9.23.2008
wow, it's been *that* long?
it was a day that can easily be described as one of the worst i've ever lived. it seemed good - i had just defended my master's thesis, had a great visit with my brother (who then lived in boston), and was headed to a new job in the same department. it was sunny outside and a great late-May day. i associate my parents with the word "horrifying" only once, at that was the day. they came to my house in santa.cruz unannouced, which scared me right away because they never did that - at least until that day.
i still see my dad in his khaki pants and maroon polo shirt, my mom sitting on the couch across from me telling me that my dad had cancer. not a relative, not a friend of ours, but my Dude. not just any cancer, but a rare one. treatment was being started within a few weeks. not at home, but at UCSF. not treatment that has worked well before, but a clinical trial that would give him the best chance.
we spent the weekend at home together. lots of crying, lots of petting Molly to try to assure her and ourselves that everything would be fine. we had to tell Justin, who was 3000 miles away. he had a good support system but, in essence, was still alone.
thankfully, my dad's doctors in Monterey at up at UCSF are ridiculously competent and my dad was able to qualify for the trial. it wasn't easy by any means. two month-long stints in the hospital and two 7-10 day stays wore on my mom. the treatment was very aggressive, which was great for attacking the lymphoma but took its toll on my dad.
we've been going to visit his doctor in the City at least every 6 months since then, and i can't tell you how many times i've thanked my lucky stars and Dr. D. we go for another checkup next month and that will mark the 5 year anniversary of my dad's stem cell transplant.
sometimes i feel guilty that i'm not able to hop into work on the weekends or that i miss an event with friends because i'm in Monterey. but then i remember that i have been given this chance to spend more time with my folks, with my Dude. even if we just sit and watch a baseball game together and hardly speak, it's time that i couldn't appreciate more.
i still see my dad in his khaki pants and maroon polo shirt, my mom sitting on the couch across from me telling me that my dad had cancer. not a relative, not a friend of ours, but my Dude. not just any cancer, but a rare one. treatment was being started within a few weeks. not at home, but at UCSF. not treatment that has worked well before, but a clinical trial that would give him the best chance.
we spent the weekend at home together. lots of crying, lots of petting Molly to try to assure her and ourselves that everything would be fine. we had to tell Justin, who was 3000 miles away. he had a good support system but, in essence, was still alone.
thankfully, my dad's doctors in Monterey at up at UCSF are ridiculously competent and my dad was able to qualify for the trial. it wasn't easy by any means. two month-long stints in the hospital and two 7-10 day stays wore on my mom. the treatment was very aggressive, which was great for attacking the lymphoma but took its toll on my dad.
we've been going to visit his doctor in the City at least every 6 months since then, and i can't tell you how many times i've thanked my lucky stars and Dr. D. we go for another checkup next month and that will mark the 5 year anniversary of my dad's stem cell transplant.
sometimes i feel guilty that i'm not able to hop into work on the weekends or that i miss an event with friends because i'm in Monterey. but then i remember that i have been given this chance to spend more time with my folks, with my Dude. even if we just sit and watch a baseball game together and hardly speak, it's time that i couldn't appreciate more.
# posted by cheddah : 12:17 PM
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dude, always pick the Dude. and damn you for making me all teary at work! a good teary though. =)
i'm so glad the Dude hit the 5 year mark.
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i'm so glad the Dude hit the 5 year mark.
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