Good morning 0803

 It is Monday, and a new week has started.

This week, our daughters will be visiting us on different days. We'll take each of them to a different restaurant that we love, so it will be a slightly luxurious week.

The main reason our older daughter is coming is that a gallery in Utsunomiya has invited her to its reception party. She was invited as an artist, so it's partly a business trip. This is the first time she has been invited by a gallery in her hometown. We hope this will lead to her having her own exhibition here someday.

We'll also take our younger daughter and our granddaughter to a French restaurant that we love and have been visiting for many years. As a rule, children under the age of 12 are not allowed there. However, as a special summer event, the owner kindly agreed to let us bring our granddaughter, so we're really looking forward to it.

August has started.

 

 By YUKI

August has started.

Yuki had his biopsy and was discharged from the hospital as scheduled. I'm relieved that he didn't develop a collapsed lung. The risk is usually low, but since it has happened to him twice before, I couldn't help worrying a little.

Now I'm just hoping he won't develop pneumonia. That also happened after a previous biopsy, so it's still in the back of my mind. But today he's going to join a jam session at a jazz café. I think he'll probably enjoy spending time there more than staying at home.

It's been very humid since early this morning.

As for me...

There are several things I'd like to get organized, but somehow I haven't made much progress.

Every summer I update our family photo album, but this year's is still untouched.

Maybe it's time to get started.

Good morning 0729

 It feels like the world has changed. There was another major earthquake in Kumamoto, even though it has been only ten years since the last devastating one. On top of that, they're also dealing with intense heat.

Sometimes it all makes me feel sad. The weather seems different, and the world itself feels different somehow. But then I remind myself that my mother's generation lived through the war in Japan. Every era has had its own hardships.

Yesterday, I joined an online support group for families of people with cancer. I had hoped it would be encouraging, but instead I found myself listening to people who were struggling even more than I am. By the end of the meeting, I felt even more discouraged. I guess I'm just not ready for that kind of support group right now.

Today, though, there's some good news. Yuki is actually going to the barber. The effects of the chemotherapy he had before his current treatment have finally worn off, and his hair has started growing back. It's now long enough to comb, so he's going to have the back of his hair trimmed.

As for me, I'm going to visit a friend's hair salon and get my hair done, too.

by Yuki

Good morning 0728

 At last, we're back to our usual routine.

We've finished talking with the two doctors at the hospital and the care manager, and we've let our children know about the situation. This morning, we're taking a moment to remind ourselves that we have no doubts about the choices we've made.

Today, we'll go to our local clinic as usual. We might have lunch out, and we'll go to the gym in the evening.

Oh, and since it's the end of the month, I need to update our bank passbook. We still manage our household finances the old-fashioned way—by keeping our bank passbook up to date.

Good morning 0726

 

by Yuki

It's not a very hot day today. I wonder what the weather will be like next week.

We're going shopping now. While we're out,  we'll probably pick up boxed lunchces for us. It's not that hot today, but I still don't feel like cooking.

I'll "probably" make a proper dinner tonight, though.

Good morning 0725

 This is my update from yesterday's hospital visit.

Next week, Yuki will be admitted to the hospital for one night and two days to undergo another biopsy. It has been three years since his first biopsy. The chances are very small, but there is still a possibility that the characteristics of his cancer have changed. If that has happened, it may open up new treatment options.

If not, the doctor suggested one last chemotherapy drug. However, it is unclear how effective it would be in slowing the cancer, and I didn't get the impression that it was being recommended with much confidence. Since we don't want to lower his quality of life any further, we're taking some time to think carefully about what to do.

If he decides not to have the chemotherapy, the plan will be careful monitoring rather than active treatment. The good news is that the cancer is not progressing aggressively at the moment, so the doctor did not talk about life expectancy.

That's my update. I tried to write it as calmly as I could. Thank you for reading.

Good morning 0724

 It’s been extremely hot day after day. It’s 6:30 a.m. now, and we’ve already finished breakfast. Yuki will leave for the hospital in about 30 minutes.

He has the first appointment of the day, so he’ll have blood tests and a chest X-ray before seeing the doctor. I’ll leave home just before 8:00 a.m.

The doctor is expected to explain the CT scan results and discuss what lies ahead. We know we have to accept whatever comes, but it’s still hard to face.

Anyway, that was my morning update.