July 28, 2017
First things first- some very good news- got the results of Abby's CT scans of her chest and abdomen, and there was no sign of spreading. The lymph nodes are swollen around the tumor, but they had expected that, and feel the radiation she is starting Monday and chemo Tuesday will target that, as well as the tumor. Great news to be able to share with you all.
A now ladies and gentlemen, a bit of a recap of the last couple of days, drum roll please.
Yesterday was the day that everything goes as according to plan. "Not" to quote Wayne Campell. Got up at 6:00 to do some work from home so I can keep my day job. Computer behaving badly- up too late, eating bad bytes?
Ben came home again last night - he only has a couple of days off when he's not working. Nice to have him home, and so we were all set to head to the rehab center in time to meet the ambulance that we were taking to MGH Danvers for Abby's CAT scans. Pulling out of the driveway, I heard/could feel something dragging. Well lo and behold it's Mr. Flat Tire paying us an unexpected visit! Managed to quickly get my handy dandy compressor, inflate the tire, and figured it would hopefully get us to the rehab center and we'd deal with it later. Luckily my knight in shining armor, Julie Rainer Cummings, was kind enough to come to rehab, and take the car to into servicing- luckily just needed a $25 patch. And it was back and ready to go when we returned from MGH. Humanity 1, shit storm 0.
Now that we're getting frequent flyer ambulance miles, I've come to know the quirky personalities of the drivers and EMTs who have been kindly chauffeuring us around. Sometimes you can ride in the back, sometimes the front. Havediscussed strip joints, politics, "man down" scenarios that I've heard a couple of times on the squawk box, which usually mean day drinkers or heart attacks, as macabre as that is. Today when I climbed aboard I was greeted with Rage Against the Machine blasting from the sync on the driver's phone, which was AOK- he politely offered to change it, found out I was a fan, and the conversation ping-ponged from Five Finger Death Punch to NWA to Kiss, the Sex Pistols and the virtues (or not) of remakes and how glad we both were that we never have to hear Kidz Bop again. Another day and lifetime we would have been swapping playlists. Nice unexpected break from reality.
I'm looking forward to the weekend in such a weird and new and different way- no doctor appointments or ambulance rides for Abby Trotter Grant (or me). Just some PT/OT for her/us, and maybe a little downtime with a couple of friends tomorrow night. Party on Garth. Chores, errands and normal "stuff", a little bit of work and maybe a challenging walk with all 3 pups. Different perspective than a month ago for sure, but I'm not swearing about flat tires, or getting mad at jerks who cut me off, and you know who you are Mr. Angry Old Man w/the stogie driving an old Chrysler New Yorker (I think) with the landau roof. I bet that looked cool in 1990. NO, IT DID NOT. NEVER. EVER. So live with that pal and keep circling that rotary until it spits you out in front of the gates of hell or lands you in Trump's cabinet- heard there are always openings.
Fair well good friends and good night- so many of you I/we want to thank personally for the food, gift cards and gift certificates, financial help, friendships, get well cards, counseling, kind words, good deeds, guidance, hand-holding and general all around greatness. We couldn't do this without you all, and though we have a very long, tough road ahead, it's so comforting to know you are by our sides for the ride.
Love and positive thoughts everyone.
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