Ebb and Flow

Friday morning started off with a boost for the spirits. We stopped by Faina's office for some dental care. It is always a delight to see Faina in an environment that has long brought her great joy. She enjoys the atmosphere of that busy practice and the chance to connect with her colleagues. It was good to run into Dr. W. and to personally thank him for a particularly well timed bouquet. The mood changed in the car on the way home. Faina suffered from the thought of the life she has built for our family and herself and the randomness of the disease that has come to afflict her. We tried to take a walk at Lake Elkorn, but it was just too cold, even properly bundled up.

When Dr. K. proposed a one week hiatus from the chemotherapy, we had hoped Faina's body would use the time to heal, be more ready for a next cycle, and that it would be a week of energy and appetite. It did not work out that way. If anything the trajectory of the past week has been in the opposite direction. Friday night was particularly difficult with Faina being in pain and experiencing nausea all through the night. While the recent CT scan showed no sign of anything untoward, her belly is swollen like we have not seen in months. I'm hoping that this is just a terribly rocky period and that Faina will be feeling better in a few days. At that point, she will begin a new cycle of chemo.

Faina perked up for a visit from a few friends and later for the arrival of our latest houseguest, a student from Rwanda. Heraclitus said, "The only constant is change." Amen.