An attitude of gratitude is one of the best ways to have a happy life! As this year's federally-recognized national holiday of Thanksgiving comes to a close, please remember that EVERY day is Thanksgiving day! EVERY day holds something for which to be thankful, especially for we that live in America ("Us that live" or "We that live"? I'm unsure of the correct grammar in that sentence).
As you can guess, the life and health of DJ Bigelow, husband of mine for these 17 years, tops my list of things for which I am thankful! Here is an update:
Psot chemotherapy, the oncologist's office ordered a PET scan for DJ, in order to know if there is cancer detectable anywhere in his body. Our insurance company denied the claim, asserting that at this point in DJ's health care, a PET scan is not medically necessary but only investigative. I agree. After the surgeon removed the cancer from his colon in April, and before he experienced 12 rounds of "mFOLFOX 6" chemotherapy from May to Ocotber, DJ had a "normal" PET scan. His type of cancer is not known to be particularly aggressive, and there are no known symptoms of cancer anywhere in his corporeal self. So even though DJ was a tad bit frustrated at first, I am of the opinion that it's all good!
So we met with the oncologist P.A. last Monday, November 22 (which day also happens to have been the birthday of my own mother dearest, Catherine H.C. McDonald :-); and we asked a lot of questions, mostly having to do with the nature of "What now?". DJ's bloodwork all looked fine and good, the nurse flushed out his port (which will remain implanted in his body for some months more, until the oncologist is as sure as he can be that it is no longer needed), and we went on our merry way! DJ is scheduled for bloodwork and another meeting with the oncologist in 3 months; and I suspect that shortly thereafter the gasterenterologist will want DJ to come receive a colon scope. And there you have it!
DJ is happy that he no longer sits every other week for 2-6 hours receiving pre-meds and chemotherapy. Here is a picture of him and head oncology nurse Susan for a quick port flush on Monday. He still looks unhappy about the smell of the alcohol used to clean the tubing. But he is happy, happy to be finished with chemotherapy! :-)
We have just returned from a lovely Thanksgiving getaway to South Lake Tahoe with friends of ours from Paso Robles. An abundance of snow made the children happy to be there; and a nice hot fire, a good book, and a steaming cup of hot chocolate soy milk made me happy! :-) DJ was his usual cheery self! (Oh, now I am laughing out loud at my funny-ness! If he ever reads all the things I've written about him here on this web log...well...I AM funny, don't you think?!? :-)
Here is a good way to close this post - selections from Psalm 136:
"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, his love endures forever. Give thanks to the LORD of lords, his love endures forever. To him who alone does great wonders, his love endures forever. Who by his understanding made the heavens, his love endures forever, who spread out the earth upon the waters, his love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven, his love endures forever."
Aaaaaaa-men! The end, for now, with smiles and gratitude, from HollyB :-) :-) :-) :-)
