Yellow Brick Road – Can Almost See Oz!

It’s January 4th, and I feel like things are looking up.  It’s been eleven days since my last treatment, and my first week with no appointments.  Things are going well.

My neck is very much better, with perhaps 50% of area healed thanks to Domeboro Soaks, Xeroform, Lidocaine and Aquaphor.  Thanks to the nurse who showed Suzy and me the way. It’s getting to be smooth as a baby’s butt, just like she said.

I made it through my treatments without a feeding tube, thanks to Suzy and her ability to make just the smoothie I needed with just the right ingredients.  I can’t tell you how many times she reblended it to make it thin enough so I could get it down.

I’m actually beginning to eat food. Bacon and eggs a few days ago, Lee’s homemade spaghetti sauce from the freezer last night, homemade rice pudding today.  Not large quantities or anything close to a full meal, but baby steps. Baby steps towards eating again.

I’m even walking for an hour or more around the neighborhood.  Things are a bit different for us when we walk — I have to tell Suzy to slow down for a change.  But I am still walking and improving.  I even did a full set of my neck and tongue exercises today.

I still get around a corner, and see another corner, but things are changing.

(This is Suzy.  Sometimes when we turn a corner, there’s another wall.  I was editing this while Steve literally had tears streaming down his face trying to swallow some of that rice pudding.  More corners, more walls.  We never know what to expect.  But it’s still forward progress.)

I wanted to thank everyone for their support, prayers, and encouragement.  I’ve read and reread all of your comments, and they make me feel better each time.

I’m not recovered, but I’m heading down that yellow brick road that Dr. P spoke about way back in October before I even had a treatment plan.

Thanks everyone, for everything!