This is an illegal shot taken by Carol in the step-down ICU this morning. When we first arrived early Saturday morning, Mara was fast asleep. When she awoke there was even more improvement since yesterday.
On Friday Mara looked and even spoke better every time we saw her. The MRI's results had no surprises. The neurosurgeon said things looked as they should, post-operation. He had acknlowledged that he been concerned the night before about the possibility of a blood clot. Mara's primary oncologist, the radiation oncologist and the neurosurgeon all stopped by. It is early days for them to say anything about next steps, but so far things look as well as they can under the circumstances.
We have seen the medical world from its best side. On Thursday evening we were all impressed by one particular "I've-been-here-since-1970" nurse who was being kept extremely busy taking care of Mara and and two other ICU patients. At that moment, Mara was coming to from an awful operation. Based on only a tiny fraction of Mara's personalty her assessment was: "She's so sweet, and makes you feel good like a Marguerita... You know that drink?"
Mara's main trial yesterday was nausea. Moving her made matters worse. On the way back from having the MRI done she threw up and apologized to the nurses repeatedly. Late in the day Mara was moved out of the ICU to another floor, the Neurological Observation Unit. Continued nausea. Our frustration is that the hospital does not have, even know about Emend, an anti-nausea pill that Elise said worked fine for Mara and for her in the past.
"Look!" Mara's triumph late in the afternoon: she raised her right arm about six inches. Tears of relief.
We told Mara of Julia's initiative. She loves it. Then we noticed that the "eye-scar" on her arm is almost faded away. Time for other stuff to ward off the evil eye!
In the evening Carol stayed by Mara's side -allowed in this new room, which is a step-down ICU but for only four patients- while Daddy-Dave, Aunt Mary, Elise and I went to see "Michael Clayton," a thriller with George Clooney complex enough to distract us for a bit.
Zlatna-dear: You are not the first person to offer Mara-pictures for the blog. She is having me take care now of this Mara-news tool, and I want to keep it simple and about Mara's current condition. I know there hasn't been a visual update for a while, but Carol has some pictures from earlier in the week that we will download before she goes back to Washington later today. Thanks to you and all others for your love! It means so much to us.
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15 comments:
David,
You amaze me on how you are keeping the blog going! I am so happy to hear that Mara is progressing -- and, it is progress.
On the Circle of Love package, Kristina M, love the idea of coordinating with you on the package. Charlie in Ireland and others, if it will be tight for the package to make its way to any of you and I'm still the designated messenger, what about sending your gifts to be held for me at the hotel? Address is: Mercure Hotel Den Haag Central
Spui 180,
2511 BW Den Haag
Netherlands
Tel -- +31 (0) 70 36 36 700
Put note on package: Please hold for C.Dumas/arrives 25 October
Hugs and more hugs to Mara,
Claudia
Good morning bloggers.
Of all the things I can imagine Mara is tickled by (outside of the amazing care given her by David, her family, and the S/K people) it is the notion that a care package is weaning its way around the world to lift her spirits. Great initiative!
Of course, there is something very special about this daily Venn Diagram; the overlap of Mara's world engaging in a virtual "commons." I know only a few of you who write here, but I am personally so affected by reading daily messages of love and concern, humor and poetry, all focused on one goal.
Mara, my prayer today is very simple, just that nausea stops. Rest and let wash over you the love that you give so easily to others.
xo LizMcK
Mara -
Alan, Lucy and I are keeping up with your blog. Alan and I recently had a chance to do a Walk for the Cure in your honor, and your mom's. The knowledge of your suffering weighs us down, but the example of your strength and grace lifts us up. I'm sure you feel the love of the people around you. I hope you also feel our love. It should be surrounding you like an aura. Love, Win
What Cancer Cannot Do
Cancer is so limited...
It cannot cripple love
It cannot shatter hope
It cannot corrode faith
It cannot destroy peace
It cannot kill friendship
It cannot suppress memories
It cannot silence courage
It cannot invade the soul
It cannot steal eternal life
It cannot conquer the spirit.
You sent this to me a few years ago. You are an inspiration and living proof of all of the above. I've never seen someone so brave, so loving, so beloved by family and friends, so deeply hopeful with so much energy, determination and such spirit.
It's wonderful that you are surrounded by the best medical care around and by those you love and who so love you, whether at your side or through the blog 24 7 around the globe.
Ditto all the above best wishes for your speediest recovery from the symptoms of the surgery, that you feel better every hour, and that you conquer this cancer too!
Joining everyone else here in sending you and all those who care for you the strength and energy to get through this.
hugs and love to you dear Mara.
Ruth P
David, We are so thankful to you for keeping us all updated. I click thru a couple times a day to see if there is any news. It is great to read such good news today, but even better to know that Mara has you there. I know this more than anything is giving her strength.
Mara, Cairo is celebrating! I was with Chris (who is out from DC) last night. We raised our glasses to your health at dinner (as did the rest of the table). MaraWorld is growing and growing. Just know people are cheering you on somewhere on the planet 24/7. When this all behind you, you can do a global victory lap!
Hi, David, hi, Mara, sweetie! We are, hopefully, going steady and getting better, hurray! I hope you keep it that way!
Love you! Rest, darling Mara, rest and get stronger!
All my energy and stop-nausea-prayers hit the long road your way!
XXX, Zlatna
Thanks so much for the news. It sounds as if things are progressing as best they can and we all hope it will continue with gaining momentum. Nausea is horrible and I hope they can find some relief for you soon. You are one hell of a fighter and longtime achiever! This too shall be fought and overcome!
Lots of love,
Blanche
mara, your progress is amazing - phenomenal! it's no suprise to me that you are bouncing back -- your spirit and your will can take you far. don't forget that! however, please also give yourself some time. don't push too hard; rest; let you body heal. your recovery will come. Take it from me (overachiever par excellence with a sadistic streak). :)
Am here in Pristina with the increasingly impatient Kosovars. Let me assure you -- you ain't missing anything :)
xo,kristina in pristina
To wake up this morning to your smiling face brought me great joy!!
Claudia D,
Wonderful how this will work out -- it will be great to see you. We'll talk this week to schedule the handoff.
Zlatna, do I have it right that you are forwarding to me?
MARA,
Love you.
kristina, terry, heike & babym
Mara sweetie,
Just read all the postings from today, including the lovely one from your dad with the incredible news that you're WALKING already - as well as the fact that this unbelievable progress only two days after brain surgery just doesn't seem like enough for vibrant, optimistic, let's get on with it you ;-)). I just love it.
And now, a wonderful remedy for drug/evil cancer induced nausea. I thought long and hard about posting this (well, for about 5 seconds anyway), but then decided screw it because it really, really works. Here it is - weed. As in marijuana. Reefer, kif, pot, MJ, dope, etc etc, I'm too old to remember all the additional slang at this point in my life. My hubby, he who suffers from multiple non-life threatening but sometimes extemely debilitating autoimmune diseases and their concomittant nausea-inducing drug treatments, swears by it. Gets rid of both nausea and pain, and makes even the most vapid TeeVee shows lots o' fun to watch ;-).
And believe me, it's a nice treat for your support system folks as well! And it's something you can all do together - they can really share in your healing! hee hee hee. I bet the tough but extremely smart and wonderfully kind (at least if they love you) NY nurses would look the other way in a heartbeat, as long as you made attempts to be discrete about it. They might even join in - particularly the one who said your smile was nice like a marguerita ;-).
Keep getting better darling, and be easy on yourself if you ain't running a marathon by tomorrow.
Love, Lisa
Yes, O.K., Claudia, I'm forwarding to you (I was thinking of Ems, but that's O.K., I've got your whereabouts) thanks and cheers!
Zlatna
Hi there,
these feet are made for walking...!!!Great!
Claudia, I'll be forwarding the package-contribution to your hotel in Den Haag.
Gig kiss, Ems
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