We had an oncology appointment yesterday. It was a strange one. Our doctor came in and let my daughter tell him about the book she was reading for a while (Unfairies by Huw Aaron). We talked a bit about trial options and medications, but then it went back to telling jokes. And that's it. We don't have another appointment until June. In the past year, I don't think we've gone over a month with no medical appointments. It feels weird.
Before and after her surgery and radiation, there were lots of serious discussions about all the horrible things that could happen and things we needed to be prepared for. My daughter has lost some weight, but nothing too dire. Her white blood cell counts are low, but that's normal. So, we just wait until her next MRI to do anything or make any decisions.
I asked about moving the MRI up, but our doctor explained that if you do the MRI too soon, then it won't be as accurate due to radiation-induced changes and swelling. Also, apparently the MRI starts a countdown clock on getting into a clinical trial. I told him we were going on vacation at the end of the month, and he didn't want that to be hanging over our heads then.
Instead, I guess I'll just focus on all the things we have going on this month - visits with friends and family, my daughter's birthday, Mother's Day, end of the year performances, my youngest's preschool graduation, a trip to the beach, my 14th wedding anniversary. Just a few things on the calendar.
In June, I have my daughter signed up for a few camps. One is an art camp - drawing and ceramics - that I signed her up for way back in January or February. They let me put off paying for it until it was close to getting full because I wasn't sure where we would be in June. They emailed me yesterday saying there was only one spot left. So, I paid for it. I had also put off paying my friend back for a lake house reservation in July. I went ahead and paid her yesterday.
I don't know if the vibe of yesterday's appointment is because they are happy with her health or because there really isn't anything we can do right now but wait. Either way, I suppose I'll just take it as license to let myself breathe for a bit.
A Song with Vibes
Emmit Fenn, "Lost in Space"
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