Open House

I should have updated sooner because Brian is feeling much better. He did not go to therapy today because his left leg is in extreme pain, which made the weekend difficult. His oncologist feels it is the taxol, as its side effects include the muscle aching and nerve issue. It alone can cause neuropathy and some nerve pain, and he feels that it is concentrated in Brian's left leg since he already has significant nerve damage from the radiation. Some adjustments on meds helped ease this problem, and he is feeling much better today.

He even ventured out into the chaos of a preschool open house tonight, amid 40+ three and four year olds excited about school. He attended the preschool meeting while I took care of my own classroom, and it was great to have him there. Thanks to great friends as coworkers, I was able to peek in on Tye, as well as help Rachel and Amberlea unpack their supplies in their own classrooms...and still see all my students! It was a good evening.

Well, he cut his hair. We'll see where it goes from here. So far, it is still all there, and it will be interesting to see when this side effect manifests itself.

Brian plans to go with us in the morning on Wed. for the first day of school, with a taxi ride home (via Karis) after the Holy Day Mass. We are blessed that he can share this first day of school with us. He hopes to be able to attend his own open house next week.

Thanks for all your prayers. I so often have prayed for families of those lost to melanoma. Tonight I want to say a prayer of thanksgiving for Kathie, stage 4 melanoma. Her scans today came back NED (no evidence of disease), and she has been NED since Sept. 05. And then there is Colby, stage 4, NED for 4 years. And another thing, Brian ran into a former student, Spencer Barr, who spent the past year and a half battling leukemia. We saw him at Pagliai's and he looked great, all ready to start high school. Brian has worried so much about him, and was very happy to get to see him. Oh, the power of prayer!

We continue to pray for those in need of special prayers, including Kathy, Amy, Ethan, Bryce, Frank, Michelle, Sheila, and Janet. I read a blog tonight that someone said cancer doesn't play fair...so true. I guess we can only hope to fight with dignity and grace, and with the Lord as our guide. For that, cancer has no hold.

Many blessings for a safe and healthy week,
Jenni