had returned to myself. In addition to that I had a good seven to seven and a half hours sleep with minimum medication. I was up by 7:30 and went for a mile and a half walk. I am delighted!
I have just returned from a week in Boston where I saw all my specialists and some of my friends. It was a very busy week. I was still not in very good shape, mostly very tired. I had a bone marrow test that was not very painful and the results of which I will learn later this week. My cardiologist visit went well with me dropping two heaving medications I've taken for seven years. And the kidney appointment was spent mostly discussing peritoneal dialysis since I am at 13% kidney functioning and dialysis usually starts about 10%. But then the nephrologist said that he saw a patient that day who was at 5% and still going strong. And I thought: "That would be me!"(As long as I can maintain my positive mood and attitude)
Speaking of positive moods, I was recently thrilled to hear from my former teacher and current friend, Malidoma Some, that he had read my blog while he was in Bobo, Burkina Faso in West Africa. I had spent part of four different years there with him before I was diagnosed and social conditions are rudimentary, to say the least. Malidoma is a shaman who brings the spiritual knowledge and ritual practices of his native Africa to the United States and Europe. I met him many years ago at a workshop in Cambridge, Mass and then again in a year-long training in African rituals that we did in the Berkshire Mountains in Massachusetts. I am also pleased to know that the blog is read by a friend in Ireland. It is just nice to know about this global readership but the truth is that I am deeply gratified to know that people anywhere do read what I write and find inspiration, amusement, or comfort in my words. I love to receive emails that inform me of people's reactions; it is a central part of the Love in Cancer; A Love Story.
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