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| The ginko biloba tree in Autumn |
We both joked about it. What else can you do?
They removed the tap from my wife's neck on Tuesday. The Mahurkar hemodialysis catheter installed to grab the hardiest of her T cells was reminiscent of the spikes pounded into Michigan sugar maples in the springtime of my youth. It was no fun to look at and miserable for her to wear during the four days required to do the job. Our grandson thought it was cool and wanted something similar for his Halloween costume. He's seven and hasn't a clue. The contraption did what it was designed to do and now Linda's T cells are in a lab at the Hutchinson Cancer Center being genetically modified to attack the blood cancer that is trying to kill her.
After nearly four months here last year for a stem cell transplant, neither of us was ready to reprise an extended stay in the Emerald City for yet another campaign against this insidious large B cell lymphoma raging inside my wife's body. Yet, here we are. Daily we are thankful for the unwavering support of faithful friends and family. We also count ourselves lucky to be retired and comfortable enough to withstand the obvious financial strains of this battle. Daily we see others who have young children and jobs to worry about and are amazed that they persevere.
Magnificent ginkgo biloba trees, now golden in Autumn, line Aloha street for the block we walk from our hotel to Seattle Cancer Care Alliance each day. A Google search of these beauties offers the information that they are some of nature's hardiest and disease resistant deciduous trees; the only plant life to survive 1945's atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Their presence here is obviously no accident.
The pleasant distraction of a World Series lifts our spirits. We both love the game of baseball and are delighted to find the Cubs flirting with the chance to win it all for the first time in our 68 years of life and, like all Cub fans, hope and pray that 2016 truly is the year of miracles.
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| The ginkgo biloba endures |
2 comments:
Wishing and praying for miracles for both of you. You are a good husband, cousin, and I am proud of you. Hugs, Jane
I join jane in that thought... Hang in there.
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