Come gather 'round people wherever you roam, and admit that the waters around you have grown. And accept it that soon you'll be drenched to the bone. If your time to you is worth savin', then you better start swimmin' or you'll sink like a stone. For the times they are a-changin'. Bob Dylan

The times are definitely changing for us. Each day I as I look at Sam I see slight changes in his face, his body, his thought process, his fatigue, yet there is one thing which is constant, and that is his intense desire to not let the cancer rule his life.  What a challenge that is and he manages to meet it head on each and every day.  He is truly an amazing man.

Mt. Iliamna

We did get some fishing in over the weekend and managed to come home with some fish! Yeah for us!  Geez.  One more weekend of no fish and I would have become a complete madwoman. (No comments necessary, Roy Goldman!)  Anyway, the weather and scenery were absolutely beautiful and we could not have asked for a better time. Thank you to the friends who made it possible for us.  And before any of you ask, no, we have not yet transitioned to a trailer/camper/motorhome but we are definitely discussing it.  In fact, when I came home tonight and said there was something I needed to tell him, that is what he thought I was going to say, that I had gone out and bought something. HA. Maybe I will.

Sam met with his doctor from the VA on Monday.  She is concerned about the swollen glands behind his ear and the pain he has intermittently been experiencing elsewhere in his head and neck area.  She ordered an MRI but we are waiting on the results of his blood tests first to see if his kidneys have recovered enough from the last CT scans and chemo treatment to endure the MRI.  The past couple months Sam has voiced concern about pains in his head but I think we both have been fearful to push it. Therefore, it truly was no surprise to us when she said she ordered the test. Hopefully, we will hear in the next few days when that will be.

The 48 hour mark last Friday after his chemo treatment went quite smoothly for me, if you know what I mean.  He did experience side effects, though, and still is - nausea mostly.  Not too bad, but enough for him to continue taking the anti-nausea medication provided him by the doctor's office. He also is sleeping more than before (I did not think that was possible!) and is slowly losing weight. We are working hard to keep calories in him and maintain his weight. If he loses too much, the chemo will stop. There are some other side effects we have to watch for, specifically at the 21-28 day mark from the carboplatin part of the chemo which relates to blood cell and platelet counts and is referred to as "myelosuppression."  There are drugs to combat this but hopefully, Sam will not have to worry about it and can focus on his next treatment which is scheduled for July 13.

As for me, work is really busy. Summer brings on additional responsibilities including fire management. So far, two fires, both human caused. Luckily, they were both caught early and extinguished quickly since they were near urban areas. What I had to tell Sam tonight is about a day trip I am making next week to the other side of the Cook Inlet...and that he cannot go with me.  Yes, it is work-related, but I still feel very guilty because I know he would truly love to go.

Ciao!