Sherry began today with a 7:00 am occupational therapy session and an 8:00 am physical therapy session. 7:00 am isn't exactly crack of dawn early, but given that it takes us about an hour and a half to get up, get dressed, have breakfast, and generally get going, 7:00 am is early enough. The sessions went well. I am heartened by Sherry's committment and hard work, and by the wonderful support, encouragement, and expertise the therapists at the McGrane Center contribute to Sherry's well being.
After the sessions we went to the pharmacy to pick up new prescriptions. We were earlier than the pharmacy opened so we enjoyed Starbuck's coffee--me the straight stuff, and Sherry an exotic tall decaf soy ristrado. I had to repeat that back to her several times before I got it right. I still have trouble with the ristrado part. I doubt that I am even spelling it right. Nevertheless, sipping the hot drinks while we were sitting in the cab of our truck watching the north wind billow the flags and the trees against a bright sky was lovely. After the pharmacy opened we got the pills and, instead of going right home, we drove around the dike road. Fall illuminates the beauty of the North Idaho College campus. The lake was cold quicksilver ruffled by the wind, and framed by trees seemingly reluctant to give up their green.
2:00 pm came quickly. At our appointment at the Cancer Center we learned about the chemo treatment that Sherry will begin. Tomorrow at 10:00 am she will be given Avastin, a drug that if I understand it correctly targets the blood supply to cancer cell and reduces the swelling, edema, around the tumors. Because the drug is selective it does less damage to other organs than the high doses of steroids that Sherry is currently taking. Plus, it is more effective. Radiation will have its rigors which remain unknown other than the general symptoms Sherry is likely to experience. We are still talking about palliative intervention and not a curative one at least from a medical perspective. However, there is the appearance of duration with a relatively moderate impact on Sherry.
In any case, the season, the geese, the water, and the wind call to us today with hopes for more fulfilling tomorrows.
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