Yvonne’s Challenge

How happy I am to tell you that Beth is doing really well!  That’s the best news I could possibly report.  She’s up and around, moving better, and even walking three miles in her neighborhood with David.  Beth says she gets an occasional ouchy reminder, but David believes they’ve turned the corner.  I know everyone who’s reading joins me in breathing a sigh of relief.  Her markers look good and her creatinine is at 1.3, which is essentially normal.  Expectations are that it will go lower, so she’s moving in the right direction.  Hooray!

I had a great report yesterday too.  While certain numbers have meant something for a long time — like creeping creatinine counts that are a sign of decreasing kidney function – I’ve had my head wrapped around decreasing prednisone for the last few weeks.  My nephrologist mentioned yesterday in my weekly hospital visit that next Monday they’d review prednisone counts at the four-week marker.  While I will admit a little disappointment, the fact that I feel so great certainly is a far better measure than worrying about prednisone. 

Typical tapers are gradual — like 2.5 mg a week.  I couldn’t believe my good fortune when I got the call late this afternoon that I can taper to 20 mg.  That’s a big old number 10!  I’ll take that one and run with it.  I’m thinking I’ll sleep better in a couple of days and not be forced to knock on neighbors’ doors to get their houses organized.  I’d hate to develop a reputation as the neighbor nut job.

Admitedly I’m not the most patient person on earth (no comments from the peanut gallery, please!) so occasionally I stretch some boundaries (again, no comments, please).  I did get the OK to drive. While it was recommended that a trip to a 7-11 would be OK, I mentioned that there was nothing I was particularly interested in buying except perhaps beer.  Hmmm … that takes me back a few years.  I’ll take it slowly and not jump into rush-hour traffic quite yet.  But oh the freedom!

Connee is here this week, and we did a little woo-hoo when I got the call.  Now she’s the ‘gang of four’ Chairman of the Board, and when she speaks we listen.  (If you’re old enough you might remember the E.F. Hutton commercials.)  She even admits that I’m capable of staying alone, so she’ll be heading out in the next day or so.  So it will be me, Lei Lei and Shaddie manning Club 5551.  Now don’t think there will be a shindig or cocktail hour yet.  With my new-found freedom I will honor the privilege.  This is not an experience I want to try again.  So I will be on my best behavior … mostly.

I’ve mentioned the incredible gift of having my friends here and the treasure of spending time together.  With everyone’s very busy lives, Connee, Olive, June, Debbie and Susie have made personal sacrifices being away from their families.  What a luxurious way to recuperate, surrounded by people I love and adore with all my heart.  Powerful, hopeful, resourceful, smart, funny, extraordinary and amazing, each in their own right.  My Sistas who mean the world to me.

Even better, we’ve got a new Sista in the gang with the addition of Beth.  I continue to ponder thoughts of how I ever am able to thank her for the personal sacrifice she’s made.  What words are ever meaningful enough?  And how do I ever thank the ‘gang of four’ who have been by my side?  And the many friends who have been in constant communication, reading the blog and sending good thoughts.  That is the wonder of this experience.  Even for someone who communicates for a living, the words simply aren’t meaningful enough to portray the depth of emotion I feel. 

I will remember the magic numbers … like 14 laps around a hospital floor.  Six days and feeling great.  Two Good Fridays this Easter season.  A normal 1.2 creatinine level.  Being able to drive at less than four weeks.  Going back to work in six to a team I adore.  Almost 4500 hits to this little site from 820 people.  The kindness of so many that doesn’t translate to numbers.  That’s magic too.

Love, Yvonne