Sunday, October 31 – Balancing Tricks and Treats
It occurred to me earlier today, after multiple people asked if we were home, that I had not updated last night. Heath got home from the hospital around 5pm Saturday–we had to make a deal that we’d come back first thing this morning for labs, but we were home! A little Chinese take-out, a fire, college football and the Braves pulling out game 4! Yes, please. You had one happy boy! At one point all members of the family who were in the house were piled in our bed watching the game, so you had one happy mama and one cranky dad. He was just pretending, I think. At least until EB took his spot, with Rosie on top of her. At least Chris had some good scotch.
Wilson is living his best life as his own version of the Chick-Fil-A cow on a fun trip to Virginia to see the cousins. Apparently he rode through the drive-thru fully-costumed yesterday and got some free fries from some really humored CFA employees. We are grateful for Ama and Grandpa taking our fella on a little excursion, and for all our Virginia crew for giving him a little extra love on this different sort of Halloween.
EB drove herself to hang with some friends tonight, and to the store to pick up extra stuff for her costume. So there’s that.
Multiple times today we’ve looked at each other and reflected with neighbors who have their own reasons for a “lower key” Halloween, and said, “this is just a year to do what we need to do and make the best of it.” And we have–Chris, Heath, Rosie and I took a drive to Bruster’s to do our own Italian ice/ice cream trick-or-treating. It was delicious. Rosie wouldn’t wear her costume, but that was ok too. It was the first time in 16 years that we weren’t wrangling at least one child or adult into a costume. And that was ok.
We got a little yard work done. Most of you know that I am a gardener and avid home-improver. It was incredibly satisfying to get just one small portion of my outdoor to-do list checked off, and I even found one last daisy that was still vase-ready.
We slept in our own beds and will for the next couple days, and for that we are grateful. Heath’s numbers were ok today and we’ll have a nephrology appointment in clinic tomorrow with another lab check and as long as things continue ok, we’ll be heading in on Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. to start the next cycle. In the past couple days at Duke, his ANC (Absolute Neutrophil Count–measure of number of neutrophils–type of white blood cell–in the blood) went up really quickly to “normal” after his 0 only a few days before, which was good. Perhaps the fever was the point of the upward turn. No one is completely sure, but there was no other source of fever that was found, which was also good. We learned that some of Heath’s meds may not be absorbing well due to the ostomy, so that was a new wrinkle on which the team will continue to work. Adding heart transplant and ostomy and all the things that go with them makes everything in cancer treatment just a little more complex. That’s how we roll.
We’ll update later in the week as we settle into chemo week. If we stay on track, this is the next to last cycle, so we’re trying to find some energy and hope in the moving forward.
The spirit remains even if the delivery is different 
Thank goodness for a couple of cowgirls 
And now, a message from the cows 
2017
Thank you again for taking time to update and reminding what’s important❤️ I promise Halloween is understanding and will be there for Heath always.. Have a good week! Start to breath and think how far you’ve come! Much love…
❤️
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Thanks for taking the time to keep us updated. So grateful for this week-end at home for your family. Lots of love and prayers!
God bless you guys! You all amazing!
🙏🏻💜
Thank you for the update! I rejoice with you!
Much love,
Libby
God bless you guys! You are all amazing.
💜🙏🏻
Grateful you could be home and all in one bed for some cuddling, game watching and cheering on the Braves. Prayers for this week ahead and the remainder of the treatments. And, Rosie makes a cute little taco :). Love from all the Kellys
Thank you again for taking the time to share this journey. We know that you are so weary and that using even this little bit of energy to tell us how things are going is energy you could us for other things. But we hunger for news of Heath and we pray for all of you that you will be given the strength each day for that day. May your week go well and may you continue to find “God moments” along the way.
And still your smiles are beautiful. What a sermon they preach!!!!
Thanks for the updates. I hang on to every sentence and praying for you all.
Love, Mary.
Tuttle Fam,
I’m reading several positive happenings in this post. We’ll take them and be thankful.
Praying this is a good week for Heath and for everyone.
Loved y’all piling in the bed- happy and fun memory….
Big Hugs and Love
Remaining grateful for the good and hopeful for this next round❤️🙏🏻 We love you!
So happy to hear that you had a “normal “ Halloween weekend! May God continue to bless you and your family.
So thankful that you guys are home. Hope you guys have a bed big enough for those very important pile ups! Stay strong! 🙏🏼