<p>Epistrophy, I liked that link to the NPR site and all of those comments indicating that Leroy Sievers had connected with so many people. I think hope was going both directions in that piece. Out from him to people in an earlier phase of the journey, and back to him from many other listeners - both survivors and general well wishers. Its another demonstration of the importance of community. Sometime we forget that in the rush of living our lives. I do hope that Kathryn Joosten eventually found what she needed. </p>
<p>LTS, good wishes today. (oops, x-posted with LTS - sending a couple extra good wishes)</p>
<p>LTS, I don’t know if you can even begin to imagine what an inspiration you are to the hundreds (thousands?) of people who have followed your story. Your unflinchingly honest accounts of your day-to-day struggles and successes helped give me strength to deal with my own medical problems a few months ago. Just know you’re in my continued thoughts and prayers.</p>
<p>Mapsey, thank you, I have a LOT of support here; and the hospital staff has been wonderful. I literally have everything I could possibly want, right at my fingerprints. My daughter is here and she spends the night in a couch/bed next to mine; and my other caregivers are in and out, bringing various things to eat, etc. </p>
<p>The plan is interventional radiation; incredibly the department opened for the weekend just to accomodate my emergency. The head MD and the operational administrator both came in on their days off yesterday and today to begin my treatments. </p>
<p>I am very, very lucky and could not possibly ask for better material support. I still need spiritual support, and, for that, all prayers are welcome and very much needed. There is only one God and many paths to him…</p>
<p>Well, with “Hope” the first word in that Leroy Sievers NPR blog entry, and with LTS now in the hospital, this might not be a bad time to revisit Emily Dickinson:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>(P.S. By the way, if you haven’t read Miss D. since high school English and can’t quite get past the image of her as a pale, eccentric New England recluse, consider this: no less a literary critic than Harold Bloom has written that she “manifests more cognitive originality than any other Western poet since Dante.” [The</a> Western Canon, Online Reading Club Reviews](<a href=“http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~tanguay/book83.htm]The”>http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~tanguay/book83.htm))</p>
<p>“It’s funny how we spend large parts of our lives and much of our energy trying to eliminate uncertainty, to nail things down. In the end, it is uncertainty that turns out to be our friend, for it always offers a pathway to hope.”</p>
<p>From the husband of a very dear friend of mine in your shoes right now. </p>
<p>But you know, we are all in your shoes. Some of us just don’t know it yet. You are not at all alone. I am carrying what Adad posted a while back. “Fall down 7 times, stand up 8.” That is my mantra.</p>
<p>Wild Nights would be a good one too. I’ll find it and post.</p>
<p>Wild nights! Wild nights!
Were I with thee,
Wild nights should be
Our luxury!
Futile the winds
To a heart in port,
Done with the compass,
Done with the chart.</p>
<p>Rowing in Eden!
Ah! the sea!
Might I but moor
To-night in thee</p>
<p>written for a 16 year old fighting osteosarcoma - in the battle for his life… a young man with a strong faith, immense courage, facing incredibly difficult odds.</p>
<pre><code> WARRIOR
I am a WARRIOR,
fighting a battle I did not choose.
I fight alone
although I have an army at my back.
My army commands an arsenal of
chemical and technical warfare.
But I stand alone;
I carry my weapons within.
I bring my FAITH, HOPE, and COURAGE
to the battle as I fight the Beast.
I take my Courage from my Faith,
which is my foundation.
My church and my family feed my Faith.
My Hope is in the Lord.
And in the end,
live or die,
I will claim my VICTORY.
My body and my spirit will be healed.
</code></pre>
<p>We view “family” in the largest definition and feed and support his hope and yours. Praying for you and grateful to hear of your mobilized army.</p>
<p>LTS, I am thinking of you, and hoping for a rapid resolution of your symptoms. I only wish I could actually do something to help! Is there anything that you would like to have sent to you?</p>
<p>Thank you so much for the kind words; there is literally nothing I could need or want. My primary oncologist is still on vacation but his partner was just here; they expect the radiation to cause the intended symptom relief - it could be two days, five, maybe nine or ten, but, then I can go home. There are a lot of people taking care of me and doing things for me; I really cannot think of a single thing that I am lacking. He was very, very positive and still extends the attitude that we are going to beat this.</p>
<p>I have all of my technology here, including fully wireless stuff, laptop, blackberry, etc., so, in between medical stuff I will simply just keep doing my work…</p>
<p>There is the issue that they are now stitching together the fifth line…apparently there are still some options, so, we will see what is next…</p>
<p>LTS: Sorry for your momentary difficulties. Just another barrier to hop over in your heels. Sending you good thoughts, strength to battle and prayers of conquest.</p>