Getting Better and Having Fun

Last week was Lumbar Puncture #2 and yet another "position". This time Dan (the Physician's Assistant) had me lay on my side and pull my knees up to my chest as high as I could, i.e., the fetal position. It was very comfortable. He said I must be a real veteran when I didn't even flinch. After 7 of them I guess I am a veteran. My next appointment with my Oncologist is Oct. 1st.

I am feeling really good and have been given permission to join Ray for a 2-week business/pleasure road trip. We are in Pittsburgh as of this writing and will continue to Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska (just the northern borders). That's the business part. The pleasure part comes when we head north through Wisconsin and Minnesota to Canada (Thunder Bay), then back to the US to Michigan (Mackinaw and the Upper Pennisula) and then back to Canada and Niagra Falls and home through Buffalo, etc. I am very excited to see it all as I've never been to that part of the country or to Niagra Falls which has been on my bucket list for a long, long time. We'll also see 3 or 4 of the Great Lakes - awesome!

I was kinda surprised that I was allowed to leave for 2 weeks, but the docs and nurses at Hopkins believe that a big part of the healing process is allowing their patients to have fun and get back to doing normal activities as soon as possible. I agree with that philosophy. People need other people and things that bring them joy, to be out among the living and get involved in life again instead of worrying about their disease. Of course I have to be careful and use caution when necessary - we are afterall, entering the flu season. See ya soon!