I couldn’t decide how to open this post so there are two for you to choose from.

OPENING #1 – Travel Tip: Don’t drive to or from the downtown Chicago area on a Friday that is the start of a long holiday weekend. Our trip was twenty minutes plus both going and coming from Chicago yesterday. Suzanne commented that it was the first time in all our visits that we arrived late. By my watch, three minutes, LOL.

OPENING #2 – Yesterday was the second birthday in as many years that Suzanne shared the day with the staff at Rush University instead of family. Last year it was during her radiation treatments, this year as she participates in a clinical trial. A big smile comes across her face as each technician, nurse or Doctor asks “Name and Birthday?” To which she happily replies “Suzanne Bruns, TODAY, 1958”

For the past couple of visits, we have been jockeying the dates to coincide with a Janome Sewing Machine Convention in San Antonio, TX next week. After the staff worked schedules and made changes to get us to this point, Janome canceled the convention due to COVID as well as some supply issues.

This visit included blood work as always, but this was her second set of scans at the twelve-week intervals so that added to the mental stress for the day. Additionally, a visit with her Cancer Doctor is required by the trial every other visit and this was the one; but he’s not here on Friday’s so it was further arranged to have a tele-visit with him from his Oak Park office.

During our visit, Suzanne showed everyone the skin red marks that continue to pop up. Most recently, a fairly large one on her leg was most concerning to us. The Doctor indicated that the cream he provided is about all that can be done unless they become unmanageable. The big news was that her scans were still clear which always seems to be of a surprise to the staff; so obviously, their faith in the power of prayer hasn’t caught up to ours as this is what we expect. Since all seemed fine, off to infusion. Unfortunately, this Friday was as busy as the expressways. Since the cancer center will be closed on Monday, all those regular appointments were moved to today. So of course, it wasn’t until after 2pm that we finally got in.

On the way home, Dr. J called us on the phone with concern about her bloodwork he hadn’t shared earlier as he needed to speak with a specialist first. As it turns out, her Thyroid work was off the charts and he indicated that this was a very common side effect of the trial drug. Her thyroid was already damaged by the previous radiation treatments and she most likely will be on medication for the rest of her life. In this case, he increased her current prescription and will schedule a sonogram with the specialist on our next visit.

Dr. J apologized that he had to bump her meds to which I explained “At least she is still here” to which he agreed. After a detour stop at Hudson’s before it closed, we arrived home at dusk. Not sure I’m ready for the days to be getting shorter yet, but the seasons, they are a-changing.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3:1

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