2009 looks to be a bumpy but worthwhile ride!

Since the last entry, there has been a Wild Ride of ups and downs, doctors and nurses, medication - for all, I think...and Dad/Jim's "uppers-downers party mix" of sorts. Dad had TREMENDOUS pain prior to, and in the hospital in Needham last week, and most of the duration of his stint there was spent trying to work on balancing meds to keep him as pain free as possible. Of course, everyone else has been anxiously waiting for "news", which never really comes...just gradual dribs and drabs of "how today is", and then, like New England weather - and my mood - it changes just as soon as an update comes in.

By last night he had convinced them to let him out, so at 7p he returned home, in part so he could have the "freedom" to go into BI Boston hospital and have an appointment, to OK the return to chemo next week, as well as having marrow harvested. While there, they found 2 things that they really wanted to keep him in Boston to further investigate (a vision/optic nerve problem as well as oxygen saturation being vvveeerrryyy low). Poor guy! He just barely made it home, and had come down this morning practically skipping (ok, that's a gross exaggeration) and commented that he's not been actually pain-free like that in so long. Of course, that's not MED-free and pain free, but hell, we'll take it!!

Mom is amazing, as always. She knows, well, everything. She knows the routines and process, and details that surprise even the Dr's. Of course, the bag-boy at Roches pushing her groceries to the car is still bent over in the parking lot laughing his silly ass off, at her trying to get into someone else's car with her the groceries. (Yes, in Needham someone still walks your cart and bags TO the car, and moves them for you...AND you aren't allowed to tip them. Having grown up with that custom, I was surprised when nobody from outside-this-area knew what a "bag boy" was!) But anyway, hey, everyone deserves some cheap entertainment to keep the smile-across-the-world, no? I think it's fair to say that her attention is literally being focused 100% where it needs to be -on Dad-, and the little things, like knowing your own vehicle, are best left to the grunts...like Laura, Matt and myself. I think she just did it so we would all have a laugh....right, Mom?? That was all planned out in advance... she's so giving! (You KNOW she's going to slap me silly for telling that story, but I'm taking one for the team here!)

So, on this 12/31/08...we prepare to take 2009 by storm, sneak attack, and in a fabulous match-up-of-wills. I don't think any of us have EVER been surer of a pending challenge, but overall, I'm confident we will fight through the sucky parts, and laugh at the rest...

Happy New Year, everyone!!! Where ever you spend your New Year's Eve, don't forget to be glad for all the little things. This year we're thankful for all that is going well. The 2009 glass is half full.....Cheers!!! Just because, as the image indicates, the collective (and former) Needham-Muckerheide's should all be wearing "Contents Under Pressure" t-shirts, doesn't make it ALL bad, right? Sometimes it's just champagne, sparkly and bubbly, and sweet - and all over the floor. Now get a damned towel before UnSteady Jim comes along and slips, fer cryin'out'loud!! ;o) Crazy, I know...that's why you're still reading!!

The Morning After

'Twas the day after Christmas and we are all grateful.

It was, in many ways, a beautiful albeit bittersweet Christmas. Our children, and grand kids, as well as my sister, and array of in-laws and dear family friends gathered as they have for the last 28 years in our kitchen, taking turns blocking the stove. We have a fairly large house, and to be fair, the kids had taken over the living room in a bloodless coup! At one point, the chaos level rivaled the "running of the brides" in Filene's Basement (r.i.p) but still, I wouldn't trade it for anything. It is possible that this was the last of 28 Christmases in this house, and that makes us all sad. But we need to down-size and will be trying to figure out the best way to do so in a crummy economy with a house which has the kinds of flaws that anyone approaching 150 years old might be expected to have.

Jim came down to join us several times Christmas Eve, and was down most of Christmas Day. Unfortunately, he had picked up a cold somehow, and was under the weather. Before Christmas Day was over we were at the ER in Beth Israel Needham and he was admitted around 2 AM Friday morning in excruciating pain that even several doses of morphine could not touch. X-rays revealed no pneumonia, (which was my great fear) and a head CT scan turned up nothing unexpected. The guess is that he has more ribs fractured. The poor guy. He is such a trooper usually, but this was extraordinary. Being the weekend adjacent to Christmas, I worry that he won't see much progress until next week.

Editorial Comments by Lynn: I just added the photo of the youngest grandchild, Drew, who lunged into Santa's arms upon Santa's arrival. Drew has a special bond with Jim (aka Grampy), and I think provides an element of comic relief and "youth" that no medicine could provide. Here's the most precious moment of Christmas (captured on film, anyway) of 2008...

Silent Night?

We're closing in on Christmas, and as luck would have it, Jim's chemo is in its off week, so we can avoid the roads clogged with shoppers and snowbanks.  It has snowed since Friday (for our more distant readers) and the song "Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow" is really beginning to rub me the wrong way.

Jim's experiencing  a new set of symptoms, with some numbness and tingling in his hands and feet, and some "different" feelings after this course of chemo.  He is colder than normal, and has lots of unexplained back pain (given that he has enough meds to down a Clydesdale.)  Along with that has come some sense of frustration at not being able to sit at the computer as long as he would like.  He has done yeoman's duty going through literally cartons of papers, sorting and filing. Both of us are life-long hoarders, and feel it is important to get on top of this.

Hope this Christmas is wonderful for those of you who celebrate it.  Remember to treasure those who matter to you, both the young and the old... the ones you love, the ones who challenge you and those who need you.   They are the very essence of life.

Merry Christmas... from Jim, Linda, Lynn and the gang, Laura, Drew and Matthew

It's a Christmas Miracle!!!!!

Everyone got along for nearly an hour!!! Well, there was a little hair-pulling, head-flicking, elbow jabs, rabbit-ears and minor pinching, but once Chris and I got out of the frame the kids did great! j/k...Here's the first shot. (Below is the original...)

A week later...

Overall the past week has more to recommend it than not.  Chemo continues, with no serious side-effects. Jim has had much better pain control, and is lucid all the time. Although he still sleeps a lot, he has periods of productivity, as he strives to bring more order in the office, which had rolled far out of the stretch of ordinary mortals.

Part of what keeps life interesting is the task of sorting through the paper morass.  In addition to registering for Social Security, there is the question of Medicare vs. our current insurance, long-term disability, pensions,retirement, deferred payments and all the choices that are boring but necessary.  The part that is dodgy is that you do this in semi-darkness, knowing a major toe-stub may be just a step away. ("Oh, you didn't sign up for THAT did you... oh, that consigns you to the third circle of Hell...at least until open enrollment time")  Folks, sorting out this stuff places on my list of favorites right above pulling on support pantyhose on a humid day.  I perfectly reek at things that have only one right answer.   Give me some turning around space and I am fine.  But facts, hard cold facts, are my enemy.

Meanwhile our Christmas tree has found its way to the living room where we are expecting it to somehow differentiate the climate there from the one outdoors and permit its branches to "fall".  Speaking of pushing  "believe" to the snapping point!   (Its okay to relax... thats not really our tree.  You KNOW me!)

New round of chemo.

Good news.  Monday we saw "the team" and got  a lot of answers, all of them positive.  Jim's numbers continue to be good, improving with each chemo round.  We started another after the appointment yesterday, and they will continue into January, for a total of four rounds of 4 treatments each.  We've pretty much abandoned the idea of splitting treatments between Needham and Boston.  Better to keep continuity even if it is less convenient.  

They adjusted the pain medication...tinkering to find the right combination is an ongoing project. They agree he shouldn't be in so much pain.  A new MRI will tell if further radiation will help, not to treat the myeloma but to alleviate the pain (palliative).   

It was a long day, and by the time the chemo treatment was over  there wasn't much energy left in either of us.   

The trappings of Christmas make this all the more surreal.  I have always been such a Christmas person.  This year, I know we need it, for the sake of Drew who will never be 4 again, and for Jim, who will need some pleasant memories to get through the months of isolation after his Stem Cell Transplant.  So we have a tree, and will host Christmas Eve as we always have.  It is a piece of tradition I am just not ready to relinquish,  but although still a control freak, I am smarter now and am farming out a bunch of jobs.  It will all be fine.  The people are the parts that count.  

For those who have asked about our squirrel Road Runner, he has adroitly sidestepped the plight of his late buddies, whom we keep catching.  It is interesting to piece together what might be his resume. He has taken to getting up between 4 and 4:30 AM and doing laps around the attic crawl space, even waking Drew at one point.  We have concluded that he is wearing cute little rodent combat boots, so loud is the sound of his lone footsteps. An officer in the rat-mouse-rodent  army?  We have been leaving out valium as a little treat for him, in hopes he will become more serene, less  stressed.  File under "If you cant fight 'em...."

 

Constantly changing

One of the less predictable things about aging is that you aren't always aware of how things subtly change in your wake.  From child-rearing to the routine mid-week supper, to what is appropriate to say in polite company, things change, but often so gradually you don't really notice,  sort of like wrinkles.  

Jim is in the care of specialists at Beth Israel in Boston.  The "team" is quite amazing and lots of improvements have been made since my dad was a cancer patient, back in the early 80's.   The staff has always been supportive, and remains so.  Clearly someone has been making a conscious effort to create an atmosphere that is friendly, informed, compassionate and upbeat.  

But along with this has come a decentralization of care that is unnerving.  Our primary oncologist has been "away from the office" over the three months Jim has been under his care for a week for the religious holidays,  a  week in October for travel, and then approximately a month for elective surgery in November.  During that time, I understand he has been kept abreast of Jim's hospital-izations by e-mail.   Unfortunately his "fellow" who is a delightful expectant mother of twins, has also been doing whatever pregnant fellows do, (??)   and has been missing almost as often and simultaneously.  During the last four day stint, inpatient, Jim never saw either of his physicians, nor did he see anyone higher than the rank of "attending resident" during his stay.  It has been 7 weeks since his oncologist saw him, to decide whether to continue Chemo or not.

In this time Jim's countenance is in slow but steady decline.  His has acquired a roundness in his upper back from compression fractures in the vertebrae which then collapse on each other.   It is tempting to encourage him to stay in bed, where there is no danger of him falling, our greatest worry.     Since my last blog entry, the progress that seemed so wonderful has been lost and it feels like perhaps another rib has let go.   This slow-motion disintegration makes the presence of a doctor who can honestly proclaim, "the chemo is working and we are full of hope" all the more compelling.  

Our next appointment is Monday and I assume we will get some update on Jim's progress at that time.  By some miracle, the planets are converging and all the doctors will be awaiting us at 10 a.m.!   If it is your wont, please say a little prayer for him.

Looking good

Overcoming all predictions to the contrary, we got to the hospital yesterday for a 7 am procedure.  Only no one was  expecting us.  (Moan silently--I hope, roll eyes when no one is looking,  force a smile like this was part of the plan... "oh, no problem, we always get up at 5:45 am and drive 9 miles for a nice bracing cup of hospital coffee and an $8. parking charge") Luckily we had brought the print-out that had the appointment listed, so it was apparent we were not the delusional ones!   The procedure, part of the clinical trial,  has been bumped to the first of next year, and every one is 'very, very sorry.'

The good news is that next, Jim suggested going out for breakfast (when is the last time we went anywhere in public?)  and then asked me to take him to work.   He put in a full day, and, after a very brief rest,  tackled some of the backlog of paper

and e-mail that has accumulated here at home in his "absence." Obviously he is feeling stronger, motivated and is in less pain.  

 YAY!!

The days since Thanksgiving weekend began have been a treat beyond measure.  Jim's pain has abated, so he is up and around more. Hopefully the radiation treatment to his broken ribs is taking its healing effect. 

It was wonderful to have my sister and family here for dinner on Thanksgiving... plus our own kids, and their kids.  So casual and familiar.  Jim came down for dinner, then came back later and spent a few hours talking and joking with everyone.  The meds sometimes make him tired, but it's all a balancing act, and we seem to be getting the hang of it.

The decision not to shop for Christmas has been liberating for me in a way I hadn't appreciated.

No medical appointments, no commitments, just morning flowing into afternoon and then slipping into evening.  Plenty of leftovers so there are no meal-time chores.  I feel like I am in a feather bed of bliss.  How ironic that it took something so draconian to make me appreciate the beauty of not  banging my head into obstacles of my own making.  But I am not surprised that this eerie journey we find ourselves on has a positive side, with new awareness and opportunities to grow, hanging on low branches, waiting to be discovered.

Don't worry, by Monday I'll be an insane grump again. This la-la land never stays long!!

Thanksgiving was exactly what it Should Be...

A wonderful bountiful table of nourishment, moments of quiet reflection, and as much laughter as we've ever had, around a table that didn't have an inch of "frontage" space to spare....Does it get any better than that? Shoulder to shoulder...with the exception of the usual minor injuries (stop laughing, Maddie), we had a blast.

I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, too, as great as ours. Thanks to all for the thoughts, prayers, and outward expressions of compassion for the way things are at 793GPA these days. Thanks, also, to those who read along quietly, and send thoughts and prayers.

"If You want to hear God Laugh, tell Him your Plans"

According to reliable sources, the above quote is from Spanish or Yiddish folklore, or uttered first by Mother Teresa or Woody Allen, depending on who you ask. But with so many people claiming it, there is probably more than a morsel of truth.

So perhaps the secret is not to have too many plans that aren't firmly mounted on wheels that allow you to move left and right, fore and aft, as life blows by you.  We have had some or all of our grandchildren  living in our house for eight years now, (we're down to one)  and I know some people think we are daft.  But the best things that happen in a day, for Jim and for me, are the solemn observations of the littles.  Disney and Pixar, and all the TV shows have brought the real world to kids in an amazing way, and they devour it.  

Today, Kathryn (age 10) was mourning the loss of one of her two miniature guinea pigs.  Not the one with only one eye, the other one.  So she came here to help prepare for Thanksgiving with red, swollen eyes.  Kathryn adores all animals.   Drew (4) gave her a big hug, then commented in a conspiratorial tone, "Word on the street is that your guinea pig died."    

Word on the street??!!!  Sounds like Al Capone.

And just a few days ago, my daughter Lynn made some reference to a Wide Mouth Bull Frog, 

asking Drew if he knew what one was.  Without losing a step, he replied, "No, but we could go look it up on Google."  Brand loyalty at its best.  And the kind of recurring chuckle  that wipes out hours of rough going.  Jim thrives on it.  Better for pain than a whole handful of pills.

Tonight we are surrounded by our family, making pies and stuffing;  it is a wonderful feeling.  We are blessed.   May the day remind you of your many blessings as well.  

The digest version of the last 24 hrs...I defer to the pro, tho...

Dad was released last night, but spent a fair amount of the night very uncomfortable. He returned, on schedule, to the hospital early in the AM for his radiation treatment, which is being used locally to treat only the rib-area and promote healing in that spot. Unfortunately, he has a new area of ribcage that began aching.

Anyway, he's home and as I understand it, today was a more normal day from the pain-aspect. Let's hope that continues...Like Mom said, we're seeing more of the "old Jim again".....

There is a contest going on to see who has the most effective solution for squirrell-catchin' at Mom's house. There's also a prize for most creative assault/attack/trap/weapon. Well, heck, let's make a WANTED poster for the flippin' thing and open it up to the free world. Ya know, in some places they eat those things...I can't even get my kids to choke down a brown sugar glazed carrott - never mind a rodent in need of Ritalin. Of course,what I just did on the grill to the Thai Ginger chicken that marinated all afternoon....well, let's just say it's unrecognizable as food.

P.S. Anyone who suggests some O'Bama-esque notion of putting on squirrell-like-ears, going out onto the flat roof and trying to sing woodland creature songs to this Squatter-In-The-Eaves and peacefully asking him to move somewhere else will assume the wrath-of-me. The goal is to leave a mark on the freakish thing, as big as my perpetual irritation. ;o)

Update (clever, huh)

Jim is still in the hospital, with the possibility that he may be released this evening or tomorrow. The decision was made to apply focused radiation treatment to the ribs that are broken.  He received his first treatment yesterday, and will be administered a daily dose through Tuesday, out patient.  This will hopefully alleviate the worst of the pain, allowing him to cut back on the meds that were creating all sorts of unintended consequences.  He will also be assessed by the physical therapy specialists to decide what he is able and not able to do (like stairs, for example).  

Overall the improvement since Tuesday is amazing.  He went in over-medicated, yet in terrible pain.  As of yesterday a pesky infection in both eyes has abated after a whole month, he is lucid and we have our old Jim back.   Now we need to figure out how to maintain that status.  

And Now, a Word from Our Sponsors...

Understand, please, that we mean no disrespect to Jim or his illness by inserting some levity to this otherwise daunting situation.  Early on, we made a conscious decision to work to keep some perspective on the real world, the one outside this terrible disease,  the one where people interact and suffer the insanity, and then emerge  intact.  That is our hope for everyone who comes here; to emerge intact.

We are far from the only ones with problems.  Each reader of this blog can tell you a story from their life that would break your  heart... catastrophic events that nearly felled them.  So,  if you come here to check on Jim, and it makes you sad, or worried,  we consider it a responsibility  and an honor to give you a chance to break even.  If  an ironic story makes you smile, it brightens the day for us, too.  For over 40 years, Jim and I have alternated taking turns being "George and Gracie."  It is the soil we raised our kids in, and it keeps us all from taking ourselves too seriously.

Thanks for understanding.

Usually off topic

Even in the darkest of situations... no, make that always in the darkest of situations,  there is something wondrous, or unexpected or quite funny.  It does help to have a warped world-view as I do.   So I will share with you, dear reader, a bit of the unusual side of our predicament.

As we navigate this constantly changing highway,  there are a couple of things.  One is that "the road" metaphor is weak because no one in their right mind would get on a highway not knowing where it is going or how long it will take to reach the destination.  Furthermore, you only have to be here a few weeks before you realize that some divine Wag made the exit ramps dump you right back on the highway.  The minute you think you are getting somewhere... ha HA!  Back you are. 

Since clearly, the Lord has a sense of humor,in His wisdom He decided we needed comic relief in the form of squirrels in our walls.  I really shouldn't blame God, since I apparently have a sign on my back that reads, "Give me your Homeless, your poor huddled nut-jobs." which could be easily misinterpreted by a squirrel.

Predictably, we didn't get any old rodent, but the Road Runner of squirrels.  In his pea-sized brain, he thinks, "A glass of warm milk would go nicely," at which he zips off like a Bullet Train leaving Kyoto, vaulting through the skeleton of the house like Secretariat on Derby day.  Thats how I know he isn't in the actual attic. Only a poltergeist could traverse my loaded attic at that speed without catastrophic injury.

And I lie a floor below him, my eyes wide and white in the inky darkness, plotting my revenge.

Back In Boston Hospital...hopefully fairly pain free!!

New updates.....Dad was admitted this evening to BID in Boston (MUCH better) for increased pain management, and to address the possibility of things like using radiation to help heal the ribs and increased use of heavy-duty drugs, such as Morphine. I guess he's not pain free of course, but closer to comfortable and he is "near" everything he needs, including Dr's and resources. It's so hard to be useful to him when I (or they, I guess) don't feel like I know what "helpful" is...

Thanks for checking in!
~L

Do you hear what I hear?

Some of you have been asking how Dad is, so I wanted to catch up on the situation to help keep everyone in the loop.

In early October, Dad began chemotherapy and it really went very well. He had no "ill side effects", like the typical hair-loss and loss of appetite and nausea. His numbers remained steady or improved, including kidney function and details of that nature. He was in some pain, but after some pain-management steps put in place, things looked OK for the time being.

This type of cancer, being a sibling to lymphoma and leukemia, takes it's toll on the bones, primarily (as mentioned before, it directly is cancer of the plasma cells in your bone marrow). It affects the "core" of the body first, and extremities later, so hips, ribs, skull, and vertebrae are hardest hit for pain and "weakening". He had a fall in the driveway, due to the increasing unsteadiness caused my the illness. Fortunately, he was alright and we moved on from there. He had another when Laura was home, but again, aside from having to scoop him up, he was OK.

MM (Multiple Myeloma) causes forgetfulness, balance/coordination issues, confusion, hearing loss, and an eye-issue that he's having evaluated later today, among who-knows-how-many-other-things.

This brings up through last weekend, when Dad began having pain in his ribs, creating some uncomfy breathing problems - just labored, really. They proceeded to worsen and on THursday, he was brought to the ER at BID-Needham. Following the XRays, a diagnosis of "several" broken ribs and probable pneumonia as well. He was admitted, given morphine in addition to his already high-potency regimin and he was able to rest up a little. He was discharged in under 24 hrs, and sent home in extrordinary pain, and thus trying to "move about" with the rib pain that is painful to even watch. He is obviously in enormous pain, even while sleeping - which also isn't easy.

The possible pnuemonia promptly cancelled his next round of chemo (set to begin on Friday, the next day). This felt like an enormous setback, but hopefully we can resume quickly and stay on with the progress. Like all of you, we wonder how bones that are compromised enough to break under the simple weight of breathing or normal movement can heal, but that's one of the next questions...it's not hopeless at this point, but it's clearly very serious and severe and aggressive. We won't give up without doing everything possible to take care and protect him until his body is able to do it all again.

Also determined in the last week or so is that he has lost (Get A Load of This, Kids...) SIX INCHES in height, due to the bone-loss in his spine and vertebrae. He was 5' 8.5", and is now 5' 2.5"!!! His mobility, between poor balance and sheer pain and trying to compensate/protect his ribs and such, is prompting us to relocate him to the first floor, probably by the weekend.

And in the final segment of the SadNewsUpdate, he fell during the night again, and Mom found him, but we've reached a point where he can not be left alone for any period of time and we are going into "shift mode" to make sure there is always someone home with him.

I appreciate every prayer, well-wish, and kind thought that we have found in our fantastic and enomous network of friends. To those of you who have remained in touch so constantly and think to ask, it means the world. And to those who haven't been "kept up to date", I am really sorry. We've been so busy trying to sort this out that I know I personally have neglected to reach everyone that I should, and again, I feel terrible about that.

Love to all, and stay in touch...I'll try and do better with keeping this up.

~L

Finally, a step forward and some answers...

Hi all,

For the few of you who will ultimately be getting this for the first time, this is a preliminary diagnosis - so far. Dad/Jim got a call from his regular family Dr. with news that he has Multiple Myeloma. For those of you saying "WTF is THAT?", I am - for the moment - inserting a clip from a journal that is fairly straight forward and readable.
"Multiple myeloma is a malignant proliferation of plasma cells that involves more than 10 percent of the bone marrow. It is a prototype primary malignancy of the bone associated with malignant plasma cells that secrete monoclonal immunoglobulins into the serum, the urine or both.

The family physician is often the first to identify multiple myeloma. The expertise of an oncologist is then enrolled. Other specialists join the team as needed to address specific concerns or complications. As with other malignancies, the family physician assists the patient and the family in understanding the disease and the treatment-related side effects, and in improving the patient's overall quality of life."

http://www.aafp.org/afp/990401ap/1885.html
--------------

"Often, collections of cancerous plasma cells develop into tumors that lead to loss of bone, most commonly in the pelvic bones, spine, ribs, and skull. Infrequently, these tumors develop in areas other than bone, particularly in the lungs, liver, and kidneys.

Symptoms and Complications: Because plasma cell tumors often invade bone, bone pain, often in the back, ribs, and hips, may occur. Loss of bone density (osteoporosis) resulting from plasma cell tumors weakens bones, which can lead to fractures. In addition, calcium released from the bones may result in abnormally high levels of calcium in the blood, possibly causing constipation, increased frequency of urination, weakness, and confusion."

First things first: Until Mom and Dad have some answers regarding the status of HIS diagnosis, we don't REALLY know much of anything, except that there's more to learn. Often Radiation and Chemo are used, but many other treatments and drugs have become available, including Marrow transplant (or re-transplantation of your own, harvested prior to Rad and Chemo) and donation are options for many with MM. We're WAY too early in the game to have a good read on that yet. Although it is considered "incurable", it is also potentially a long way off before these things (aforementioned in the quotes) become that severe. Dad is meeting with a Hematology-Oncologist today, and they will begin the testing process.

Next: Dad/Jim is incredibly private, like many men, and it is important to both Mom and Dad that this not be the "primary topic of every conversation". The rules of the game, until further notice, are to be aware and sensitive to the situation, but not ask about it. Mom, especially, but all of us are trying to get through the emotional part and figure it all out, and rehashing or discussing it is really hard, even though it's all born out of genuine love and concern - JUST EXACTLY as Mom/Linda would be if it were one of her extended loved ones, it's just too hard to "keep it together". For the moment the plan is to rally around and figure out what the steps will be going forward. We will update here as things develop. Matt has been an extensive investigator, and found sources of a huge numbers of people who have gone into remission and lived MANY (often a dozen or more) cases where remission allows life to return to normal, and they golf and do many of the physical activities they had done prior to the bone/back pains that they had often suffered from for YEARS before a diagnosis. This is KEY INFO here. There's value in optimism, and Matt is leading the Optimistic Band...he just needs a funny outfit to complete it!

"What can I DO??" - We know you all well enough that this will be the very FIRST question. Letting this sink in without discussing it AND without "avoiding" us is most helpful, until we get the ground solid again. We are blessed to have such varying - almost perfect - shift coverage, before even leaving the comfort of home. Laura works days, Matt nights, and I'm scattered but around much of the times in between. Surely we will need to make sure we have lots of kid coverage, but it should prove to be a reasonably managable situation for a while. When we know more, surely, we will fill it in here.

I'm sorry to address this in such an impersonal way, but we are going to keep our eyes firmly focused on the ultimate goal. Please know that we appreciate every single prayer, and beleve firmly in the power of positivity and the magic of Medicine in this era, particularly.

Thanks to all!! And Pray-Away!!
~Lynn