The "C" Word

Today was the big day that we both had doctor’s appointments. Mine was first, and was pretty straightforward. I had to fill out many pages of forms (a once-a-year chore) but my revenge was bringing forms for my doctor to fill out, part of Amano’s medical clearance process. Since I am clearly in relatively good health, it wasn’t a very thorough exam.

In fact, I finished in time to drive home and then go with Walter to his appointment with the oncologist. The appointment was at 10:30. When we got there, we were told that actually, the 10:30 slot was for filling out paperwork, which he had already done. So after he had some blood drawn, we were waiting around for the actual appointment, which was for 11:15. Except that we weren’t called until 11:35. By then I was so sleepy because I’d had a very bad night. Maybe anxiety had something to do with it.

Anyway, the doctor is a very personable Indian lady. She confirmed what we’ve known since Thursday—that Walter does have prostate cancer, and that’s what’s causing the enlarged lymph nodes. She admitted that it might be quite widespread, but she was still very optimistic about effective treatment, and even said that it shouldn’t delay our departure for Zambia. We will have a much better idea after he gets scheduled for a prostate cancer specific PET scan.

Still, it’s a blow. No one wants to hear the “C” word. Walter has been in robust good health in the more than four decades I’ve known him. It’s very hard to think of him being sick. I am not freaking out at this point. As an optimist by choice, my default strategy is to not freak out unless and until freaking out is fully justified. But the truth is we’re both kind of stunned at the moment.

The doctor also said she’d schedule Walter for genetic testing, given his family history of cancer. There are a couple of genes that predispose you for cancer, and if he carries one or both of them, that’s something our kids need to know. So the appointment was a confirmation of our fears, and yet more hopeful than I at least expected.

Afterward, we went to Walmart to get petrol and a few things that were on my list, including some bias tape that I needed for my sewing project and that I hadn’t realized the pattern called for.

I spent the afternoon catching up on my Bible reading and sewing and making a loaf of bread.

I have really struggled with this dress. The pattern’s not hard. I just have apparently become an idiot since the last time I made something. I have made so many mistakes. I’ve had to rip out my work and try again. I did just about the ugliest zipper installation I’ve ever seen, and it was not practical to rip it out. Grrr! And there is some color variation in the fabric which I didn’t notice until it was way too late to do anything about it.

I was facing being up till long after midnight finishing the dress, when I had a brilliant idea. I’ve been sewing the pattern in the order the instructions say to, even though I don’t agree with them. So they have the sleeves as the very last thing, after the rest of the dress is finished. Well, by the time I got to that point, I was used to the dress being sleeveless. And you know, I thought it was cute without sleeves. So I just bound the armholes and declared victory. I hesitate to show it to you, but I know you’re curious:

It’s definitely a “play” dress.

One very quick bonus project tomorrow morning, and I should be able to send off Ellie’s gifts before we leave for Houston tomorrow. So don’t expect an entry tomorrow night. Again, I don’t plan to take my computer.

Joy Spark: Learning that Walter’s diagnosis isn’t a death sentence.

Parting Shot:

Our very first flame lily of the season!