My oncologist called me this morning. He affirmed the good news about my bone marrow being clear. He also spoke with me about the radiologist’s opinion. Essentially the size of my tumors and the multiplicity of them (see Saturday’s update) places me in a high risk category for recurrence. That being the case, he upped my chemo back to six months, followed by a month of testing and then a month of radiation. So, on the short side, I’m in for eight months of treatment if all goes well.
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The scene is Kaiser Sunset—the primary cancer hospital in the Kaiser system located in the “beautiful” cesspool of Hollywood. Dana and I have just dropped my mom off at LAX, grabbed a bite of lunch, and are now waiting to see the Radiologist/Oncologist. We hear him on the phone in the other room—loudly asking other departments for my various test results. A few minutes later, he steps in, looks at Dana, and says, “So, you are Cary Schmidt?”
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Choose to Rejoice in the Sweetness of Christ in the Midst of the Bitterness of Life
Today began with the cinnamon roll ministry. Savory, warm, gooey, and covered with icing—Heaven on earth. Sweetness epitomized. Field day for the taste buds. Respite from reality. Ah—God is good to have created such things.
Moments later, I’m in the doctor’s office for a bone marrow biopsy. (Wait, rewind—let’s go back to the icing part!) My first thought—Dana can take this test for me—after all she’s from my rib and the Bible says she’s bone of my bone, right!? (In all seriousness, she probably would have if she could have—she’s a great lady with a tender heart. I could never ask for a better companion through all this!)
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