Faithful readers, I’m writing this blog day by day and will publish on Saturday. I can barely remember what happened at the end of the day, let alone a week from now. So if you find weird references it’s because writing backwards takes a skill I do not have. Also, usually I would studiously avoid the pronoun “I” whenever I could. Right now I don’t have enough brain power to do that. Because this blog is basically about me, I hope you won’t be offended by the excessive use of “I.”
Admittedly Palm Sunday was the the most weird day. It was for many of you, as well. Not being in church, not the doing the preparations were all the things that I missed. The Cathedral blessed the palms earlier in the week so those who wanted them could pick them up by Sunday. I watched Cathedral’s liturgy and the National Cathedral.
My hip upon which I fell hurt quite a bit if I walked around although it did improve with steps. I took no anti-nausea medication and fared ok after one session of sickness in the morning. I wasn’t hungry so didn’t have much to eat, if anything.
I did not get sick during the night. So, in other words, I was much relieved in the morning. Because all the medications warned about blurred vision or dizziness, I became extra cautious when moving around. The blurred vision bothered me enough that I cannot read comfortably. And then the pain of the hip prevented much walking around. So I was very much like a vegetable.
Monday morning I was sick the first thing, did not take any medications, or eat as I recall. Later in the morning I did eat a couple of containers of yogurt. I called the doctor’s office to get an appointment and saw my primary physician. He ordered an x-ray and blood test. X-ray showed that there was no breakage or cracking in the hip area. The lab showed my sodium is a little lower than last time but he didn't consider that anything to worry about. I also spoke with the pharmacist and explained to her my problem. She wanted to talk to the doctor before she told me what to do, until she got back to me. The oncologist wants to see me Tuesday so I had another little visit with him which resulted in a change in medication to try to bring up the sodium level.
The upshot of Tuesday’s meeting was the cancer is probably spreading. My sodium level keeps dropping which means it is still active. The last MRI showed the brain to be clear. The part that doesn’t show on any scan is it may be in the spinal fluid on its way to the brain. Not particularly good news. We’ll see what’s happened by the next round of scans.
It was a beautiful day today. We enjoyed sunshine all day. A contractor came to give me a price on a stair lift, and I spent the rest of the afternoon on the deck, getting ready for the tax man and I may actually be a little hungry.
On Wednesday I woke up hungry which was a new thing. Friend Colleen came over while I took a shower so I was ready to go for the rest of the day and felt really good. Had a nice visit with one of my community members. Also, the income tax man met with me and we got that done. Always a relief.
Thursday I woke up feeling great, had breakfast and a shower and now raring to go. Sophia got whole box of new treats, and two canes were added to the household inventory. I need more than one so I can use one while looking for the other which has been left, somewhere. I braved the basement stairs for the first time in several days, made it fine, went to the drug store to pick up a refill and to the grocery because I was hungry for fresh greens, returned home for the rest of the day which was spent quietly. Didn’t sleep as well as usual, probably because I was already well rested.
Friday awoke feeling wonderful, had breakfast, a shower, and now am ready to watch liturgies on-line. I’m really grateful for all that is being provided and it feeds my soul. The lack of surrounding people bothers me, but my monastic soul feeds on the quiet. Delivery of hot cross buns happened in the afternoon - delicious. The day ended with some FaceTime conversations with old and dear friends. What a wonderful invention to communicate across the miles as if one were in the same room with one’s friends.
The good news is I’m back to pretty much normal as far as the working of the brain. The hazy feeling I get from low sodium is improved so much so that I think the new chemo may be working. We’ll find out next Thursday.
The Eastern Church refers to the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter as the Holy and Great Sabbath, referring to our Lord’s rest in the tomb. It is a very quiet day here so far and I will spend the day as quietly as possible until the celebration begins tonight with the Great Vigil of Easter, which, this year will be celebrated on-line.
The clouds are gathering in preparation for the expected snowfall tonight. Hopefully there will not be much accumulation. It’s supposed to continue through the day. It’s similar to the year I filled in at Good Shepherd Church. We had nice weather all during Holy Week so I had decided we would start the New Fire outside. Those who didn’t want to go out could watch through the large, full-length window in the back of the church. So, on Saturday I hauled over my fire pit and got everything ready, wood stacked and all. Then in the late afternoon it started snowing. When the time came, my server and I were out in the snow trying to get some wet wood started while everyone else was cozy inside! Another one of the perils of the priesthood!
I know most of your Easter celebrations will be significantly different this year, but we will still be celebrating the great truth: Christ is risen from the dead. By death he has trampled down death, and on those in the grave he has bestowed everlasting life.
Happy Easter!
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