Living in the moment

Good friends, Judy and Judi

A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take. - Cardinal Gaspard Mermillod

One interesting thing about life in a hospital is that time simultaneously slows down and speeds up. Each day we wake up and look for things to raise Mom's spirits and to pass the hours until her radiation appointment (2:30 pm Monday through Friday.) We've seen real progress in Mom's condition since radiation began just over a week ago; after every appointment, it seems like she has more energy, clarity, and better control over her speech. Late this week she began to get some feeling back in her hands and feet, and by Friday she was lightly squeezing our fingers with her right hand. So we're eager to keep moving forward with the radiation and chemo - eager to see Mom return to her usual happy, talkative self.

On the weekends, no radiation is scheduled, so we entertain Mom with silly jokes, music, and brief visits from grandbabies and friends. Meanwhile, we count the hours until Monday's radiation appointment again. This weekend was particularly busy with a visit from son-in-law Charles and grandson Macklin, who brought good cheer to everyone but especially Sara (aka Mommy.) The weekend went by all too fast.

Without the usual routines and rhythms of life, we have nothing familiar by which to track the progression of hours and days, so time slips by quietly and quickly. We notice its passing only when we glance at a calendar and stop in shock to see that it's already March. Roses that were just beginning to bud when Mom entered the hospital on February 10 are now bursting with bright heavy blooms, and daffodils that were just pushing out of the ground are already showing their first blossoms.

So, as spring approaches, we take photos of Mom's flowers, watch UNC-Duke basketball, and read every magazine in the hospital. And we count the days left in her radiation treatment, and we try to be grateful for every moment.

The first daffodil

Signs of spring