Sorry, the New Year You Ordered Is Out of Stock

113265_maxWe’ve had a shock of sorts over the past few days concerning my husband David’s health. Last Friday we saw an oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

DOCTOR, looking at David: “You’re in good health other than the Acute Myeloid Leukemia.”
ME and denial trying to ignore his diagnosis: “It’s January. Why is he talking about a cute Hawaiian Christmas song?”

The doctor followed his pronouncement with a long and detailed explanation of this type of cancer and the treatment to follow, which would require a six-week stay at Brigham and Women’s (Dana-Farber’s in-patient hospital) in Boston.

I tried to listen carefully, but I kept getting hung up on the last thing he said, thereby missing the next. He had questions for my husband too.

DOCTOR: “Do you take any medications?”
DAVID named a single medication then seemed to hesitate.
ME, thinking it was a good time to step in to help. “You take Percocet in the morning too.”
DOCTOR, brow furrowed: “Percocet?”
DAVID, smiling and shaking his head: “No, my wife means Prilosec, but I switched to . . .”
ME, jumping in to correct my faux pas: “Oh, that’s right, it’s Xanax.”
DOCTOR, now eyes wide open: “You’re on Xanax?”
DAVID, patting my hand. “Please ignore my bride. It’s Zantac for heartburn.”

I decided my helping might not help that much.

DOCTOR: “I’m not going to admit you today. I’ll give you five days to prepare things at home. Here’s an order for more blood work for Monday.” Then leading us over to the lab, he said, “Before you leave, I’d like a bone marrow sample.”
DAVID, quivering: “That’s the one thing I’ve been dreading.”
DOCTOR: “Ask the nurse for some Ativan to relax you. But if you take it, you can’t drive home.”
ME, thinking, but not saying: “That means I will have to drive home. How on earth will I find my way OUT of the city when I can’t find my way IN?”

The bad news was he took the Ativan. The good news was he was on Ativan when I drove home.

The next day . . .

01990ME to DAVID, after posting a professorial-looking photo of David on our family Facebook page to let them all know: “What do you think?”zztop
DAVID, after seeing it: “I think it makes me look venerable. Now everyone’s going to feel they have to say nice things about me.”

He countered my picture choice by posting this much less reputable-looking one with the help of Photoshop.

Getting ready . . .

My 5-day preparedness list looked something like this:

  • Contact everyone and ask them to pray.
  • Make sure David gets the seafood and Chinese food he’s been craving.
  • Buy him snacks.
  • Buy him new underwear and PJ bottoms—and make sure his tee shirts and fleece tops match.
  • Buy size 15 slippers–once I figure out where to find them.

When I found the flannel PJ bottoms, David thought he would need x-large instead of large. I bought one large and two x-large. I washed the large and they shrank sink inches, making them look like plaid capri pants. When he tried on the x-large, it looked like he could synchronize swim in them with two of his friends.

ME, looking at him in the x-large pants: “You can’t wear those to the hospital. You’ll look like a . . . “

DAVID, pulling the elastic waistline out a good foot: “Like a what? A cancer patient?”

I returned the PJs and we found some that were NOT 100% cotton to avoid shrinkage. We tried four stores before we found slippers big enough.

David’s 5-day preparedness list looked something like this:

  • Show Clarice how to access online bank account to pay bills.
  • Show Clarice where the water shut-off and water heater controls are.
  • Show Clarice how to contact Tech Support and Comcast.
  • Show Clarice how to get to Netflix. Cancel Netflix DVDs because she doesn’t know how to open the envelope right or even use the DVD player.
  • Show Clarice where the generator is case of a power failure. Then make her promise not to touch it, but go directly to a hotel.
  • Show Clarice how to drive the Venza we’ve owned for three years.
  • Show Clarice how to use the smart phone we just bought her.
Thinking things through . . .

When discussing how he’d feel once the chemotherapy started, I told David not to hesitate to tell people if he was too tired and needed rest. [During her time as a cancer patient, our friend Kellie used to say, “That Cancer Card can come in pretty handy when I don’t feel like doing something.”]

cancercardME, when I learned David had a long call to make that night: “This might be a good time to play that Cancer Card.”

DAVID, shaking his head: “You never want to open with trump.”

ME, later while thinking about the doctor’s order for more blood work: “They took seven vials of blood from you on Friday. Why do you think the doctor wants you to have more blood work done on Monday?”

DAVID, looking at me over the top of his eyeglasses: “Could it be ’cause you told him I was on Percocet and Xanax?”

See why I want this guy to get well? He not only makes my life better, he makes me laugh while doing it.

The doctor is optimistic David will achieve remission because they caught it early. When the six weeks are over, further treatment will be determined.

Here’s the tee shirt he plans to wear when it gets to that point.

i_came_i_saw_i_want_to_go_home_tshirt-rd73d97489d6840a5b83d8e7674dc5dfd_804gs_324

Latin for “I came, I saw, I want to go home.”

Until then, we’ll keep the faith, keep laughing, and covet your prayers. Thanks.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress my God, in whom I trust.” ~ Psalm 91:1-2 (NIV)

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    The Conversation

  1. Kate Hinke says:

    Clarice, don’t if it’ll let me, because your a website & somehow different than an individual, but I’ll try to invite you to join a phenomenal private online community called the Mundane Faithfulfulness Community. Whatever your “hard”–cancer, spouse cancer, autoimmune disease, family issues–there’s a place for you. I was recently diagnosed with a rare, odd cancer in the lining of my lung, and the (mainly) gals are beyond encouraging, in both prayer & words.
    If you don’t see the invite to accept, I’ll try add you manually! We need your sense of humor–and I want a shirt like David got!!
    Blessings and prayers covering you both!
    Kate Hinke
    Birmingham, AL

    • Thank you for your kind comment, Kate. Sometimes I wonder if my sense of humor is appropriate, but I’ve learned that it helps more often than it offends. Laughter is a good thing. I’ll check out the group.

  2. Thank you for your transparency, faith, and humor. Praying for you guys!

  3. Joyce Hart says:

    Love this post – so glad you have peace about this illness. God is good.

    Joyce Hart

    Hartline Literary Agency

    123 Queenston Dr

    Pittsburgh, PA 15235

    412-829-2483 Office 412-656-5464 Cell

    joyce@hartlineliterary.com

    http://www.hartlineliterary.com http://www.hartlineliteraryagency.blogspot.com

  4. Jerri says:

    The two of you remind me of Laurel and Hardy :)).
    Also, I’m thinking of Proverbs 17:22.
    David, looks like your “photoshop” photo will not require a ‘chin strap’.
    Very cleaver :))
    Love y’all,
    Jerri

  5. Mary Kay says:

    Clarice, Prayers ascending for you and David. Having just finished up 8 weeks of cancer tx with my hubby (radiation, tho, not chemo), the sense of humor is a blessing. What a guy’s guy he is. My husband’s list looks the same & from year to year I forget how to work that dang shut-off. You both are a gift. (Maybe consider taking a cab?) May God bless you through this challenge.

    And drat, how I hate this tough stuff. It’s just what I wrote my blog about because so often God uses these times. Grateful the tough times are part of a JOURNEY, not a destination. Peace ~ Emmanuel, God With Us is with you.

    • “Shalom!” was the title of our devotional this morning. We truly are experiencing His peace. Thankfully, I have the Lord and a GPS to help me navigate the city. My motto: “I once was lost but now am found, was blind, but now I see.”

  6. Lauri Hawley says:

    Praying for you, Clarice!

  7. Shawn says:

    This is why I love you. Praying for you and your husband my friend.

  8. Robbie Pink says:

    Clarice,
    I am so sorry, offering up prayers for both of you.
    Your post made me laugh and cry, you have a great gift. This is what made me giggle and cry: “They took seven vials of blood from you on Friday. Why do you think the doctor wants you to have more blood work done on Monday?”
    DAVID, looking at me over the top of his eyeglasses: “Could it be ’cause you told him I was on Percocet and Xanax?”
    Many, many prayers for you and the “tough” photo-shopped David.
    Hugs and God’s Blessings!

  9. Elsie Bush says:

    Wow! Not the kind of news you want to hear. Sounds like a drastic treatment–for six weeks at the hospital! I can just imagine what you both are going through to process this and to make plans and adjustments. My John is starting to have memory issues, and I’m not processing that very well. Love and prayers

  10. Barb says:

    I like Jer. 30:17. David can say God’s words whenever he doubts or discouraged. Learn this verse David and say it everyday until God’s promise is your victory.

  11. ampie86@comcast.net says:

    You are incredible people and I will be praying for you. We’ll get together after he is out of the metaphorical woods.   I will have a guest blog for you after the weekend. I know it’s not a priority, but I was planning to do one anyway, bank it till you need it.

  12. ampie86@comcast.net says:

    C, I got slammed with an unpleasant surprise nine days into the New Year. Not as crucial or critical as yours, it involves my day job, but an unwelcome surprise nonetheless. We serve a great God. 2016, do your worst!

  13. Hi Clarice – Praying the Lord will give you, your husband, and the doctors wisdom and direction. We’ve got your back. A fellow Hartliner.