Comments on: Keeping a Game Face On

By: tamar

tamar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:55:22 +0000

A melee of thoughts on this sunny chilly day in Atlanta: What a gorgeous Elizabeth! I renewed my driver’s license today, and looking at the updated photo I was stunned. The smile was great yet the haircut… what was I thinking when I stepped into that discount parlor? Nothing like a camera to reveal stuff denied. More effective than a good friend’s tactful words. You write with sensitivity about your family and your personal and our national history. I’m a sixties person, too, and while the road to this administration-elect (HOORAY!) has been long, weary, and teary, we have had bright spots, haven’t we? I lift up Marge with my dear pal Olga, a six-year fighter of ovarian cancer.

By: Cowtown Pattie

Cowtown Pattie — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 02:08:34 +0000

You have a beautiful daughter!

So sorry to hear of Marge’s illness. She is fortunate to have such caring and giving family members to help pull her through some rough times ahead.

We’re all thinking of you and your family, Pete.

By: Darlene

Darlene — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:56:39 +0000

Elizabeth is beautiful and I know she must be a great comfort to you during this troubled time. You both need to be good to yourselves as well as to Marge. The caretaker must not get sick.

By: Pete

Pete — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:12:58 +0000

Thanks, Gerry, for your kind thoughts and your experience.

We’ve been lucky enough in our lives up to now that all of this is new to us. We’ve already found, however, that the first lesson is you need to learn fast.

By: gerry rosser

gerry rosser — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:30:33 +0000

I’ve been wondering where you went, I’ll check the other site. I assumed all along you were dealing with your wife’s illness. I hope she gets better.

I think I told you once that our son-in-law is a two-time cancer survivor. The radiation therapy for his lymphoma was in and around his heart and lungs, and it seems the chickens are coming home to roost. He’s been chronically short of breath and energy since all that, but had learned to compensate, and much good is in his (and our) lives–not least a beautiful granddaugher. In recent months he got a bit worse, but that is a matter of degree and not kind for him. Finally,it required some heart investigation. Almost two weeks ago he had 3 coronary bypasses, and attempted mitral valve repair (all this due to scarring from the prior radiation). The bypasses went well, but the mitral valve was not repairable due to the scarring. The doctors are guardedly hopeful that the increased blood supply to the heart, via the bypasses, will improve his heart’s condition so that the leakage at the mitral valve subsides, and becomes a non-issue.

Because of his underlying post-cancer-treatment condition, recovery has been a bear. They had him on a respirator and heavy sedation for a week or so, and he is only now returning to alertness. Baby steps, a squeezed hand, eyes following movement. I didn’t realize that at least in some cases waking up fully from extended sedation (unconsciousness, let’s face it) is very slow. We remain hopeful for the future.

I relate all this not in the all-too-common “oh yeah, well my surgery was worse” sense, but to let you know I actually can empathize. I think of you and your wife often, and extend my hope to you.