Musings Archive: October 2005

:: Deja Vu, or, if you'd like, This Sucks! ::
 
The final three weeks leading to my Bone Marrow Transplant for Multiple Myeloma (or, as the insiders call it, a "mini-mudd") were supposed to be a glorious celebration of our faith together and the hope we share, with or without chemotherapy. And they were--except that the last week of the three went and screwed things up. And then I went and got a fever, they put me in the hospital and the doctors got together in the presence of big machines "that go bing" and found something wrong.

Dwight & Sheri (far right) with his nephews and their wives, from left: Alison Keddy, CJ Keddy, Curtis Keddy and Cristy Rose Smith-Keddy.

Guess what, kids? Yep, the Transplant is post-poned, not cancelled.

But a lot happened along the way.  more

Posted by Dwight Ozard   (10/16/2005 7:04:31 PM | link)

:: Short Teaser: "Marrow is the Way" ::
 
There is so much to say about the last month or so (computer failures, hurricanes, surreptitious calls to Sheri from guys in Nashville, lots of blood work and low blood counts and transfusions, surreptitious calls and emails from my nurses, and so much more...) and a real update will tell the story properly, I promise (by the first of the week, I hope, sometime after our Bubble Boy party). In the meantime, however, a few short bullet points will have to suffice...

Admission--my original admission date for my unrelated-match, non-Myeloablative Bone Marrow Transplant was October 11. That was changed to October 18.

There's much more here....  more

Posted by Dwight Ozard   (10/6/2005 6:17:13 PM | link)

:: A Toast to My Caregivers ::
 
Last night, Sheri and I were taken to one of our favorite "bars" in the area (the lovely french cottage that is Georges, by a couple of the nurses -- Betty-Anne and Christine -- from Dr. Hoessly's office (where was Trish? he demands to know), where, until three weeks ago I recieved my twice-weekly 'arsenic' chemotherapy, as well as other drugs, like Aredia, the bone-building chemo/compound I've received monthly since 2001. Also there with us was Dr. H's unbelievably welcoming receptionist Joy, and the entire evening was gracefully and provided by Chris's husband Steve, who works for Millennium Pharmaceuticals, who make the amazing Myeloma drug Velcade (it just didn't work for me).

The night was obstentsibly to give me a bit of a send-off before my Bone Marrow Transplant, and it was that. I was overwhelmed and honored by their affection, for both me and my wife. It was rich and full and glorious.

But there was much more. It was a testimony to the genuine goodness of what they do there at Dr. Hoessly's office, and why in a strange way I'm happy to be his patient, despite what it means to say "my oncologist's office."

And so, seriously, we can’t begin to say thank you enough for your amazing gift to us last night and through these past four and a half years.

Yes, Steve, the food was wonderful, the start of all things good that followed…. Your act of "outdulgence" got our ball rolling -- plus, you're a great guy and it was good to discover that in a relaxed, open setting. Here's to more time together, and to that "DAY 100" thing we promised.

Cheers!

And here's to you, Chris, Joy and Betty Ann.

There is genuine, honest goodness in your company--a rare and delightful thing known far too little. The laughter, the depth of joy we experienced… I can’t even begin to say how good it was to be among you, to be able to claim to know you and to be your friends.

Your care for me over these past years and months has been outstanding beyond measure. But it has always been more than that….

Technical skill makes for one thing, but you guys… you guys love.

It starts the moment you walk into the place and it overflows back and forth like a torrent into (or possibly flows from) the now wonderfully infamous chemo room.

On the whole, last night was mostly frivolity. But there were moments of real insight and depth, too, like when we talked a little about notions of "purpose" and "God's will" in our lives. In all seriousness, I have no doubt that you have found your calling, your purpose, your lifeblood. God breathes deeply when you are in that office and are doing your jobs.

People come to wellness with a sense of that they’ve been touched by more than just a few nurses and a doctor and some nasty chemicals -- they believe and know that they’ve been touched by grace, by mercy.

And those patients that don’t leave in wellness, but leave to enter that unknown place of the “now and not yet” while we await the Kingdom we pray for everyday…. Those patients all leave your hands knowing that there is hope, just from your care and kindness they are assured of something more. They know that there is something and someone who remains committed to mercy and grace throughout eternity, and they are in his hands.

Your work and your hands and your heart and your laughter and your quiet wisdom whisper these things well… you do all of that and more.

It is a beautiful thing. And I can’t say thank you enough. Not now, not in eternity, not ever.

But in the meanwhile, we try, and we start with a toast:

To our team at Dr. Hoessly’s:
may they always live as well as they give, overflowing with grace, ample for all. I love you. Thank you.

Now drink up. There’s more of that good Zin on the way.

we love you.... dwight & sheri

Posted by Dwight Ozard   (10/1/2005 9:19:48 AM | link)

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