slap that tech

(Sometimes Caregiving Yours intertwines with My Lung Cancer Odyssey)

Meeting with my oncologist to discuss my CT Scan of neck, chest, abdomen and pelvis …

... in ‘lay speak’ … after 6 weeks of chemotherapy two of the three tumors in right lung have shrunk and one has not grown … !!!!!!!!!

… hugging and/or hi-fiving anyone and everyone … it was time to pick up Patti for her annual mammogram …

‘family assistance’ was requested because Patti can be a most uncooperative patient, last year even slapping the tech ending the unsuccessful session.

Not much different this year except no one got hit …. Patti simply reinvented boundaries of cursing, swearing and yelling even with her own daughter trying to help before another mammogram bit the dust … 

A little time with the ducks, Papa John’s Pizza and Misto Shakes from Rita’s was next on the list  …

Picture collage captures me “preparing” in waiting lounge for my meeting over lung cancer scan and our post unsuccessful mammogram picnic in the park.

“We я Scans”

--

Patrick Leer

Health Activist:

Caregivingly Yours, MS Caregiver @ http://caregivinglyyours.blogspot.com/

My Lung Cancer Odyssey @ http://lung-cancer-survivor.blogspot.com/

VOWS “What do words got to do with it?”

“…Saturday was Patti and my 28th wedding anniversary … while certainly considering all that has happened living with Multiple Sclerosis as a family and since Dec 2011 my lung cancer diagnosis … yeah it is a long time … but each year we hear all these platitudes about ‘a guy who keeps his vows’ … bottom line WE have no vows between us nor ever have …”

Perhaps in the expanded writing format of MultipleSclerosis.net ... a little back story can elucidate 

VOWS? “What do words got to do with it?”

Posted by Patrick Leer—July 25th, 2013

“The measure of a man lies not in what he says but what he does” 

Grant Morrison’s “Superman”

Patrick Leer

Health Activist:

Caregivingly Yours, MS Caregiver @ http://caregivinglyyours.blogspot.com/

My Lung Cancer Odyssey @ http://lung-cancer-survivor.blogspot.com/

Plan Now For Changing Care Needs

Wow! There is nothing like a lung cancer DX to erase whatever I was doing  ...

I had just written an article for MSFocus magazine on ironically 'plan now for changing care needs' when lung cancer entered my world in Dec 2011 and I forgot to even share the article from their Winter 2012 issue ... that is until I was recently cleaning up. 

"...More importantly, the plus is that Patti is secure, safe, nearby, and has 24/7 care the rest of her life. Some days, I have to keep reminding myself of that positive outcome. And when you add it up. it is an extraordinary safety net."
-- 
Patrick Leer

Health Activist:

Caregivingly Yours, MS Caregiver @ http://caregivinglyyours.blogspot.com/

My Lung Cancer Odyssey @ http://lung-cancer-survivor.blogspot.com/

28th Anniversary

Is a picture worth a thousand words?

--
Patrick Leer

Health Activist:

Caregivingly Yours, MS Caregiver @ http://caregivinglyyours.blogspot.com/

My Lung Cancer Odyssey @ http://lung-cancer-survivor.blogspot.com/

MS independence takes support

“Noticing I’m wearing an old MS Walk shirt that exclaims “Every hour SOMEONE LEARNS they have MS!”… OK so how often does someone learn they are a MS caregiver?

We are never really diagnosed … to paraphrase Shakespeare from ‘Twelfth Night’ … “Some are born MS Caregivers, some achieve MS Caregiver and others have MS Caregiving thrust upon them.”

For MultipleSclerosis.net …

INDEPENDENCE TAKES SUPPORT

Posted by Patrick Leer—July 17th, 2013

"Living with MS as a family and dependence can be a contradiction in care. With MS symptom progression, my role as caregiver became increasingly necessary because bottom line … ‘Independence’ takes support.”

“It's my job as MS caregiver to help every family member remain as independent as possible (and oh yeah, kind of like Santa please don’t let anyone see you do it).” 

--
Patrick Leer

Health Activist:

Caregivingly Yours, MS Caregiver @ http://caregivinglyyours.blogspot.com/

My Lung Cancer Odyssey @ http://lung-cancer-survivor.blogspot.com/  

the straw that stirs the drink

Living with Multiple Sclerosis as a family I used to feel was a parallel universe … and frankly it still is but when changes in other family members occur it becomes more like a benevolent maelstrom … swirling together Patti’s MS, my lung cancer DX, and the death of Patti’s father.

Through Patti’s eyes (MS dementia and cognitive impairments) I have no lung cancer, her Dad’s in heaven and an afternoon of family fun is just that … fun and laughter. She is practically the straw that stirs the drink.

Empowered by our daughter boldly facing the unimaginable herself … listening to their banter driving … I sit in awe.

--
Patrick Leer

Health Activist:

Caregivingly Yours, MS Caregiver @ http://caregivinglyyours.blogspot.com/

My Lung Cancer Odyssey @ http://lung-cancer-survivor.blogspot.com/

chemotherapy

From MY LUNG CANCER ODYSSEY ...

... Time with Patti has been a constant frustration through this past month of chemo … down from at least 3 outings/visits a week we have been lucky to have one … ‘focusing on my cancer’ the absence of caregiving time gets in my head like negative energy.

Our daughter has been a godsend somehow creating opportunity between everything else going on … we had a fun afternoon Wednesday snacking on popcorn and popsicles in front of TV and catching some sun on the back patio … all the time with ‘no lung cancer’ since Patti’s MS dementia and cognitive problems prevent her from remembering.

Patrick Leer

Health Activist:

Caregivingly Yours, MS Caregiver @ http://caregivinglyyours.blogspot.com/

My Lung Cancer Odyssey @ http://lung-cancer-survivor.blogspot.com/