Some catching up to do

I have heard from many of my friends inquiring about the absence in my blog entries. Here’s the answer in three steps: post stem cell fatigue, some minor complications, and taxes. I am doing better in all three areas. The fatigue is gradually lifting, the complications are subsiding, and the taxes are complete. So now I have some catching up to do.


No More Tassels. No More Hassles.
I was discharged from the University of Nebraska Medical Center on February 25th. One week later I had my tassels, aka, Hickman Catheter removed from my left chest. Even though I never mastered the skill of synchronized spinning of the dual ends of the catheter that I fondly referred to as my tassels, I do not miss their absence.

Oh stamina, where art thou?
I fully anticipated returning to work after my discharge. Julie bought me a couple of new shirts and I prepared my lunch menu. The doctor told me that the next thirty days would be a recovery period. “Sure,” I thought to myself, “I will work a few hours and come home to rest in the afternoon.” Oh, contraire. The weekend before my expected return I felt like I was carrying around an anvil. Just the idea of buttoning down the collar on one of my new shirts exhausted me. I succumbed to the bone tiredness, called the office to say “not this week”, and went to bed.

Asphalt or Shaker – You did say shingles, right?
The second week at home from the hospital, my left leg began to tingle and ache. We contacted the oncologist and he proudly predicted that I probably had shingles. This is apparently a side effect of the treatment. But unlike others that I have known who had to deal with shingles around their chest or belly, mine erupted from my left knee and ran down and across my left foot.

Can they make these tubes any smaller?
The shingles diagnosis however did not adequately explain the pain in my left hip and leg. An MRI exam was scheduled and off I skipped – my leg really hurt – to the medical imaging facility. I was invited by the technician to lie down on the hard slab she called a bed. She told me the exam would last about ninety minutes and then pushed the button to move the hard platform slab up and into the opening of the MRI machine.

I was familiar with the MRI since I had an exam a few months ago to check out my brain when the doctors had concern about some abnormal activity – that’s another story. The MRI machine is like a long tube and you are moved inside the tube for the MRI scan. As soon as the platform started to move into the MRI machine I knew this was not going to work. My shoulders were pushed down and squished into the sides of the tube. The technician stopped and tried again with my arms extended over my head; same basic result.

To my good fortune, she suggested I go to a sister facility with a larger tube rather than pulling out the Vaseline and rubbing down my shoulders. I traveled to the other examining site and all went well. Well, as best as can be expected with all the clatter and clanging of the machine and the nearly ninety minutes I had to stay inside with my nose nearly touching the top of the tube.

The diagnosis – bursitis in my left hip. I was off to physical therapy.

Clown cars and examining rooms
How many clowns can come out of that little bitty car at the circus? A similar question came to my mind at the doctor’s office. How many people can fit in this little examining room?

Once the shingles broke out in full bloom on my left leg and foot, Julie and I returned to the doctor’s office. I was in quite a bit of pain and my left big toe was hyper sensitive to the touch. The appointment was set with the physician assistant (PA) as a follow-up. Having never seen shingles, Julie and I wanted confirmation and some guidance.

The PA came in and she brought along a PA student with her. I took off my trousers and they both studied the rash that ran from my knee to my ankle and all around my foot. It was concluded that it could be shingles but they wanted the doctor’s confirmation.

When the doctor came into the room he brought another doctor from India who was here to observe medical care in the U.S.A. and to practice her English. Now we had six people in this tiny room – all looking at my leg and foot. Out came the colored diagram of major nerve paths and a discussion of the pattern of the rash and which nerves were involved.

A few minutes later, in came the doctor’s nurse. She commented on how warm the temperature was in the room. I suggested that it was not so bad without your trousers at which point the doctor gave me permission to put mine back on. “I’d be happy to doctor, but you’ve been sitting on them since you came into the room.” He quickly moved, I retrieved my pants and the room just as quickly cleared out.

Back to work
I returned to the office on March 30th. There are a few accommodations that I have implemented. I work at the office for 3 to 4 hours each day and feel stronger as each week goes by. I discovered that the hard chairs in the Boardroom which I use to believe were very comfortable are unforgiving on my left leg and hip. So, at Julie’s suggestion, I have toted a stadium cushion to meetings in the Boardroom. It provides some relief but after an hour I need to move around. I can walk about two blocks – very slowly – because my left foot hurts, so I drive if the distance is any greater. It is a great feeling to be back and interacting with my staff face-to-face and I am slowly expanding the opportunity to meet with other folks.

Reflections - back to community
I have also been able to return to church and a few activities in the greater community. With each of those opportunities, I have found that I really missed not only being with others but interacting, hearing and observing the stories of life.

One of the experiences I most missed from my absence from work was hearing the stories of our clients. I have intentionally started attending the weekly meetings where our staff presents their interviews with potential clients who are seeking help from our office. Through each story I am reconnecting to a greater community.

Most of the stories relay some hurt or injury experienced by the individual. As each story is shared, there is honor given to those individuals because their story is being heard. As the staff discusses the individual’s situation, there is also a sense of hope and expectation. They know they can not assist everyone. But even to those who we can not help there is a bit of advice or encouragement that is shared back to the individual which affirms not only the individual but also their story.

When I sit in the park or at church, I observe life stories unfolding about me. The love and wisdom of a mother or grandparent is shared as they hold the hand of a small child guiding them along the path by the lake and pointing out the ducks. “What does the duck say?” Genuine long-term friendship is revealed as one elderly person gives support to another as they stand to sing a hymn. A smile of gratitude is shared that for a moment reunites the two and acknowledges an understanding that within the fragility of age is the strength of friendship.

I am not a solitary being. I draw energy from others. The energy comes, not by being passively in the presence of others. It comes from engaging and being a part of a greater community. I am grateful today for that community that has sustained both Julie and me through these past many months and will continue to share our life story.

Grace and peace,
Tim