7.11.21
The past few weeks have been a bit topsy turvy ones for us here on the Triple H. A heatwave has swept over Oregon and other areas of the Pacific Northwest, one that brought record temperatures to many areas of the state. In our part of Oregon, we are used to having a spell of days where the temperature soars to the tripe digits, but this bout of heat seems to have come a tad early and with a longing to outstay its welcome!
With the heat I have been very tempted to complain. Still battling the residuals of Bell’s palsy, I have discovered a greater intolerance to working outside in 100 degree weather! Add in the mix of having to wear compression socks each day, due to my lymph vessels a few years ago finally deciding to give up the ghost – a consequence of having my pelvic lymph nodes removed after my bout with cancer years ago – which makes for hot legs and no wearing of shorts! Add in that I still am not running on all eight cylinders in the energy department, with occasional episodes of low blood pressure and a flip flopping heart. Oh, and to top it off, my dearest Darrell may have to go in for heart valve replacement surgery.
Yes, the temptation to complain and worry and fret has been quite strong of late. Yesterday I gave myself a talking to as I found my mind becoming quite overloaded with a case of the “What If’s”. What if the cardiologist on Tuesday tells us Darrell needs open heart surgery again? What if there are complications? What if this heat continues and sets back our garden? What if my Bell’s palsy flares back up again? What if…….. Then, all of a sudden I felt a feeling of peace spread over me. Wasn’t I always the one to put Life in Fate’s hands? Suddenly I reminded myself there are always those facing much more serious challenges in their lives and that I have so much to be grateful for. Let me share the story of my young friend Amanda and her family.
Amanda is a delightful young lady. I first met her and her family through Pony Club and although we have not seen each other for many years I have followed her journey from Pony Club youngster to becoming a beautiful bride and now mother to two lovely little lads. It is always so delightful to see young girls you have known grow up, find that special someone in their life, marry and raise a family. So it hit me quite hard when I recently saw a note on the computer from Amanda, sharing some devastating news. News no parent wishes to share with friends and family.
Amanda and Luke’s youngest lad, Levi … A.K.A Monster Truck… woke up with blood coming out of his ear. A trip to their pediatrician and blood tests revealed what no parent wants to hear, as Amanda said, the scariest sentence she had ever heard: “He might have leukemia, you need to pack a bag, and get to Doernbecher.” Doernbecher being the preeminent children’s hospital in the Pacific Northwest.
In Amanda’s words: “Two days later, after a thousand blood draws, an echocardiogram, platelet infusions, blood transfusions, two chest x-rays, and a bone marrow biopsy, the doctors informed us that Levi has leukemia. He has had a few days of chemo, and will finish his first round next Tuesday. Then, we wait… and wait, and wait for 3 weeks, after which we’ll get to go home for a few days, then come back and kick leukemia’s ass again.”
“He is doing really well, all things considered. He is getting used to having his vitals taken and has stopped crying at all hours of the day. He loves to walk up and down the halls, waving and blowing kisses to the nurses. He’s working his way through a 5K – each lap through the halls is 1/24 of a mile, and he’s walked 6 recorded laps so far (he’d done about 30 more before we got the 5K check off sheet!). He is having trouble sleeping through the night – it’s like he’s back to being a newborn. But the nurses are amazing. They will put him in a wagon and drag him around so that we can get some sleep. He loves to hang out with them at the nurse’s station and is often invited to late night parties there. Our doctors are truly the smartest people I’ve ever met, and I’ve been so impressed with how proactive they are. They have a plan in place for every possible outcome, which is so reassuring. They are very optimistic about Levi’s recovery. We are so incredibly fortunate to be so close to the best place in the world.”
All of a sudden, I thought of Amanda and her husband Luke, their older little boy Wyatt and wee Monster Truck Levi. Their whole life has turned upside down. Day by day they face their fears and move onwards. As I thought of little Levi’s battle it made ours seem so much more manageable. We have much to be thankful for.
Yes, I will worry and fret until a path is laid out for Darrell as he is my heart and soul. If he ends up having surgery, we know he will have the best of medical care in Bend. My energy level will soon be back to normal, and I never did like wearing shorts anyway. Life will go on and Fate will play out her hand whether we like it or not. When one hears of a little toddler coming down with such an insidious disease, one has to stop for a moment and count one’s blessings. For there are always those fighting battles that make yours seems like mere skirmishes in comparison.
As I sit beside Darrell, the quiet of the early morning surrounds us. The clock ticks away softly on the wall. Down below in the cow paddock, Lass stands and stretches, looking expectantly towards the house, knowing it is almost milking time. Inside me, my heart goes out to Amanda and her family as they too will be facing a new day with new challenges. I reach across and take Darrell’s hand, letting him know how much I love him and how much he means to me. Yes, another day has dawned and I am thankful…
