Wednesday, June 24, 2009

It's all good...

We got good news from the doctor this morning... Mike gets to taper down again from the steroid! If he has any symptoms like he was having before his surgery, he is to up the dosage immediately. We are praying for no headaches, dizziness or numbness. The doctor told us again today how fortunate we are that Mike's tumor was able to be removed and there were good margins around it. My anxiety level was not nearly as great at this morning's visit.

Mike volunteered this morning to talk to other patients who may be concerned about going through the kind of radiation he is dealing with. The doctor and nurse both were amazed that Mike is so positive, and looks at the radiation therapy (having his head bolted to the table with a mask) as he does. He said he considers it wonderful to have his head PERFECTLY still so the radiation can be administered perfectly. He uses the time to meditate and especially think of beautiful things like the sea. (I think he is getting ready for vacation!) They were pleased for his willingness to share his thoughts with others. They said explaining the process is so much better coming from a person who has experienced it rather than those who administer it.

We read this quote this morning and thought we would pass it along.

"Every life has peaks and shadows and times when it seems that the birds don't sing and bells don't ring. Yet in spite of discouragement and adversity, those who are happiest seem to have a way of learning from difficult times, becoming stronger, wiser, and happier as a result."
Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Come What May, and Love It," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 26

We are happier than we have ever been for our lives together. We are becoming stronger.

3 comments:

  1. This is indeed, great news! Everything seems to be moving in the right direction. I am so encouraged by the positive attitude that you and Mike posess. I continue to pray for you and for Mike's recovery.
    Kyle

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  2. Wednesday was wonderful for me! I so enjoyed being able to attend the conference with missionaries from the northern half of the state in the afternoon. We also were able to visit a project site in Tipton on the way home, so Nancy earned some more mileage money while I got in a couple billable hours of work. Nancy has cooked so much and so well this week, that I took her to dinner out last night. We had an opportunity to share privately some future planning issues we had not discussed in a setting outside home. It was a great start to some further discussion and planning for our futures.

    I also received a package yesterday from a fellow who had written a tribute book-biography to his lovely wife who died in 1986 of breast cancer. I read about 1/3 of it and Nancy will love it. She was an artist, dancer, and often mistaken for Elizabeth Taylor. The husband was a physician and adored her greatly. It is a love story like is rarely told.

    One of the statements quoted in the book was: We cannot control the length of our life, but we can control the breadth and depth of it.

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