Day 16
One step forward! This morning, I took John on a wheelchair ride around the floor. It was the first time he had been out of his room in several days. We ran into Larry, the 300 pound puppy of a guy who had been doing laps in sets of 23 (a mile) a week ago. Today he was shuffling, but on his feet. John wheeled himself for a time as they compared notes. John looks much worse, by far, but Larry tried to “cheer him up” by talking about how they were going to have to tap into his veins through his skull to provide treatment. It sounded like a scene from MASH when he made the obligatory joke about having a “hole in his head.”
John got out of the wheelchair and “walked” the length of the hall. I suppose it was a bit biblical, as if he was almost walking on water, at least to me. Of course, a few minutes later, he paid the price by throwing up, but it takes a lot of basic human courage to do what he’s doing.
Debbie and I took his cue and went to his dorm room this afternoon to take most of his things home. Parents always worry these days about children moving back in. Having to do the moving yourself adds insult to the idea. Doing it all when your child is sick is complicated. You may be grown up, but you never stop learning. Laura and Mike were thoughtful enough to help out and Dad made room for some of the things.
Debbie has made room for a lot more than just things through this. She made a pot of chicken soup – Jewish penicillin – for John and he had some this evening. He is learning to be grateful for all the thoughts and help he is given. That is actually a talent that is hard to master, as I am finding myself.
Tomorrow is John’s second bone marrow test and we should see the results on Tuesday. We will work from there.
John got out of the wheelchair and “walked” the length of the hall. I suppose it was a bit biblical, as if he was almost walking on water, at least to me. Of course, a few minutes later, he paid the price by throwing up, but it takes a lot of basic human courage to do what he’s doing.
Debbie and I took his cue and went to his dorm room this afternoon to take most of his things home. Parents always worry these days about children moving back in. Having to do the moving yourself adds insult to the idea. Doing it all when your child is sick is complicated. You may be grown up, but you never stop learning. Laura and Mike were thoughtful enough to help out and Dad made room for some of the things.
Debbie has made room for a lot more than just things through this. She made a pot of chicken soup – Jewish penicillin – for John and he had some this evening. He is learning to be grateful for all the thoughts and help he is given. That is actually a talent that is hard to master, as I am finding myself.
Tomorrow is John’s second bone marrow test and we should see the results on Tuesday. We will work from there.
