Day 48: Wednesday

The day started with me rising before my alarm. I was dreaming, but I don’t recall the dream other than it was excellent, and I wanted to go back to it. I woke at 5ish and went back to sleep but could not find the dream. I woke over and over, still not finding rest. I finally kicked off the covers at 6ish and rose, still wishing to return to the warm dreams. Susie and Dad were there.

Reality comes into focus. This morning, I have more medical appointments. I can at least have a banana with coffee, and I do. I get the addresses, phone numbers, and names in an email that I both print and email to myself. I have a large envelope with my EKG results and an explanation of the surgery and its risks. I call it the doom paper.

I headed out in Air Volvo towards work, a less efficient but more familiar drive with the cardiac doctor’s office just a short drive from Swift at Nike WGQ, my home building. I am early and wait. Fifteen minutes late, I met a new doctor, and he surprised me with his energy and excitement. He looks at the provided EKG, and we then review my experiences since my last workup. I am doing well. My EKG has a slight abnormality, which will have no impact, and I ask for an explanation. I get a five-minute well-done lecture on how the heart’s electrical pulses propagate and what the readings mean. He reminds me of my experience with cardiac docs; they love to talk shop and give good news–they don’t get to do it enough. I am passed for surgery, and questions and concerns are welcome, “call any time.” He recommends getting a new workup after the surgery, as the chemotherapy could have made some changes, but there is nothing to do now.

I have an hour or so for the next doctor, so I head across Beaverton in Air Volvo. This office is on St.V’s campus, where the surgery will be done. Doc G, the neurosurgeon, will remove the tumor and restore any nerve issues. I met him first in his office, where he covered everything, and I asked questions about my brain scans. He explains that all is good except for the tumor, showing me the scans. He does a neurological exam, and that is all. I met the scheduler, and they will soon call me with days, likely in April. I am disappointed as I do not want to worry about this for ten weeks! I should hear soon. The likely date will be near my 60th birthday, 16 April 2024.

I head back to the office and talk to my boss. We are waiting for an official day. Concentrating on work after a morning filled with medical stuff is hard.

I head to McMenamins Cedar Mills for the same lunch I had last time: an Aztec salad and iced tea. I wonder if I am having issues with salads. I seem to get gas and other side effects. It is time to experiment.

I joined MyFitnessPal this morning and started tracking my steps, exercises, foods, and calories to lose some weight and increase my activity. This was my plan all along with it, starting after my trip to New Orleans trip. MyFitnessPal was a highly rated app. I record my steps and food.

I do hours of meetings, and soon, I have colon issues again. I have repeated the issue. Now, I will have lunch without the salad and see if it goes away. I head out at 4PM after multiple sudden visits to the restroom!

I head to the other side of Beaverton again, following the path that once led to the hummingbird house. Before reaching the facility, I stopped at Target to get some flowers for Z. Z is in a middle school play. Next, I stop at Sushi Hanna for dinner. This is a track sushi joint with a low cost per plate. The rolls and raw fish are not all exotic types, but they are fresh. I have four plates, hot tea, and miso soup. Perfect for a cold and rainy day in Oregon.

I headed to Whitford Middle School for their play Box or La Caja. Z had three parts that required costume changes. The play is about life and the moods of middle school, and each student carries a box that represents their desires, challenges, and personality in school. The different actors introduce their box and explain it. Z had two different boxes as Z played three parts. The play is done back and forth in English and Spanish. A projector has both texts. I follow along often on the screen as my hearing issues make it hard to hear some words. My Spanish is not good enough, and I read English. Z has one of the darker parts, and she is believable. The play is excellent, and soon, the audience dispels disbelief and enters into the emotions of middle school. It seems real.

After the short play, only forty minutes, I give Z the flowers. I brought Z and Dondrea masks from the Big Easy. They loved them too.

After that, I took Air Volvo back to the Volvo Cave. There, I had a snack of raisin toast (which I recorded in the app) and wrote the blog. Dondrea and Z sent me home with a little electric throw to use in the office.

I am barely able to stay awake. Thanks for reading!