This Time Will Pass

Kevin called from Ohio as he crawled into bed at 7 PM.

He's annoyed that the side effects have not subsided this week as with earlier treatments.

The headache is constant as well as the underlying nausea which accompanies it. He just feels rotten all over. Everything hurts. He manages to heat up the meals I prepare and send over each week but knows if he had to shop and cook for himself it would be easier to simply not eat.

And nothing tastes good. It either doesn't taste period or the growing nasty taste in his mouth overrides things.

He eats on schedule though. Snacks in mid-morning and mid-afternoon to hold off the nausea. Keeps up with the tylenol. Drinks 3 or 4 liters of water a day to flush the chemotherapy drugs from his system.

I admire his tenacity and his commitment to stay as healthy as he can through this. It is truly a monumental effort. I tell him so constantly.

We usually end our evenings with a phone call and prayer but this week he is simply too tired after the long hours at work and falls into bed soon after his supper. We miss our prayer ritual but remind ourselves this is a temporary thing.

That's the prayer this week. This time will pass.