February 26, 2008
Yesterday evening’s light snow acted like a forensic dusting on the paths through the field and forest, so upon our dawn walk, every track made by the night creatures was evident. Mice, squirrels, rabbits, cats, raccoons, deer, and pheasants all left their mark, and Alphie had a lovely time establishing the details of their activities. We have a trio of deer that come and eat corn and bird seeds – they seem small and delicate, and one has injured a front leg. Charles first noticed it the last week of January, and we are amazed that it has continued to survive in spite of an obvious difficulty with walking and running.
This last week has had a certain aspect of a “snow day” as life moves on. . . that is how the “time out” diagnosis of the MDS progression feels. A recent article in the New York Times (The Power of Words for Cancer) tells about the helpfulness of writing about the illness, and so it is for me, too. I think it is knowing about a widespread web of caring people who will rejoice with me on the better days and who encourage and support me through the harder times. There is much that is a mystery about how this actually takes place, but faith is rooted in the realms of the unknown and God’s ways are far beyond my understanding. I am in correspondence with someone who received a nearly identical diagnosis of MDS just last fall, and her journey through the days since then has been one of immense difficulties with non-existent platelets and failing white and red blood cells. Her courage is phenomenal as she and her family and the medical community struggle to find a way toward life through apparently insurmountable odds. Each day I offer prayers and send well wishes for her, and I hope that she will see spring come again even as I look forward to the new life that will soon break forth all over Sanctuary.