New day, new scans!

The most recent visit to MD Anderson was (in Albert's words) anticlimactic!

He got new chest and body scans.

Also new lab work.

Apparently, all is well.

Very little fluid around the lung, and practically NO fluid around the heart.

Good news, probably even great news.  However, he still has this dang cough.

So, the next question is, how do we get rid of it?  Of course, steroids are not good for long term use, and the cough med he's been taking is no longer very effective...so what do we do now?

Apparently, we wait until the radiation oncologist is back from vacation next week and see what his opinion is.  The good thing is that he will already have all the scans he needs to make a decision.  The bad thing is that this cough is pretty nasty.  So this means a few more days to tolerate this late onset symptom of radiation to the chest.

Also, we only saw the PA this time.   That's more good news, right?  That means his case isn't as critical as others, right?

Speaking of which.  I recognized a couple of newbies in the waiting area.  That bundle of nerves, the fear in each family member's eyes, not knowing what the doctor is going to say, but hoping against all hope that there is SOMETHING they can do!  The mom was the patient.  The grown daughter was home (maybe from college), doting on mom, the daughter still at home was glued to her social media on her phone.  Dad was doing everything possible to appear OK, but was just a jumble of bungled nerves...even forgot his backpack when they called the wife's name.  My heart went out to them.  Thinking of how scary that first visit is; and oh, how far we have come.

Lately, I find myself helping people find their way around the maze of hallways and buildings, giving directions to the pharmacy or the post office...helping them find the cafe that's open at the current time of day.  Yep, we've been there a couple of times!

I've chosen to think of our visits as quality time with my best friend.  Because, in truth, I'd rather be there with him than anywhere else by myself.  Every day together is a gift.  And if I'm still visiting MD Anderson in 4 years, I'll know that my guy beat the odds!!!!  He'll bust through that 0% that have survived before him!

Anticlimactic?  Yes!  and I'll take it ANY DAY!!