May 19, 2007

Graduation is over for my middle daughter, Lisa, and we look forward to the next one, Michael, on June 1st. There was an advantage to me being in a wheelchair - we got seats up front and to the side so we could see her clearly get her diploma folder from the dean at Rowan. She actually finished in December, so she already has her diploma to insert into the nice engraved folder that we paid all those years for.

Later after a celebratory lunch at Landmark Restaurant in Glassboro (Lisa's college hangout, "the best hamburgers and fries, Mom"), we departed college city to get ready for Michael's Senior Prom. We met the families and saw "my little baby" all dolled up looking spectacular. After 5 hours sleep, he and his friends ascended on Wildwood for a day of carnival games and rides.

The radiation has started to dry out the skin on the bottom of the foot making it painful to walk flatly on my right foot. We took the wheelchair to the graduation in case the walk was too great. We're glad we did as the stadium for the outside ceremonies and the rec center where her major actually received their diplomas, was more than I could ever think to walk. I was given this salve to put on it, but it caused this burning pain which was unbearable. So I started using aloe and taking Advil a little more frequently. I probably overdid it when I took 48 people on a mural tour in Philadelphia on May 17 and then had lunch at the Moshulu Restaurant which was absolutely wonderful, "worth every penny" people said. I did use my crutches, but stretching the muscle on the bottom of my foot wasn't too keen. Having Michael take me, my friend Karen and her 98 year old mother over directly to the trolley, helped me not having to climb stairs into the bus. He picked us up at the restaurant, too, to come home which served my aching foot well.

The radiologists say I'm over half way done the radiation. I should get about 33 treatments which hopefully will end June 8th. I guess after they see how the radiation has shrunk the tumor, a decision will be made about surgery, at least Paul and I hope so. The girls keep saying that it will be over soon and we just have to keep going. There will be an end point sometime. I guess pain sometimes keeping me from seeing the gold at the end of the rainbow. I've started questioning whether my walking in general will ever be the same. I've been posititive for so long, I don't want to slip now.

I want to leave you with something I read on a church sign on the way to Lisa's graduation that helps me when I'm not moving as fast as the rest of the world. "Persevere - even the snails make it on Noah's Ark."

Have a good weekend everyone.