Today we saw the doctor for just a few minutes. He is very pleased with Justin and very happy that he is walking a mile or so daily. Again today, Justin had no skin trouble at the radiation site, no hair loss, no fatigue, and no other troubles. What a blessing.
I asked the doctor what strength the radiation is, just to find out. He said relatively low...that is what works for his type of tumor. I'm glad about that. It is nice to know they aren't zapping him with the highest power they have.
I have seen a remarkable change in Justin this week. He has virtually stopped having the daytime "blips", and is only having them at night. They are lighter and are similar to beginning to dream before you are asleep. Although they bother him, they are nothing like the stuff of the past. He is much happier, more animated, has his old "spunk" back. The best thing is that he is working very hard to get ideas together for a job he is hoping to get this spring. He talks about it and takes notes, and even had a hard time sleeping last night because he was excited thinking about working! This is a tremendous praise....Justin has HOPE again!
He is no longer happy sitting at home. We have to have plans each day...we go to the mall, a movie, go walking, play pool or anything that keeps boredom at bay.
A volunteer named Jess came in today to talk to Justin. He works in the press box at Kinnick Stadium. He is going to pick us up next Thursday and give us the grand tour of the stadium and Carver Hawkeye Arena. Justin is very excited to do this. It gives him something to look forward to.
This week we have done very little off campus. It has been pretty boring. I went to fill the gas tank and that's about it. We hope to do more next week.
Several meals this week were provided by volunteers--cheesy potato and ham soup for lunch on Tuesday and tacos and nachos tonight for supper. Tomorrow night is "Potluck" Spaghetti Dinner--we are bringing garlic bread, others will bring the rest. It is more fun to share a meal, but many of the people staying here are on special diets or feeding tubes, so not everyone can do it. Lots of the chemo patients have very sensitive stomaches and noses...some things just set them off. I didn't know this, but microwave popcorn sends the chemo patients running...they can't take the smell...it makes them sick.
The older lady from my earlier post this week was up in the kitchen today, in a wheelchair, looking out the window at the deer that hang out in our back yard. She actually looked at me, watched the deer, and responded to her husband regarding the deer. Good for her. She seems to be doing OK. That is a good thing.
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