One of my doodles years ago.
“Winners never quit and quitters never win.” –Vince Lombardi
Dave continues to improve daily with his femur fracture. His PT person is pushing him within reason and chats about the why and what of it. She’s very encouraging. Today she said when he said he wasn’t doing 30 of each exercise, “If you were doing that, Dave, you wouldn’t need me at all!” She also gave me another tip with the shower transfer bench so that the water runs back into the tub instead of on the floor. It’s all these little things she things to shares that have been extremely helpful.
Yesterday we did two scans. One to check Dave’s lesion load; he’s been complaining about his shoulders being sore. Is it wheeling himself in the wheelchair or something more sinister? This is always the burden of a Myeloma patient and his doctor. Is it real or Memorex! He also got a brain scan as a baseline. When Dave is admitted the day before he receives his cells, he will get a full neurological workup. Again, to have a baseline. We feel cared for during this process. That our team is both vigilant and diligent. Since it will be Halloween, I will sneak over to Spirit of Halloween and pick something fun to surprise Dave. Humor is the best medicine.
Dave enjoying his new wheels
Also, on Saturday, I asked Dave if we could go out to Brewski’s for wings and a beer and watch the Razorbacks play with the local fans. He wasn’t all that interested at first. But I said, “Look, it’s a beautiful day, and in less than two weeks, we will be in total lockdown. A week in the hospital, and then your numbers will bottom out and be slow to recover. We won’t be eating out or going out. So let’s go out while we can and enjoy the charm of the people of Little Rock. But if you don’t want to, it’s OK. We can watch the game here.” An hour later, he said, “OK, let’s go!” On our way out the door, he said, “I’d like to try and drive my new car.” Well, alright then! We tooled around the parking lot, and then he announced, “I can do this. Plugin Brewski’s, and let’s go!” So off we went. Thank goodness for his handicap placard. We got to park close. Then later, the Director of Goodness Village, Kim Burket, called “Are you still at Brewski’s?” She dropped by, and we finally got to meet in person. It was wonderful.
Lori, Dave, Kim
Things continue to move along here, and our days are quite pleasant. The apartment gets trashed in a hot minute at times and then cleans up in two! Right now, I have a sink full of dishes from baking banana bread and making a lovely salmon and rice dinner with a wonderful salad. I’ll be making some soups and freezing as we head into the end of next week when Dave heads into the hospital. It will make things easier when he is outpatient, and his appetite may not be as robust as it is now. Plus, soups get cooked to death in the crockpot and are safe for him to eat when his immune system bottoms out.
We got word today that his T Cells are on schedule to arrive at UAMS tomorrow and that they met every protocol! Such stellar news. With everything he went thru to get his immune system boosted, going off treatment, the femur break, and all that, to hear that he got enough cells and they were all viable music to my ears. The excitement is getting hard to contain in the Myeloma Institute, and I’m glad for their enthusiasm. We’ll see Dr. VanRhee one more time mid-week and then at admission.
I feel like it will all be here in the blink of an eye. So I’m hoping we get out this weekend and do something fun. I gave Dave a slew of things we could do before we head into serious lockdown. Hopefully, he’ll pick something and be willing to have a modest adventure. The fall weather is lovely here right now, if not a little fickle. Chilly in the mornings and evenings and then a bit warm in the afternoon. But pretty east coast fall perfect.
Dave’s father is busy and enjoying his time with our son and daughter-in-law in Stockton. Angelica’s brother, Edwin, arrived from Colombia with his son Antonio. They will stay a month or so and help Angelica with getting the house organized and the baby’s room set up properly. Sal (Dave’s Dad) enjoys bowling league with Hudson once a week and taking on small projects. He’s very handy, and it’s been fantastic for him to feel productive. His Spanish is pretty good, so that he can converse well with Hudson’s workers and Edwin and Antonio. I’m sad I will miss Edwin and his son as they will head back before we make it home. These are things I cannot control, no matter how much I wish I could. Angelica does a stellar job of sending me photos and video clips of all the things going on, and it keeps me connected.
