Monday, August 3, 2020

News of late--

My mother's husband, D., spent his 82nd birthday in hospital yesterday. D. had been diagnosed with stage four cancer just after quarantine began in March. After undergoing chemotherapy treatments to shrink the malignant bits in his colon and liver, he was operated on last week. The goal was to have him eating a celebratory ice-cream on his birthday, but his body isn't yet ready to take solid food. From what mom has shared, things aren't progressing as hoped. 

Certainly those of us dealing with disease either directly or indirectly while quarantining are having an extra rough go of it. I wish that D. were not going through what he has to go through currently on his own--no family or friends allowed to visit, but I also very much wish that mom were able to have friends and family be a better support to her than they are now. I don't think that a phone call or video chat is enough to quell her fears that D. will not emerge from hospital in better nick than he went in.

From early MD appointments to rounds of chemo, mom has had to function somewhat like a taxi driver--dropping off, driving home, picking up. There has been no cafe or hospital cafeteria open for her to wait in. The one strange pleasure, if I may call it that, has been an easy drive to and fro as roads are largely without their normal car congestion.  

I leave you with a rare, people-less shot of a portion of the Palace of Fine Arts and a Deutsch vocabulary snap. 



Note the rather involved-seeming plural ending!



22 comments:

  1. Illness during the pandemic has been so very hard. Hard for the patient, and hard for those who love them.
    As well as the easier driving, finding a parking spot has been a heap easier. Small blessings, but real.
    I do hope that your mother's husband gets to eat his ice-cream sooner than later and that all of your worries are eased.

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  2. Best wishes to your Mom's husband and to your Mom as well in these difficult times.

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  4. It must be hard for everyone - the unrelenting anxiety. Stay stron

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  5. I'm so sorry about D. It must be rough for you to not be able to see them. These are strange times, indeed.

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    1. Thanks, Liz.
      Full admission: I really don't care much for D., but do wish to be of better support to my mom. Not being able to visit feels very strange.

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  6. It must be hard for your Mum. Covid 19 makes anything to do with hospitals that much more difficult.

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  7. That is a well composed picture of the Palace. Like it.
    I hope things go better for your step father and your mother.

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    1. Yes, the Palace of Fine Arts was looking mighty fine that day! And thanks for the well-wishes. x

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  8. That is pretty awful news about your family. It's stressful enough having to deal with the big-C without being cut adrift from the support and usual services that would kick into play around the treatment. Best wishes from me, too.

    On a lighter note, it's been sooo long since I bought a loaf of bread at the supermarket that I'd completely forgotten about Vogel's bread, which sprang to mind with your Lesson. I just had a quick look online and it seems that it's been years since it was sold here. It was the original seeded loaf when I was growing up, so its developer, Vogel, was aptly named!

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    1. Indeed & thank you, Pip.x
      Good news as of yesterday: Mom's hubby was discharged from hospital.

      Vogel Brot, eh? A seeded loaf does sound apropos. :D

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  9. Dear Bea, for so many people around the globe, this virus has meant a loss of precious time with those they love. How is your mom keeping up her spirits? You must so long to hug her and just listen as she talks about what these past months have been like for her and D and also you must wish you could listen to her fears and hold her hand and just say whatever is in your heart. Peace.

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    1. I'm not sure, to be honest. Her husband came home recently, so she's happy about that. He's on the mend, hopefully. Thank you for your kind words, Dee. x

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    2. Dear Bea, I hope all is well. I'm never sure what that means for any of us. I've often thought I knew what was best for me and then life offered something else and that turned out to be the road that I needed/wanted to travel. Peace.

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  10. Glad to read your Mom’s husband has been able to go home. Being in the hospital in these times is not what any of us would choose. Hope he continues to mend well, but takes more time when we’re older.

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    1. You're right, Joared. Fortunately, he's not needed the walker as anticipated, so that's been a good sign. Good to hear from you. May you be safe & well down in So. California!

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  11. I saw in one of the comments that D. was discharged and that is wonderful news. Hope he continues to do well on his road to recovery.

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    1. Thanks, bud. Yeah, he's chugging along the road to recovery. Lotsa naps, but high spirits.

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