Last night around 11:00 as Doug was getting ready for bed and the election results were just beginning to come in, Doug fell in the bathroom against the toilet. I don't really know how this happened, but he yelled for me and I went running. Water was pouring out behind the toilet. The hose that attaches near the valve had come loose. And so there I was, on my hands and knees in the water trying to figure out what was going on. I am not a plumber and I don't really like doing these things, but the water had to be stopped. I was sticking my finger in the hole near the valve trying to stop the water and trying to turn off the toilet, while now straddling the toilet. What a sight! Water was flowing out of the bathroom into the bedroom. Luckily it is tile and laminate in the bathroom and bedroom. Yikes, there was water everywhere. I quickly found a mop and gathered all of our towels and begin water clean-up. Doug was exhausted and needed to go to bed, and so I began moving all his stuff to the other bathroom (luckily we have two). Long story short sometime after midnight, the water was cleaned up, the towels washed, and Doug was in bed. But it was not the only storm brewing....
I sat down to check-in on results again. Everything had changed from the time we started watching the returns and the time I sat back down. I was waiting to put the towels in the dryer so that we could have them in the morning and so I began listening in on the storm that was brewing across America. Life changes pretty fast sometimes.
Morning came early since we were being picked up at 7:30. The alarm went off at 6:00. Getting on the van of course the big news was the election results. We were all trying to make sense of what had happened. But we did not have too much time to think about it, because chemo started at 8:00. Our MS warriors all went to their self-selected recliners and got ready to be hooked up. Everyone settled in, and as interesting as the politics of our nation is, the hope and possibility of stopping this disease, was again our common purpose and our common focus.
The day before the election we were united, bonded, with one purpose. This morning we found our differences; some republican, some democrats, some Mexican, and some European. While we could divide now, why would we? Because in truth we are all people, with more commonalities than differences. Indeed we need each other. Midway through the morning I went downstairs to get water for Doug. Hilary was speaking. People were gathered around the TV; some heart broken others happy with the outcome. I stood next to our driver Lorenzo, a Mexican. I told him I was saddened by the results, he said to me "Oh, well, it will all be okay." And indeed it will all be okay.
Julian of Norwich, a Christian Mystic from the 1300's said. "And all things shall be well and all manner of things shall be well". And indeed, life is bigger than this moment, and God can make all things new. We will be called to be a part of the solution that our world needs, we all have a role, Being on this pilgrimage of healing, coming to Mexico, Doug and I are responding to a call, to an invitation. We must continue to step forward in faith on this healing pilgrimage. I believe this is true for our nation and our world. As a people of faith we must listen, seek understanding and seek peace. We must look for the holy in all situations.
As the day is coming to an end, I want everyone to know that all the prayers, support and well wishes have continued to bolster us. Doug and our whole group again responded well to the chemo. No one is sick. Some more tired than others. Now we have a week of rest before the next chemo treatments. We are changing treatments. Tomorrow everyone starts getting injections twice a day, with oral medications to increase the number of stem cells available for harvest. We have a stem cell engraphment date of November 19th! That day will be Doug's new birthday, his stem cell birthday.
All things are being made new and so we pray:
My heart goes out to both of you (as well as my prayers). You are amazing, Eileen, as you provide the physical strength for two of you and also suffer seeing a loved one struggle with not only the disease, the uncertainty, the effects of the treatment, but also with your own issues--one of which must be fatigue. Prayers for your continued strength of body, mind, spirit and for a full recovery for Doug. God bless you both.
ReplyDeleteBill and I will be traveling to the "beautiful city of Pocatello" (?!) for convention tomorrow. We will hold you and Doug in prayer while we are there....Love, hugs, prayers.....and most of all, HOPE!
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