A look inside
This morning we were up at 7 am and discovered a beautiful, crisp and sunny day outside. I was craving a coffee and was about to take off on a walk to the bakery when I asked Chester "Wanna Come?" And so off we went to the bakery, navigating the wheelchair on the uneven sidewalks, past beautiful flowers and to the local cooperative bakery. Each journey out is a learning experience, and after several frustrating attempts to get the wheelchair up a slope with the leg rests catching and scraping, a kind stranger gently reminded us to back the chair up and down inclines instead. This simple tip made the return journey much smoother. I am astonished by how many new awarenesses the wheelchair brings. A tiny crack in the sidewalk can all but tip the chair over. We are gaining proficiency in what I am now calling "the funky chair tango".
Right now Chester is on the massage table and getting his arms stretched and exercised by June, the occupational therapist from Rehab Without Walls. Later today a CMT (Chester Mainard Trained) massage practitioner will be giving Chester some touch. A relatively quiet day here at the Healing Loft.
Yesterday was busy! At 9:15 Chester had his first MRI in three months. I sat with him in the room and we breathed together as the huge magnets had their magical look into his brain. That afternoon we visited with Dr. Tang, who checked on Chester's head wound and also gave us a preliminary look at the MRI film. He didn't say too much- mostly that we will be interested in tracking changes over time and that no one MRI can tell the full story. He did show us that the primary tumor site is still showing swelling, which he said "could be a result of the radiation, a reaction to the chemotherapy, or a sign of recurrent tumor growth". Nothing was said for certain. The oncologists will look at the MRI and the perfusion reports next week and we will share more information as it comes. I tried to scan in some of the MRI film to share with you all, but was unable to do so.
After a long day, I was just beginning to poach salmon and steam yellow beets when we were joined by two lovely friends who came with a plate of raw tuna and a big lamb roast. Yum! Eating dinner with friends is always a welcome end to our busy days, and Chester so appreciates the simple joy of sharing a meal with good friends.
Chester ended the day with another simple pleasure: getting into bed freshly made with clean sheets.
Right now Chester is on the massage table and getting his arms stretched and exercised by June, the occupational therapist from Rehab Without Walls. Later today a CMT (Chester Mainard Trained) massage practitioner will be giving Chester some touch. A relatively quiet day here at the Healing Loft.
Yesterday was busy! At 9:15 Chester had his first MRI in three months. I sat with him in the room and we breathed together as the huge magnets had their magical look into his brain. That afternoon we visited with Dr. Tang, who checked on Chester's head wound and also gave us a preliminary look at the MRI film. He didn't say too much- mostly that we will be interested in tracking changes over time and that no one MRI can tell the full story. He did show us that the primary tumor site is still showing swelling, which he said "could be a result of the radiation, a reaction to the chemotherapy, or a sign of recurrent tumor growth". Nothing was said for certain. The oncologists will look at the MRI and the perfusion reports next week and we will share more information as it comes. I tried to scan in some of the MRI film to share with you all, but was unable to do so.
After a long day, I was just beginning to poach salmon and steam yellow beets when we were joined by two lovely friends who came with a plate of raw tuna and a big lamb roast. Yum! Eating dinner with friends is always a welcome end to our busy days, and Chester so appreciates the simple joy of sharing a meal with good friends.
Chester ended the day with another simple pleasure: getting into bed freshly made with clean sheets.
posted by Chrys Curtis-Fawley at 9:36 AM
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