Thanksgiving in April

Today we made our semi-annual trek to Baltimore for Neil’s brain MRI at Johns Hopkins. Although we’ve made this same trip five times since November 2022, the process is always stressful. We add the date to the calendar as soon as they schedule the scan, and then we try not to think about it. I mentioned it to Neil about a month ago, but it still seemed so far away. Then we flipped the calendar to April and the date was staring us in the face.

Never Routine

The trip to Baltimore is always the same, but never routine. We gathered our waiting room supplies (iPads, books, laptop, etc.), filled a cooler with beverages (Diet Coke and water) and hit the road. The first thing we do is pray aloud together. We thank God for Neil’s continued health and for His faithfulness. We ask the Lord for safe travels and for a clean scan, but we agree to accept whatever comes, trusting that He will guide us through any challenges ahead.

Since it’s a 2-hour drive, we always request a late morning arrival. The MRI is first, followed by a visit with Neil’s Neuro-Oncologist, Dr. Holdhoff,  to discuss the results. Normally it’s an uneventful drive since we approach Baltimore from the west. We don’t usually hit traffic until the last 30 minutes as we approach the city. Today’s commute included rain, drizzle, construction and rush hour traffic. We arrived just in time for Neil to check-in for his MRI, which lasted about 45 minutes.

Familiar Faces

The next appointment was scheduled for 2:30 pm, leaving us plenty of time to visit our favorite Physicians Assistant, “K.K.” She works with the stem cell transplant patients, and was instrumental in Neil’s recovery in October/November 2022. The moment Neil’s appointment is scheduled, I email K.K., to see if she will be working that day. She is always excited to see us, and rushes to give Neil a big hug. Today we brought her some farm fresh eggs. Sometimes we bring her honey or vegetables from our garden. (Next time we might even bring her one of Neil’s sourdough loaves!) Even though she is usually pressed for time, she manages to find a few minutes to catch up on our busy lives.

Today we were also blessed to meet up with three other nurses who recognized Neil and came over to say hello. They were all so happy to see him healthy and thriving — a far cry from when they last saw him!

As in previous visits, we walked through the area where the patients come each day for their lab work, transfusions and other unpleasant procedures. That is always an emotional time for Neil, and he told K.K. that he wished he could visit with each one and tell them that life will get better. Neil was very fortunate and has continued to stay in remission from his cancer. We know several patients who never recovered, and others who are still battling their cancers. We continue to pray for them and their families. And K.K. is still there lovingly watching over her patients, giving them hope and helping them to get back to living their lives.

A Sigh of Relief

Since we still had two hours until Neil’s next appointment, we drove to a nearby Italian restaurant for lunch. We ate there one other time in the days leading up to Neil’s transplant. We knew then that it would be one of his last big meals for a while. Today we ate heartily and savored every last bite of our calamari and pasta dishes.

As you probably gathered from the title of this post, we are giving thanks tonight because Neil received a terrific report from his doctor: a clean MRI! He even commented how there was no evidence of any damage from the harsh chemotherapy Neil endured for months on end. We thanked Dr. Holdhoff and presented him with some Hickory Grove honey before saying goodbye. We will see him — and K.K. — again next fall.

Forever Friends

At the end of our visit with K.K., she presented Neil with a special gift.  After dinner tonight, we opened the box and found a beautiful beehive candle and a very touching card, sharing how much she enjoys our visits and seeing Neil doing so well. I marvel at times about the vast number of lives we have touched, and those who have blessed ours during Neil’s cancer journey. Thankfully, we are on the other side of that dark time in our lives, but the friends we have gained will remain forever.