Another Doctor Day....

Every week we go to the Doctor's office...making the short trip of 15 minutes from our home to the Oncology department of a local hospital...a hospital that is no longer a working hospital, but rather now a place with different departments and labs...this is the hospital where my children were born. the hospital where I went thru my cancer treatments...the hospital where the nuns use to bless each floor every morning at 6:00 with the ringing of bells and every evening at 8:00 with the ringing of the bells and the incense....this is the hospital that was down the street from where I lived as a kid...St. Mary's Hospital....Now, the building still looks the same and the memories of it are still the same for me as I walk the halls, but it has taken on a different function...Today, was suppose to be a chemo day....but after spending 2 hours there this morning having blood work done and talking with the Doctors...they are opting NOT to do the chemo today and instead will do a blood washing....they will remove the build up of BAD protein that is being made within the bone marrow...the protein that forces out all the good things the blood makes...crowds the bone marrow and does not allow for the making of pure and good red and white blood cells...does not allow for enough oxygen to be carried through out the body....This telling us that so far the chemo and the medications are not doing the trick....this telling us to be more patient and more hopeful...this telling us to enjoy each and every day...this telling us that
life is precious and we must be aware of all the good moments. I made a coffee cake to take with me this morning...a little giving back some of the love that is put forth at this office...everyone is smiling and helpful and caring....We are meeting so many wonderful and loving people who are living with cancer...and although it is hard to see how many people are affected by this disease, you can also find a common ground to talk with people about...their children...their grandchildren...sports...and the loving of life....These are perhaps the most hopeful people I have ever met...these people who are living with cancer...these people who enjoy and worship their day just because they have another day ahead of them,even if they are doing their treatment...these people who give me a sense of LIFE...and a sense of LIVING...and a sense of LOVE unlike I have had in a very long time...