Let me start off by coming clean. The concept of this post is someone else’s idea. I have been following another young couple’s Melanoma Blog and I got this idea from them. Since imitation is the best form of flattery, I hope they don’t mind that I am an idea thief.
There are lots of you out there that read this blog and email me directly. The rest of you post once in a while, and some of you have no idea how to post a comment because you are just very very bad at navigating the internet (you know who you are). But I am asking that all of you try.
Because he has stopped reading it (he can’t see well enough to read the screen), Mike seems to think that no one else is reading the blog either. I want to show him otherwise. Plus, I would love to see who is following our story. So get started and post some positive thoughts, encouraging words, funny stories, jabs at Mike’s football picks, jokes (dirty or clean, we love both kinds) or anything else your heart desires. I will then print all the comments and read them to Mike. He will be so happy to know that so many people, even people he doesn’t know or hasn’t seen in years, are cheering him on. I am hoping for lots and lots of comments!
If you are waiting for me to update you on Mike—well, I don’t really have an update. Mike is basically the same. He is really weak, cannot walk or get out of bed, sleeps a lot, seems confused at times but lucid most of the time, and is generally in poor shape. But he is convinced that he will get through this, and he is determined to fight. In fact, we are hoping to get him started on a very very low dose chemo pill (he will take the pills at home) to see if we can see some improvement. Keeping fingers crossed.
We continue to be surrounded and supported by our amazing families and friends. Thank you. We love you all!
OK, now start typing. I am counting on you.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Thursday, September 13, 2007
It's Football Season
Philadelphia Eagles fans are rare creatures. The start of the Eagles season is akin to a national holiday in Philadelphia, and the weekly anticipation for each Sunday’s game is higher than Christmas and your birthday combined. The games are more important than family (unless the family is huddled around the TV together), friends (unless the friends are there to high five and cheer each time the Eagles make a play), and even God (unless prayers for a miraculous win are needed). This past Sunday, I realized that even though he is really sick, Mike does indeed still bleed Eagles green.
Sunday morning, I woke up to Mike’s loud voice: “Lizzy, Lizzy, get up, the Eagles are on in 15 minutes.” I could barely open my eyes; I was tired. Really tired. With one eye open, I looked at the clock. It was 6 am! I told Mike to go back to sleep, and did my best to explain that it was only 6 am and the game would not be on for another 7 hours. Some time went by, and again Mike started yelling: “Lizzy, get up. The Game is on.” I looked at the clock; this time, it was 7:15 am. We repeated this routine every hour until noon when I turned on Fox NFL Sunday for Mike to watch. Within 5 minutes, he fell sound asleep!
Given his recent state of confusion and overall mental disarray, it really was amazing that Mike (a) remembered that it was a Sunday; (b) knew that football season was starting; (c) recalled that the Eagles were playing Green Bay; and (d) was actually excited to watch the game. Mike had not shown any excitement for any activity for a few months, and it was just nice to hear the sheer anticipation in his voice.
Throughout the day, many friends stopped by and “watched” parts of the game with Mike. Mike also slept, or pretended like he was sleeping so we would all stop screaming in his ear, for big chunks of the game. But when the Eagles lost, he was alert and mad. And at the end of the night, just as any true Eagles fan, he complained about the coach, the offense, the special teams, the quarterback, and everything else in between. Never mind that he actually didn't see half of the things he was complaining about. That's how we do it in Philly anyway!
It is now Wed. and Mike is already talking about the upcoming Monday night game. He is also talking non-stop about his fantasy football teams (warning: he assures me that he will win this week). Needless to say, Mike seems to be more alert and oriented, thanks to football season. He is still not good, but very slightly better. Also, on a bright non football-related note, Mike has started eating again, which is a cause for celebration in and of itself (please knock on wood the instant you read this). We have no idea what the days, weeks, and (hopefully) months ahead will bring. But for now, we are hanging in, hanging on, and busy watching football!
Sunday morning, I woke up to Mike’s loud voice: “Lizzy, Lizzy, get up, the Eagles are on in 15 minutes.” I could barely open my eyes; I was tired. Really tired. With one eye open, I looked at the clock. It was 6 am! I told Mike to go back to sleep, and did my best to explain that it was only 6 am and the game would not be on for another 7 hours. Some time went by, and again Mike started yelling: “Lizzy, get up. The Game is on.” I looked at the clock; this time, it was 7:15 am. We repeated this routine every hour until noon when I turned on Fox NFL Sunday for Mike to watch. Within 5 minutes, he fell sound asleep!
Given his recent state of confusion and overall mental disarray, it really was amazing that Mike (a) remembered that it was a Sunday; (b) knew that football season was starting; (c) recalled that the Eagles were playing Green Bay; and (d) was actually excited to watch the game. Mike had not shown any excitement for any activity for a few months, and it was just nice to hear the sheer anticipation in his voice.
Throughout the day, many friends stopped by and “watched” parts of the game with Mike. Mike also slept, or pretended like he was sleeping so we would all stop screaming in his ear, for big chunks of the game. But when the Eagles lost, he was alert and mad. And at the end of the night, just as any true Eagles fan, he complained about the coach, the offense, the special teams, the quarterback, and everything else in between. Never mind that he actually didn't see half of the things he was complaining about. That's how we do it in Philly anyway!
It is now Wed. and Mike is already talking about the upcoming Monday night game. He is also talking non-stop about his fantasy football teams (warning: he assures me that he will win this week). Needless to say, Mike seems to be more alert and oriented, thanks to football season. He is still not good, but very slightly better. Also, on a bright non football-related note, Mike has started eating again, which is a cause for celebration in and of itself (please knock on wood the instant you read this). We have no idea what the days, weeks, and (hopefully) months ahead will bring. But for now, we are hanging in, hanging on, and busy watching football!
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