In my spare time...

I just realized I had not posted anything since Wednesday. Honestly, stuff has a way of cutting into my "free" time.  On Wednesday, I spoke to a dear friend whose DH is currently being treated for pancreatic cancer. This type of cancer is particularly insidious, often found too late for treatment and by its very nature of the mutation, hard to treat, as it seems to be a thickened structure that, because of its density, chemo drugs have a hard time permeating the tumor. He has always taken care of her and they do a lot together, traveling, dinners out, enjoying his retirement and her part-time flexible work schedule. All that ended with his diagnosis last December. They are in crisis mode, gathering together all means of possible treatment. But what very few people can understand (and she said she hopes they never do) is the real possibility of losing your loved one way too early. I think of it as the Married Widow(er) Syndrome. Not to be confused with Merry Widow(er). No, MWS is the weirdest stage of your life. You are grieving the loss of the life you once had, the happy-go-lucky-time-to-enjoy-life-coz-your-kids-are older. Instead, your days are filled with doctor appointments, hectic planning, throw-away-the-rule-book, sickness, sadness, depression...and that is just the spouse affected with the illness. The healthier spouse can only try to pick up the pieces of the depressed and ill spouse, be a cheerleader, do research, get them to appointments,,,and cry a lot, preferably in the bathroom or the car where your beloved doesn't see you. I remember a book written many years ago written by Betty Rollin who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1975. The book was called "First You Cry" which is apt. I think you are allowed a good cry at first, but then everyone wants to see you perky! happy! positive! So you cry in private. But enough of this whining!!!!
DH had his first post-stroke visit with the Stroke Clinic, was it really a MONTH ago when he had his stroke? and we learned some things we didn't know. (WHAT???? There are things we don't know????)

1. The goal of medicine and diet changes are NOT to unclog the occluded left carotid artery. This in fact, would be dangerous, and quite possibly cause another stroke. Hmm, is this like the cement blocking the oil well in the Gulf last year? As in, keep 'er plugged cap'n!
2. The actual goal of the changes is to make sure the right one stays open and no further damage is incurred.
3. The body has an amazing capacity to overcome trivial things like clogged arteries. it can grow new pathways to get to the brain. Very cool and high tech. Ok, this isn't high tech, its your body compensating for your messing up.
4. You want your blood pressure at a nice even keel. Not too high...stroke time, and not too low...heart failure.
5. While there, we were told of a study by Yale University to find out the connection between pre-diabetes and stroke. Now, let it be known, that DH does NOT have diabetes, but there was some concern, a small one, voiced by two of his doctors that some of his blood tests could indicate a problem. So, long story short, we signed him up for the study. We won't know for a few weeks if he even qualifies, as that is indicated by what his markers show in his blood work. But it is interesting nonetheless.

We had so many questions and the doctor was quite gracious in answering them all for us. This is unusual in the fact that they normally have blocked out time of 15-30 minutes and we know we ran WAY over, which resulted in other patients being kept waiting. So very sorry! We're new at this. (I never dreamed I would be a newbie at dealing with a STROKE. How I hate that word) We left the doctor's office feeling more hopeful and certainly more informed. We decided a date at the Art Museum was just the ticket. Angry woman coming: Full disclosure here. When you are in an ART museum or any other MUSEUM or PUBLIC PLACE: Do not have a loud cell phone conversation that speaks of someone else's bodily part/bodily functions/surgical procedures at the TOP OF YOUR VOICE and the person on the other end's TOP OF THEIR VOICE. It kinda ruins the experience of the whole day. that said: There was the MOST amazing display by a man named John Frame.Here is a link you might get a kick out of:http://www.huntington.org/huntingtonlibrary_02.aspx?id=8690

On Saturday D3 and D4 went to see Tim Gunn from Project Runway and they had booths that were informational on all kinds of subjects. One was put on by Providence that stressed knowing the signs of stroke. I thought it was great, except, I still have a bit of a bone to pick: They don't mention eyesight changes. Honestly, if I had been more aware, I think I would have been more insistent about heading to the hospital in the beginning. In hindsight...well, I cannot think about that now. But as in anything, educate educate educate. If ONE person who reads this saves someone's life by knowing more about stroke, well then it's a good thing. Anyway, both girls got a streak and a button for stroke awareness month and maybe, just maybe, someone will see it and be more aware.

So today is Mother's Day, a day to remember moms everywhere.
Thanks to all the Moms out there who have blessed my life and those of their children. I LOVE being a wife and Mommy. Thanks to DH and the kids for lighting up my life...every single blessed day.