It takes village

I am sitting here in the University of Nebraska Medical Center watching the snow float down onto the “Healing Garden”. It is quite pretty but not a place I would go to sit at this time of year.

Julie and I have also checked out the chapel and a small meditation room that sit among the many rooms, hallways and massive doors within this medical complex. These intentional quiet spaces offer opportunity for reflection and the centering of oneself in silent meditation. I was pleased to see places for the spiritual. These are gifts for those seeking healing and their healers alike.

My chemotherapy started up Thursday evening and I am now on a routine getting two drugs twice a day – 4 and 5 AM then 4 and 5 PM – through Monday with the last treatment on Tuesday.

These are long days with small spurts of activity and then lots of time on my hands. Julie is staying in the hotel that is attached to the hospital. She comes to visit and spends a good portion of her day with me. We take a walk twice a day that is very helpful.

The nurses have cautioned us about visitors – no coughs or sniffles allowed and if you have not yet had your flu shot at least two weeks ago – call me. The good news – Julie is still receiving visitors so call her and she would love to meet face to face – just not in my hospital room.

These precautions are for me. They are based on the expectations that my blood counts are going to drop compromising my immune system once again. Most importantly, I am so close to day “zero” – that will be TRANSPLANT DAY the day I get my stem cells back. We don’t want to unnecessarily risk not moving forward with the transplant / re-introduction of my stem cells.

Of course Transplant Day would not be possible without the prayers and encouragement from all of our family, friends and co-workers.

In addition, we are especially grateful for all the excellent medical care, compassion and laughter received from the staff at Nebraska Hematology – Oncology, the staff on the fifth floor at BryanLGH East, the staff in the BryanLGH Specialty Clinic, as well as the staff at the University Hospital.  Sandra Sasse, our Lymphoma Case Manager at UNMC has been an invaluable source of knowledge, understanding and compassion throughout this entire journey.

This shout out has to include the ancillary services in radiology, nuclear medicine, the laboratory (dare not forget the laboratory), emergency room, and the UNMC geriatric clinic. Why was I at the geriatric clinic? I’m not sure but it must be where they send all the bald old men with a limp for their Neupogen shots and blood draws. Of course, I cannot forget the good natured and talented Red Cross nurses in the stem cell collection room at UNMC.

Finally, I am grateful for the talented doctors who have guided and accompanied both Julie and me through this journey: Dr. Hutchins, Dr. Vose, Dr. Moravec, Dr. Morin, and Dr. Stadler. There were also many other doctors and physician assistants at the various hospitals whom we have encountered and who attended to my health care needs.

For all of these various supporters and health care providers we are grateful.

As you can see – it takes a village – not just health care providers, but a true community of various skills, strengths, and sensibilities. Each group adds value to the process of healing. From my perspective, no one group is more valued than another in contributing to my healing, wholeness and harmony. I praise God for the creation of such a community.

Grace and peace,
Tim.