The Journey Continues. A Note From Jan. Jud's Journal Entry Twenty-six.

Day +22 in Lunder 1032 Counts steady +21 WBC 12.11 +22 WBC 12.4 (down a little but not unexpected)

Tonight, after leaving MGH, I exited 128 and drove to the Beverly Farms Library. Not for a book but for a look at some paintings and, more important, to meet Carmela and Walker. They opened their North End apartment for our family so we could be closer to Jud at MGH. Carmela’s an artist. Her exhibit?  The Journey Continues. it did me good to meet them and take time to wander among paintings bearing names like: Longing Passing Storm Holding on Mystery Together Hope Rejoice Like slow-walking backwards seeing where we’ve been.  Looking at where we are, then catching a glimpse of where we will be, by faith. Carmela’s journey. Ours. Maybe yours.

Yesterday, Dale Lefever came from Michigan to see Jud. Friends since our Michigan State University years,  Jud was his Big Brother when Dale was a freshman at Wheaton. He wanted to see Jud one more time before…God only knows. Conversing and reflecting wearies Jud’s chemo-brain. But sitting next to an old friend? That’s a healing part of the journey for Jud, for me and for Dale.

Tired. Jud’s been so tired the last couple of days. Worrisome rash came and went along with a number of antibiotics. Culprits, sometimes. All this excess fluid in his body needs to go before he can come home.  His red cells need to come up to get that water moving on out. Heather reminded me that her Dad’s been fighting for his life and now that he’s making white blood cells, his body’s getting the message to rest. Fight less, rest more. All the mental mayhem from some pain meds exhausts, as well. So today Jud slept sitting in the recliner, on the sofa and on my lap.

When Heather called tonight, I said, ”Your Dad fell asleep for several hours, sometimes with his head on my lap. He’s so tired.” Heather laughed. That surprised me. “Mom, Dad said you slept while he rested on your lap.  He was so happy since he knows you’re exhausted.” Fifty-one years together. Exhilarating and exhausting. All part of the journey.

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