David & Montana 2007 Graduation
“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life — It goes on. —Robert Frost”
This photo was taken in May 2007, a year before Dave’s MM diagnosis on the lovely day of our youngest’s HS Graduation. This May she will graduate from College!
Good news. Dave has had a sudden burst of continuous physical energy. A HUGE hurdle it seems has somehow lessened in his daily life. He has been tackling some of his move-in projects, of which there are still many. If you visited our home you would think we were adequately moved in, but just don’t open closets, look under beds, or in the garage! We still have much to do and it can frustrate me at times, but I have learned to “let it go”.
Dave still has work to do on his body. Working to gain back some muscle mass and lose about 25 pounds. But like the move-in, we have learned to “let it go” in the sense that it is simply not going to be a daily stress, but one that we just work on, when we can, to chip away at, bit by bit.
He continues with his weekly Velcade infusions and daily Revlimid (he’s moved to the 21 day cycle at 15 mg vs the 28 day cycle at 10 mg). He is tolerating it well.
He still sighs and huffs and puffs a bit. I heard him doing this a lot this morning. Simple things like getting dressed can still be something that takes physical energy… the bending, tying of shoes, lack of flexibility, etc. Either that, or he is thinking about his work day. Who knows really… I’m just ever aware of such things a caregiver, much like when my kids were teeny. Noticing, surreptitiously watching, evaluating, surmising – rightly or wrongly making assumptions, putting pieces together to see how they are doing. Overall, Dave is doing amazingly well. He is happy, laughing, putzing around, living his life.
She has ARRIVED!
Our daughter is having a Senior Day acknowledgement in a couple weeks at her last home meet at Maryland. Childhood family photos were requested for the event. Dave decided we couldn’t both afford to go and Montana, not wanting to hurt my feelings, asked if her Daddy could come. He has missed so much of her college diving, while I have been out a couple of times. She absolutely did not hurt my feelings, I was thinking the exact same thing. When I broke the news to Dave his shoulders sagged and he sighed, followed with a smirking, somewhat suppressed grin. He then began to puff up with a big smirking grin, “Ha! She wants ME!” I found it all delightful and PERFECT.
The end of February we travel to Little Rock for our 6 month check up. A few days of pokes, prods, scans, and blood sucking. We always enjoy going. Sounds strange I suppose. But this is where we spent the better part of a year on and off, making friends, learning the town, having a rough road with loads of love and support along the way. Its a little like going home to a small town where you see familiar faces bursting into wide grins as you meander down the hall. Hugs, handshakes, “How are you doing? You look fabulous!” Moving from the frightened freshman in HS to the wise graduate returning to say hello. We reach out to others beginning their journey, offering what we can to give hope and inspiration – you’ll get through this. Of course, we know not everyone will, but you don’t know who will and who won’t, but that more are, day by day the research continues to improve the odds. I think I mentioned once before on one of our visits, a patient said, “Wait. Which one of you has Myeloma?” Boy was that fabulous. Dave was buoyed all day from that one.
So as I post, and write, and make new friends online, I thought some of you just might enjoy hearing about Dave for change. How he’s doing… he is doing really well. We don’t know what the future will bring, but then who does, about anything. We can only put it out there, what we want, work towards it and do our best to enjoy what we are doing and having hopes and dreams.
“WORRYING does not take away tomorrow’s TROUBLES, it takes away today’s PEACE.” – Unknown
Love it Lori! Great to hear Dave is doing well and steadily getting better. Love the photos too. Thinking of you….