Bruce is very fatigued and easily tired, which is exactly what the doctor told us would happen. He is not interested in leaving the house unless it is a very special occasion. Two of those just recently occurred. I have succeeded in getting a band together and we performed for a wedding last Saturday evening. The bride was gracious enough to allow Bruce to attend, as it was his desire to see me perform once again on a stage, singing, and we were able to accomplish that goal for him!! Another special occasion was Bruce wanted to see a train whizzing by on railroad tracks somewhere, so Jake took him to Grand Rapids (not many trains in this neck of the woods anymore) yesterday afternoon so he could see a train, and he did! Great time for Jake/Bruce to spend alone together. Very special for the two of them!
Bruce felt good enough on Monday that I asked if he wanted to sit in the hot tub, which he said yes, so the boys and I got him into the hot tub and he and I sat there for a good 45 minutes just sharing the view and talking to one another, sharing a special moment together. When these occasions arise, we have learned to seize the moment and do whatever we can to make him feel loved, while at the same time create a special memory for each of us to take away and keep forever in our hearts.
We have had many visitors over the past several weeks, and thank you all for that! A visit means the world to Bruce and I. Bruce has contracted Shingles in his left shoulder/arm and it is painful but he is being treated with medications to help with the pain and that seems to be working well as of this time. He has little stamina, and really only gets out of the recliner to go to the bathroom or sit at the kitchen bar to peruse the Internet. I get him the morning Detroit Free Press every day so he can read that, which he enjoys a lot. He spends a lot of time watching the Detroit Tigers play on TV (they lost yesterday, btw, boo!)
Bruce is also sleeping more. He rests very comfortably at night, sleeping through the night. He needs/wants to take a nap sometimes during the day also, and he could sleep for hours if I let him! LOL Try to limit napping so he will sleep well at night. He has no pain from the cancer as of this time (which is a blessing)! He has blurry/cloudy vision so makes it more difficult to read and see the computer screen. His mobility is becoming progressively weaker by the week, it seems, and he can and does lose his balance. We have adjusted where the rest of us physically are in the home to be sure one person is in the same room at all times to help him when he decides to walk somewhere (which, when he does decide to walk, he doesn't announce it, he just gets up and walks)!!
Bruce is still cognitively alert and oriented some of the time. He will respond (sometimes) to questions asked of him but I have found that he sometimes is simply incapable of answering OR, as he confessed to me in the hot tub, he sometimes is just being plain lazy to answer us. (He laughs then) Too funny!! I asked him if he thinks about the cancer and he responded, "Not very much". Again, a blessing!! I believe it is because his brain function has been so damaged by the tumor being debulked and now the cancer spreading to other areas of his brain.
Ok, I think I have given you a glimpse inside what's happening here, (albeit rambling; sorry). I have more photos from the party that I didn't share with you, so take a look at these and hopefully they will put a smile on your face and help us all to remember that we have, indeed, been very blessed by Bruce's presence throughout our lives here on earth!! Love to All - Val
