Michelle has always loved puzzles. This week I felt like we were living one. Michelle had an MRI of the brain and lumbar. There was a meeting with the oncologist to discuss the effects of radiation as well as possible chemotherapy. Finally, we had a meeting with the neurologist to piece together the MRI of the brain and lumbar.
The MRI was with and without contrast, which means they use an IV to put a dye into Michelle’s system to give it contrast, allowing the radiologist to better analyze the images. A failed attempt to use her port for administering the dye did not make Michelle happy. A stick to her wrist for an IV was necessary. Her veins were rolling in her arm, so they used her wrist.
The next puzzle piece was the 4th trip to the oncologist to discuss chemotherapy. Prior to radiation the oncologist ordered the chemo knowing it would be easier to cancel rather than put in a new order. Michelle was scheduled but not pressured to try another round of chemo. We had some tears this week leading up to this meeting. I knew it was going to be a hard decision and I wanted her to think about it before we saw the doctor. Everyone might remember, Michelle’s last chemotherapy treatment was in December, right after 6 weeks of intense radiation. Her only side effect was everything she ate tasted like cardboard. She said it was not a loss of taste but a change. For those who read the menu I add to the updates each week, you should know, tasting food is important to both of us. On the drive to the oncologist, I asked her how she was feeling. She said she was copacetic with her feelings and ready to talk to the oncologist. Michelle agreed to get the chemotherapy without needing to speak to neurologist. The 4-hour treatment went faster than Michelle expected. She was able to enjoy a full-length movie and 3 episodes of a series on Netflix.
The next meeting was with the neurologist who read the reports of Michelle’s brain and lumbar. She noticed what she called a small stroke in the right side of Michelle’s brain. She was not overly concerned about it. She said it is difficult to tell if it is a stroke or mets (cancer metastasis). Treatments would be blood thinners, which Michelle is taking twice a day and chemotherapy, which she also started. The neurologist did some strength testing with Michelle and was impressed with her tenacity and perseverance. Physical Therapy was suggested, which Michelle is already doing. We will see her in 6 weeks. Michelle will get a cervical and thoracic MRI prior to her visit in 6 weeks.
As of me sending this update, Michelle has not complained about things tasting like cardboard. Let’s hope this trend continues.
Highlight of the week Michelle was back at it in her gardens this week. She was helping me weed both the front flower garden and the back vegetable garden. This might not sound like much of a highlight to most, but after 3 days of chemotherapy and a full week of doctor appointments and imaging, having the fortitude to pull weeds is nothing short of a miracle.
Random Fact of the Week The first jigsaw puzzle was meant to help teach geography to your young children. In 1760, John Spilsbury pasted maps on wood and cut them into pieces. Jigsaw puzzles were originally called "Dissected Maps". When Spilsbury first designed his tool, he used a map of Europe and divided it into pieces. As it became popular throughout the years, different jigsaw puzzle styles and pictures emerged. In 1909, puzzle makers started to use a mechanical saw to cut curves and complicated patterns in wood or other materials. The word “jigsaw” was used to describe how it worked. The word jig describes the “up and down motion” as it saws the wood into pieces. And that, ladies, and gents, is how the jigsaw got its name.
Did you know? Michelle worked at a meat packing plant for 4 years. Michelle worked at Monfort meat processing plant in her late 20s to finance college. She worked days then went to school at night. Her mom would watch her son.
Throwback Love Story The year was 2010. Michelle was turning 48 and absolutely hated working. MCI had been sold twice and eventually ended up being engulfed by Verizon. Michelle’s love for problem solving and data analysis was vanquished by the new responsibilities of administering a software system she was not familiar with and did not like. The management structure at Verizon was not supportive of its remote workers, especially those formerly from MCI. She was forced into a night shift role and robbed of a night shift salary differential because she was not going into the office. The Verizon office was in the most dangerous part of Austin with the highest homicide rate in the area. There were no security cameras at the building and the night shift salary differential was not worth risking injury to Michelle. Having said this, Michelle was miserable, she lost her independence.
I could fix this, at least for 1 day. I was going to make this 48th birthday as special as I could. I bought more than 20 gifts for her. My goal was to give her at least 1 gift every hour. I went to bed that night with this goal in mind. Each hour I had an alarm set and I would wake up and sneak out to place a random gift near or on her lap without her knowing. Many times, she was asleep, so this was easy. Once or twice, she was in the bathroom. I never did get caught. Most of the gifts were small, some of them were large. She needed a new bumper for her car at the time, so I hid that in the attic. I fell backwards coming down off the ladder. I remember laying on the floor counting my blessing there was no blood and only a loss of breath for a slight moment. Overall, it was a successful message to bring to the favorite person in my world. The best gift she got that day wasn’t the angel trinket that still dangles from the rearview mirror of our Terrain. It wasn’t the custom family car decals. Believe it or not, it wasn’t even the bumper I almost went to the hospital for. What was the best gift of the day? Which gift won the birthday? That was the titanium diamond ring band with 3 diamonds set with a center princess cut diamond. Michelle later told me she remained puzzled how I managed to consistently make gifts appear while she was sleeping or away.
Food For Thought Each week I like sending a photo of Michelle. I take several pictures and send my favorite of the bunch. I delete the bad ones. Like a photograph, life isn’t always made in the bright moments. It might take 5 or 6 shots to get the perfect picture. You might get that one part of life you want to delete; I’m living in a snapshot I wish I could delete right now. Maybe there are 5 or 6 jpegs that you’ll keep but they’re not good enough to share. We should all develop and grow from the negatives. It takes darkness and challenges to reveal the beauty underneath. When the going gets tough, keep going. Cry, struggle then love, laugh, and live on.
Daily Edge Pieces TV 47 Ronin (Netflix) In feudal Japan, Lord Asano rules his province with fairness. However, jealous Lord Kira (Tadanobu Asano) fears that the shogun favors Asano over him and hatches a plot that ends with Asano's ritual suicide.
October Faction (Netflix) Monster hunters Fred and Deloris Allen tangle with evil -- and family drama with their teenage twins; based on the comic book.
The Midnight Club (Netflix) At a manor with a mysterious history, eight members of the Midnight Club meet each night at midnight to tell sinister stories -- and to look for signs of the supernatural from the beyond.
Nighttime Riddle TV Dead to Me (Netflix) Jen's husband recently died in a hit-and-run, and the sardonic widow is determined to solve the crime. Optimistic free spirit Judy has recently suffered a tragic loss of her own. The ladies meet at a support group and, despite their polar-opposite personalities, become unlikely friends.
Hijack (Apple TV) When Flight KA29 is hijacked during its seven-hour journey from Dubai to London, corporate negotiator Sam Nelson tries to use his professional skills to save everyone on board.
“Rubik's Cube Café”
The Menu
Snacks
Vanilla Pudding
Pear & Cottage Cheese parfait
Cotton Candy
Entrees
Potato Goulash
Taco Salad
Classic Chicken Sandwich with pickles
Turmeric Honey Chicken
Air Fryer Salmon
Cheesy Chicken & Rice
Bratwurst
Sides
Cauliflower Rice
Green beans
Calrose Rice
Tater Tots
Frozen Veg Medley
Drinks
Lemonade
La Croix (Berry and Razz-Cranberry)
Love you,
Brian
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