In Her Stead

This is Rick posting today, Diane's not been up to it these past few days-

Let me start by saying, I don't know how I would deal with the difficulties Diane has endured, pick a starting point: the past two days, past 2 weeks, months, years, or decades. It is not her style to complain or to give up. She somehow endures each increment of this progressive disease while still caring about others and, where she is able, contributing to their well-being. She is the strongest person I know.

Right now she is at the low point of immune system function. She's got an infection of some kind, which is what happens to most transplant patients. This is being treated by antibiotics going in through the IV in her chest. She runs a fever between 1 and 3 degrees (F) above normal, which tends to drain the energy out of people with this disease. She is also at the point in this treatment where nausea become a lifestyle. The medications that work best for that pretty much knock her out, so she tries to thread the needle between being asleep and sick, in order to do some physical therapy, eat, etc. So this is Day 3 of that routine.

I know many people have been wondering if there are any ways to help, what they could do, and the options seem very limited. That has often been my dilemma as well, because the things I can do are ways to cope, not ways to reverse the trend. What has been important to Diane for as long as I have known her is that she be and feel understood. So just tuning in, whether in person or in correspondence, is a gift of friendship she always appreciates.

Besides that, Diane has mentioned a couple of specific things that she would enjoy:
- She would like some decor in her room, maybe some pictures or artwork that makes it less of a basic hospital room of white walls and stainless steel equipment.
- If people come to visit, she said she would enjoy someone reading aloud. We don't have much material here, so you could bring a magazine or something short and interesting. Humor may be the best genre, or something on the lighter side. (Diane input: Graphic novels, although very popular these days, are not quite the right fit.)

Thank you all for the friendship and support. Again, pick a starting point: days, weeks, months, and with many of you, decades. Your enduring love for us helps keep despair from being the only option in this world.