So, What Would You Have Done?

So, yesterday was Thanksgiving, and we all got together with Norm, Nancy, Wes, Rachel, Adam, and Jeanne and all the family that welcomes us each year. The food is always over the top, and the fellowship is superb. They even have a nice old dog, Dante. We are grateful for such good friends.

Monday and Tuesday were Emory days, for tests, conferences, and procedures. It was quite exhausting. We know a lot more than we had known, and will find out even more this coming Tuesday when we meet with Dr. K.  Monday morning they drew 17 vials of blood from Mike. He had to beg for them to leave some for him (not really). We had a chance to see the lab where Mike will have the procedure in which his blood cells are separated. He will be in the bed in the lab for 5 hours or so, and then they will tell him if he needs to come back on Tuesday. This could go through Thursday. They have to give him medication so that his stem cells are released from the bone marrow where they can be collected and separated from the other blood cells. They keep and freeze the stem cells, and return the other cells to Mike. The medication might have unpleasant side effects. I hope not; we will just have to wait and see. Everywhere Mike goes he meets people who tell him they are praying for him. I know this will be a big help as there is power in prayer, even though we don’t always get what we ask for. In Mike’s meditation today the words for him to keep close to today were “Faith,” and “Hope.”

Monday afternoon Mike was scheduled for a bone marrow biopsy. Prior to the procedure Mike went to the bathroom to use some soap to help him remove his wedding ring. He washed his hands and was holding the ring in one hand as he was drying his hands with a paper towel. The plan was to dry the ring at the same time. Of course, I was there in the bathroom with him. As he was drying his hands I heard a loud “ping.”  The ring had hit the bathroom floor. I didn’t hear any follow-up noises of the ring rolling around or settling in a spot on the floor. Mike and I looked behind the toilet, under the toilet, and all over the floor. No ring. I put my paws up on the side of the commode and looked inside. Mike looked too. There at the bottom of the bowl was a shiny gold ring. I looked up at Mike as he considered his options. So, what would you have done? Probably the same thing Mike did. He reached into the toilet and retrieved the ring. He was lucky it was within reach. He then washed his hands and the ring again thoroughly, dried off, and we returned to where Judy was waiting. She assumed possession of the ring, which now is back on Mike’s finger where it belongs.

You might remember that Mike will be admitted to Emory Hospital on December 24 for his bone marrow transplant procedure. We are doing our best to take each day as it comes. As we find out more about what to expect the anxiety level is going down. We had originally been told of extreme isolation procedures, including separation from the other cats for at least 100 days. This doesn’t look like the plan after all. Mike finds his cats comforting, Shayna Maidel especially, who likes to sleep on Mike. Early in the morning as Mike is starting to awaken he rolls onto his back. Shayna Maidel climbs onto his chest where she can feel herself softly rising and falling with each breath that Mike takes. He also likes to pet her when she is lying there on his chest. It is kind of sweet.

So, not much more for today, but you will be hearing from me shortly, I am sure. I hope it is not too cold where you live. Wherever you are, stay warm, be safe, and have faith and hope for good things. So long for now from Happy Meadows.

Author: Black Magic

Black Magic is a handsome, charming, and self-absorbed cat who lives with Mike and Judy Gordon in Marietta, Georgia. He is about 7 years old, and he will remind you at every opportunity that his grandfather was Black Jack, that famous cat who wrote his own autobiography. Black Magic has a great many opinions, and despite his natural feline arrogance, he seems to be genuinely spiritual. But the reader can decide for him/herself.

5 thoughts on “So, What Would You Have Done?”

  1. Happy Thanksgiving! I’m glad you found your ring. Thinking about you and always praying for you.
    Hugs,
    Robin

    1. Thanks as always. I appreciate you. There is a lesson in this. I was always, I think, very nice to you and supportive and understanding without compromising the appropriateness of your care. Now it is coming back to me many times over, in a way that I never expected. God bless you and all your family and your prayer community.

  2. I would have reached for it too! My dog drinks from it sometimes so good enough to reach. Of course it must be clean!! Tell Mike Happy Holidays from all of us! Praying for him.

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