September 16, 2015 was the last 'official' update here. I posted the link to a Slowtwitch interview that I did a couple of weeks ago. I'll elaborate on some of the questions and answers as we go.
"Priorities changed out of necessity. Amy's went from racing to surviving. Mine went from figuring out what is 'next' to what was right in front of me, which was being a caretaker for Amy, an advocate in the hospital, and also juggling many of the things that we might have previously shared."
We have been home a month and a half or so. Those 6 weeks have generally found us trying to stay at the house and do some fall cleaning. But, they have included 1 follow-up to MDACC, a solo trip to my parent's, a visit or two with Amy's family here in Central Texas, and both of us wen to my parent's last weekend...Amy's first change of scenery since we got home. I hear there was also a race last weekend in Hawaii.
A couple of weeks ago I went outside to clean up the shed a bit and to dig up a few old/small rotted stumps between our yard and the neighbors yard. That turned into me "getting distracted" by a hole that's been in the back yard for at least 10 years. That led to me making a bigger hole that was about 3ft x 1.5 ft x 2 ft deep. A sewer line was in the bottom. In the sewer line was another hole. A trip to Lowes, and 6 hours all total it was fixed. I went in and told Amy that "I got distracted." I've used that line a lot in the past 6 weeks.
When you're sent home from the hospital it's easy to get distracted. We still have weekly labs in Austin. We have appointments every 2 weeks with either MDACC Oncologists or our home Oncologist. Daily meds to be taken at 3-5 different times. And you've got all of the various home things to contend with. The list goes on, and this post isn't meant to complain. Post treatment, there is a lot to consider, and it's key to stay on task, to keep the things in mind that became second nature while in and around the hospital.
I tell my athletes that a triathlon is a long day full of little decisions. Make as many good little decisions as you can to give you the best chance for a successful race. Pay attention to the details, the little things. The same holds here.
A few weeks ago, Amy was taken off of a couple of medications. With that came a drop in the amount of another medication in her system. Some of the medications have various interactions with one another. It's bit like trying to hit a moving target. You might nail the dosage on the first try, it might take a few. Distance medicine has its challenges. Amy ended up with another flare up of skin GVHD, and is back on a course of steroids. She has responded very well, but it was a reminder that staying the course can have bumps along the way...literally.
Me, I've been distracted in a number of ways, neither good nor bad, but distracted. The flare of GVHD brought me back to center in more than one way. I've been distracted and haven't posted an update. I was more focused on further down the road.
"Priorities changed out of necessity. Amy's went from racing to surviving. Mine went from figuring out what is 'next' to what was right in front of me, which was being a caretaker for Amy, an advocate in the hospital, and also juggling many of the things that we might have previously shared."
The picture, that will be our Sunday afternoon cruise through the hood. Amy on her cross bike, me on a mountain bike.
Stay focused. Reduce the distractions. There's plenty right in front of you.