July 22, 2008
As we began our adventure yesterday, the largest impression of yesterday’s travels was the feedlot extending for miles near the highway to Greeley, Colorado. One knows the reality of steaks and roasts in every supermarket but one doesn’t quite connect it to the thousands and thousands of beasts getting prepared for the product. Today we go to Denver to be with good friends before joining the family in Estes Park later in the week.
On our Sunday afternoon walk, I said to Charles happily, “It’s been ten days since I have felt ill, I think I may be in recession!” He said, “I think you want to say ‘remission’”. Unfortunately, I seemed to have selected the better term because the blood reading taken right before we left indicated that while the red blood cells are holding nicely, the white blood cells slipped and moved me down into the “critical” place of no immunities. Our primary care doctor suggested that we call the oncologist before we leave for words of wisdom from him before we left. The instructions were the same as those given before. . . take all information about the disease with you should hospitalization be needed before returning, avoid anyone who appears to have colds or flu, be wary of children, and wash hands constantly. Upon our return from this adventure, we will have the discussion about trying another series of chemotherapy.
This morning we purchased many containers of hand sanitizer to hand out to the dear ones because avoidance is counterproductive to having the family gather. It feels odd to look quite fine on the exterior and yet to be so vulnerable on the interior. The only way I know to go forward is to say the morning prayer and to take in as much as my senses can in this day’s life
adventure. So, at this writing, riding in the car on I-25, I see traffic, shrouded mountains, and a cloudless sky. I hear John-paul and Charles in animated conversation, and I know that I must live by faith, or I will not live at all.