On Recovery - Chopsticks and Tangos

Chrys sent me the following on Friday from her visit on Thursday. This is my first opportunity to post it. I may move it to its proper chronological place after a few days, leaving it at the top for now so it is read by all. What a wonderful post!

-Jay

Dear Friends,

Thursday was a wonderful and long day for Chester. I intended to send you all an update as soon a I got home from the hospital, but I headed straight for bed. I'll take a few moments this morning to share yesterday with you all before I head in today.

Me with Chester.

First, allow an introduction. My name is Chrys Curtis-Fawley and I have been a dedicated student of Chester, and more recently his co-teacher. Teaching with him this summer, I was able to be with him each day and witnessed the process of the tumor's effect on his body and speech. Chester was able to stay deeply embodied and aware each day, constantly meeting his own new edges with presence and breath. I have been with him every day at the hospital, offering general assistance for all aspects of hospital living and offering support in his rehabilitation processes.

Yesterday I arrived at 10 am and found Chester asleep. His color and energy were beautiful, and together we rested for another half hour. When he awoke and saw me, his eyes lit up and he said "look!" and waved his right foot at me. Movement was coming back into the leg! We explored his movement, and noticed that it was initiated mostly from the hip joint, but that the muscles were beginning to respond and flex. We explored his right arm and found less movement but strong circulation.

Thus began an amazing day of good news and rehab. Below, the highlights:

9 am: His doctor had visited him early in the morning and said the post-op MRI looked excellent. In Chester's words, Dr. Tang said the "whole tumor gone", and there was no indication of permanent paralysis in his right side. Chester was clearly motivated by this news, and eagerly began the work of waking up his right limbs.

10:30 am: Chester wags his foot with gusto.

Chester's beautiful head just moments after they removed the bandages. We were all entranced by the gracefuless of the wound, and the scalp staples.

10:45: The surgical bandages come off. We reflect on the marvel of such a big operation leaving such a small wound, and take in the sight of a head held together with staples. I send the whole operating team a prayer of thanks for their skill and training. I am amazed at what human beings can do.

11:00 am: Another nap. I offer supporting touch as he sleeps, and find an enormous amount of energy circulating. I especially notice his right side, and see the muscles quivering with the breath. I sit in awe at the sight of limbs slowly coming into movement.

Noon: Physical rehab with two delightful women. They assist Chester in sitting up in bed, and then are delighted when he wants to stand and sit in a chair. He charms them with his dancer's grace and they remark in how much strength, stability, and movement he has, less than 36 hours post-op.

Chester sitting up in a chair for the first time post-op. He felt strong and stable sitting up, and it allowed his spine and neck to realign a bit. Here, he is with his house-mate and friend Jaime.

Chester is in an intense process of reclaiming speech. His hands and breath are central to his communication. We take each syllable at a time, and often repeat words over and over until they come more easily.

1:00 pm: Speech and Swallowing therapy. Again, delight and surprise at the overnight improvements. Chester gracefully eats his entire hospital lunch and then digs into a big bowl of melon. He has requested chopsticks for today's meals. Speech therapy was uplifting. When asked to list as many animals as possible in one minute, Chester laughs and then begins: "Zebra, Raccoon, Octopus, Squid, Mussels, Black Panther..." The beasties were called in!

2-6 pm: Continued rehabilitation exercises. Chester moves through beautiful cycles of breathing, trying out his speech, and exploring the range of movement in his body. We practice saying many words, one syllable at a time, and repeating until they flow freely. We stretch his limbs in bed and use massage and air-compression leg wraps to keep his circulation up. His spirits are soaring, and he punctuates all of his hard work with restorative naps.

6:30 pm: Sitting again on the side of the bed. Chester begins moving and singing. We play with rhythm and soon are dancing a little "hospital bed shuffle." Chester requests music for today's tangos.

His view from the ICU.

8:30 pm: After watching the sunset over the Bay from his bed in the Intensive Care Unit, the wonderful nurse tells us that a bed in a shared room is available. Chester is very relieved, as the intense sound and energy of the ICU was disrupting his rest, and I was spending a lot of my energy creating a bubble of peacefulness for him to sleep. He moves to a wheelchair and we go to a room down the hall. I am annoyed that his roommate has the TV on, but Chester assures me that the noise is nothing compared to the ICU, and I pause, listen, and nod. I am reminded that many patients have only the TV as company. He settles into his new bed. We breathe together. I leave him for the night, and another hospital angel stays to be with him until he fall asleep.

9:30 pm: I leave the hospital with an enormous sense of joy. Chester continues to amaze me in his level of embodiment and his boundless curiosity. His spirits and humor were soaring, as he reveled in the delights of being alive: in moving our bones and muscles, in forming words and phrases, in breath and touch, in the taste of golden watermelon and lemon tea. Chester, my dear friend and master teacher, is so very much alive. I cry, knowing he will continue to explore and teach for many days to come.

And now it is Friday morning, and I am ready to go back for day three. I take with me all of the love, prayers, and support that are being sent this way from all over the world. I bring with me the knowledge that I am sitting with one of the most important spiritual teachers of our time. I pack my bags full of colors, smells, textures and tastes for Chester, and am eager to see what he discovers today.

Much love to you all. Please continue to hold Chester in your hearts and know that he is bringing all of himself into his rehabilitation process and the result is wondrous indeed.

In breath,

Chrys