Terry and I have been seeing a great chiropractor for several years--Maureen Vellia, who has become a good friend to both of us, especially Terry. Maureen helped Terry with her two scarecrows this past fall for the contest at the ATL Botanical Gardens. About two weeks ago Maureen revealed to Terry that she has advanced colon cancer and is currently undergoing treatment. We are stunned by this news.
Maureen is one of those people who lives a very clean and healthy life. She is almost a total vegetarian, exercises regularly, doesn't smoke, rarely drinks alcohol, and does other things that she herself recommends to her patients. It's just not fair that she should get this horrible disease.
Terry went by Maureen's office today to drop off some homemade soup. Maureen was taking a nap on her treatment table, between patients, due to her fatigue from the chemo+radiation. That Maureen is still seeing patients during all of this shows her dedication to the health of others.
We are asking Team Mike to send your very best Good Vibes to Maureen so that she can stay strong through her treatments, and more importantly that they work.
Terry and I can count almost 15 friends and family whose lives have been affected or taken by cancer since my own diagnosis five years ago. All of them hit close to home, but this one hurts a lot because Maureen is a healer, and it's not just her life that is being affected when she can't continue to put in her usual long-hour days. She has been a godsend to both of us many times when we could not have functioned without her knowledge and skills.
On the local front, we got confirmation today that May 1 will be the date for the jaw resecting--and in the nick of time. I am having one of those periods of increased pain, swelling, restricted jaw movement, and dead bone loss. Three days ago, two small bone shards popped out, and it feels like more will follow. If we were going someplace else other than New Zealand (say, Cleveland) for nine weeks, I would have the procedure tomorrow. In the meantime I think I can make it to May 1 with vicodin, gabapentin, antibiotics, and atavin--all washed down twice daily with a nice New Zealand Pinot Noir. You know--dirty work, but someone has to do it.
We will post here while in NZ, and on our Kiwi blog, so stop in from time to time, and please send your best Good Vibes to Maureen.
Mike
Mike: Your strength has been an inspiration to so many...My wish for you is that after the stop in NZ you will return with that same determination.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts are with you and Terri....Love, Leonard Roy
Leonard,
DeleteMy apologies for taking so long to reply, but I get so few replies that I forget to check them on a regular schedule. Thanks for your thoughts and support. NZ is being everything we hoped it would be, and more. We'll host a big slide show when we get home so our friends can get a bit more of the feel of this beautiful country and its people. Please give our best to Lea.
Mike