Emotional Reminders

Yesterday we flew out to Arkansas in Gracie. Deb sat in the co-pilot seat and was fully alert and enjoyed the sightseeing. The flight was smooth until we were on final approach for the airport. The last thousand feet had moderate turbulence and 45 knot winds. Nevertheless, a smooth touchdown was made and as we taxied up to the gas pumps, the lineman was there to help us put Gracie in the hangar. Gracie enjoys this hangar because it is full of muscular jets. She's the only small prop plane in the large hangar and gets all their attention!

It took a while to get our rental car so we enjoyed the company of some of the local airport folks. One of them was moving to Montgomery to become an active duty adviser to my old AF Reserve Squadron. Small world!

As we arrived at the Markham house we were greeted with staff showing us the magazine Deb was featured in. It had a nice full page photo of us and an article about how our treatment at UAMS has gone. We were assigned the very same room that we had on our first trip to UAMS over a year ago when daughter Amanda saved our bacon by accompanying us and helping us get around. On that original trip, I was so useless! I was almost non-functional and unable to oversee the various appointments and tests Deb had. The huge hospital campus and the C word (cancer) caused me to be emotionally non-functional. Amanda stepped in and got us through it. Thanks Amanda!

Well, being in that same room revived some of the same emotions in both Deb and me this visit.

Deb's eye has been very irritated so our nurse arranged for us to be seen by the on-duty doctor in the myeloma clinic. We were taken back to one of the chemo chairs that Deb had spent so much time in last year. With familiar staff members around us, we both had emotional issues with not ever wanting to be there and do that again. It was like visiting an old battle field, or scene of loss in the past. We were glad to leave because we no longer belonged there!

We saw an article about Deb's doctor, Dr Nair, who is now in charge of a research project using a body's own 'killer cells' to combat cancers. It sounds so high tech and futuristic. We are so happy Dr Nair is involved.

Last night Deb did not have the energy to go out for supper so I went to the grocery and brought is supper for us.

This is now Tuesday morning. Deb had a few slices of Canadian bacon and water for breakfast. She has limitations on food all day as she endures test after test. She has been restricted from her normal pain killer she has used all other times for the awful bone marrow test she has around around noon. We have to go to the pharmacy and pick up an alternative. Hope it works!

So, we're up and getting ready for a long painful day.

We are resting in the fact that the same Lord who brought us thus far is still guiding us and will not abandon us.

Blessings all!

Vern