It’s hard to wrap my head around the concept of someone saying “See’Ya Next year” when we are only two weeks into this year. So now I’m planning for 2027? Well, it happened to Suzanne this week. I’m still trying to plan out this year, and it’s a busy one. A cruise this winter, a sightseeing trip to Germany with a chance to visit family, and of course, our annual Vegas adventure to the NFR. Hotels, tickets, airlines . ….
Is there a single movie you’ve seen more times than The Wizard of Oz, not me or Suzanne? Who didn’t wait every year to watch that movie when it played? During our annual trip to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, we decided to change our focus one day. The Wizard of Oz was playing at ‘The Sphere,’ and we heard so much about it that we bought tickets. If you’re not familiar with The Sphere in Vegas, imagine…
Time sure does fly. Although it seems like yesterday, it was just 5 years ago today that Suzanne rang the bell at Rush Radiology. The amount of life’s experiences we have shared in this past five years could be considered a lifetime for some individuals. Beginning two months later with Suzanne’s surgery. Fourteen hours of waiting room time for me, but a total life-altering event for her. The mental challenge she faced with being told she would likely never eat…
We all have that friend or family member who at some point is totally in their element, a place that transcends them into a zoned-out mental state discussing some topic that you find mildly interesting. You Can ask him/her a question about computers, dinosaurs, woodworking, or cooking and the next thing you know you’re immersed in their world, listening to a conversation exploding with details you never expected. You may be at the zoo with another family and one of…
Just when I thought I was all done with anatomy class, a new term has entered into our lives: Long Thoracic Nerve (LTN) It appears that when Suzanne had her lobectomy surgery to remove the cancer nodule from her lung, the LTN was injured, damaged or cut in some fashion that it currently not functioning like it is supposed to. So what does it do, you might ask. Well, I’ll tell you what I’ve learned. The LTN peals off the…
We purchased a flat of strawberries from the Cissna Park FFA this week and today, Suzanne was making a strawberry pie to take to her dad’s tomorrow. I grabbed one from the bowl she was working out of and took a bite. Not too sweet but very juicy and the first thought that went through my mind was ‘Pretty good, but not as good as Bacon’. There are many foods I crave and yes, bacon is probably at the top…
We’ve all been there, first time to the church picnic to find out everyone else knew to bring their own table service; attending your child’s first athletic banquet to learn you were supposed to bring a rose to give your athlete during the ceremony; or your first company Christmas party and everyone but you brought a gift for the exchange. And, all you can say is: If I’d have known That was us last Friday when Suzanne had her follow-up…
Today, I’m writing from the Rush Hospital surgical lounge as I wait on Suzanne’s outcome. The last time I was here three years ago, it was a fourteen-hour event that resulted in me being the only one left in the place. I’m not expecting that today, but getting here has been a whirlwind. Two weeks ago yesterday, Suanne had a Biopsy to check out the very small nodule on her left lung; One week ago yesterday we learned the results…
Suzanne’s oncologist called to let us know the nodule in her lung that was biopsied last week was cancerous. He also shared that surrounding lymph nodes were also checked and were clear meaning it is a singular site. As Dr J continued to speak, our minds just stopped for that moment as a wave of emotion took over; For me, I moved back into caretaker mode thinking of all the questions and scenarios ahead of us; For Suzanne, a total…
As humans, too often are we faced with the loss of a loved one. In most cases, despite their age, that moment in time when we are informed of their death is still a shock. Tears flow, memories rush through our minds, and more tears flow. Eventually, we return to a sense of calm and our rational being takes over and you realize that they were what? 94, 97, or even older? When you finally put it all in perspective,…