The Final Post

I met with Dr. Gebara yesterday and finally got the word - I am officially in remission. I still have two more radiation treatments to go, tomorrow and Thursday, then it's off to the Cape for the summer to hang at the beach with our kiddies and forget all about cancer. I was very blessed to have a highly curable form of cancer and to have such good doctors and nurses, both here at BMC and in Boston at Beth Israel. But I am even more blessed to have the family and friends that have been so wonderful to both Nancy and me. I have to start with my lifetime partner, my wife Nancy. Not only did she have the job of taking care of me and doing all the worrying (I'm just no help there), but she had to put up with all my goofy blog jokes at her expense. She handled it all with wonderful grace and humor. And only socked me a few times. And then there's the kids and their spouses and the grandkids, who worried about me even though I didn't want them to and made sure I knew I was never alone. My extended family, sisters and brother and many nieces and nephews and cousins, Nancy's family, and I'll include my old friend Al, was always there too, calling frequently and letting me know I wasn't forgotten. Finally, all the good friends we've made over the years we've been in Lenox, and colleagues at BCC, kept in touch. A lot of you even made the ultimate sacrifice and read my blog! As much as all of you have meant to me, you have also taught me a lesson. I've often wondered, during the last few months, whether I would have been as good if the situation were reversed. Being an introvert, I wonder if I would reach out as so many of you have done for me. I think now I would be much more likely to do so.

When I started this blog I only intended it to be a record of my battle with cancer. I have to say that I mostly enjoyed writing it. It certainly helped me fill the many hours I had free during my chemo at the Cape. But the fight is over, cancer is out cold on the mat, and life goes on, even if the blog doesn't. Tons of love to you all.

Laziness

I like the word 'indolence'. It makes my laziness seem classy.

Bern Williams 

It is often laziness and timidity that keep us within our duty while virtue gets all the credit.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld 

Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired.
Jules Renard

OK, I'm trying to justify my failure to post an entry in almost a month. I admit I don't understand the second quote but I really like the other two. Anyway, I was made aware of my dereliction several weeks ago at the party for Jill and Normunds when a good friend mentioned how he looks at my blog every day - poor fellow - and how disappointed he was to find nothing new (I'm talking to you, Dave). I suspect it was this same friend who, when Al introduced himself as my friend from high school, remarked "You mean Ed had a friend in high school?" In fact, I'm pretty sure I had two friends in high school. My editor, Editor Nancy, has also been bugging me about doing a new post, though obviously not hard enough. So the blame falls squarely on her as well, perhaps, as on my inherent laziness.

The Party

Quite a lot has happened in the last month. I managed, with a little help from my friends, to get all the repairs from the tree damage completed before the party. The party was wonderful. Chef Nancy (also known as Mom Nancy) cooked an incredible amount of delicious food, enough for a couple of more parties, and, along with dishes that folks brought to the party, it was a real feast. We had a beautiful sunny day with about 60 guests. In addition to friends who have known Jill since she was a baby, and neighbors from Lenox, my New Jersey family came up, Nancy's family came over from the Albany area, Pete and family came from the Cape and Jen, Jill and Normunds and Normunds' best friend Boris and his girlfriend came up from the City. My brother Bill drove up from West Virginia for the weekend. It's wonderful to have him back from Europe; we'll get to see him a lot more now. And, of course, Al drove out from Minneapolis, not to see Nancy or me but to meet Normunds, whose art he admires. There were at least ten little kids and they had a ball playing soccer, chasing each other around and running seemingly nonstop for three or four hours. God, I wish I had half that energy. So thanks to everyone who joined us to celebrate with Jill and Normunds.

Radiation

I started my radiation a couple of weeks ago at BMC and have four treatments left, unless the doc decides to do some more. I should find out when I see him Monday. The radiation is done five days a week, Monday through Friday. The procedure is painless and very quick; I get about 20 seconds on a side (front and back) and that's it. My appointment is at 8:15 AM and they often take me early. A number of times I've been back in my car headed home by 8:15. Not surprisingly, the technicians that administer the treatments, as well as my doctor, the nurses and office staff, are very professional, warm and friendly. There are side effects but not as bad as with chemo. For me, with the radiation going to my mid-chest area, the main side effect is a soreness and burning of the throat which started about halfway through the treatments. The doctor prescribed a liquid which is a combination of Maalox, benedryl and lidocaine, which numbs the throat temporarily and eases the burning. The other side effect is fatigue and I have noticed I have less energy as the treatments have progressed. I'm taking a long nap almost every afternoon, something I don't usually do. Fortunately, the side effects should disappear when the treatments stop.

The Relay

The Relay for Life, which so many of you so generously contributed to, started at 4 PM yesterday and will run until 4 PM today. Nancy decided to walk with me this year and we walked with my sister Joan from 10 - 11 this morning. For Joan, who is the captain (i.e., organizer) of her team, it was probably her fifth or sixth walk since Friday. She stays the whole 24 hours and doesn't even try to sleep Friday night. They had some terrible weather late Friday afternoon, thunderstorms and winds, but today was nice - warm and dry. The energy and enthusiasm at the relay are amazing, with participants of all ages from little ones in strollers to some folks even older than Nancy and me. It is truly a celebration of hope and triumph over cancer.