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Just when you imagine spring with happy anticipation of gardening and bicycling, you get a reminder that you are not In Charge. We’ve been in a bit of turmoil since March 23, when my mom arrived home from her winter in sunny Arizona. She met us in Baggage and mentioned a bit of an earache and tiredness. At 91, that’s not newsworthy. But the positive Covid test on the 24th was.
Despite Paxlovid, fluids, and rest, she was seriously ill. We considered requesting membership in the customer loyalty program at the Emergency Department– visit once, get one free–but settled for mom not being admitted. We suspect the ER doctor might have preferred she stayed, but mom was insistent. It was a tough couple of weeks, and she’s a tough old bird, but we’re tough, too.
We’re ending the second week after a negative test. While each day brings bits of improvement, she has little stamina. The specialty Covid clinic here tells us recovery will take weeks, maybe longer.
I’d received a Covid booster shot two+ weeks before her return. My husband got Covid; I did not. The moral of this story: if you haven’t gotten every booster shot available to you, you need to re-examine your sanity. Actually, I don’t care if you do that or not. Just go get the shot.
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Lung cancer has been off my radar, except for the time at 2 a.m. when I remembered I’d left my volunteer job because there was too much stress. I had quite the giggle over that one. I did manage to request an academic article on joy from Interlibrary Loan– I remain fascinated by the idea of joy in a lung cancer survivor’s life and will get back to it once things calm down. Right now, I’m focused on helping mom regain strength, getting her metabolites stabilized, and eating.
Oh, and given we’re leaving for a biking trip in Europe in five weeks– where the first day includes a 2,300 foot elevation gain– I’m trying to ride. Today is hill training– yes, it’s back to the backside of our small but mighty volcano. Mostly, I’m snatching time in the basement. It’s starting to smell like an old gym down there.
I’ve heard that some of you worry when I haven’t posted. Please know there’s nothing to worry about until my next scans, in June, (after we return from our trip). Given all of life’s excitements right now, I simply may not have the bandwidth to post until we return.
Thanks for reading, and here’s hoping you have lots of bandwidth for the things and people you love.
And maybe, a little joy.
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Please know that we will keep your mother, and you and Mark, in our prayers. May her recovery be complete and quick!