Dueling Banjos

Wowee wow wow. What a day, what a day! Whewww. The moment we've been planning, retracting, planning again, changing the course, and worrying about has arrived. The moment that would reunite parents and son, cancer patient with cancer patient has taken place at last.

Diane told the front end of the story, which began today on a sleepy Stillwater Airstrip but really started months ago when life became much more complicated. Craig and I completed the epic tale at about 12:15, an hour after Cleo and her mister took to air. But first, the daily routine!

I awoke at 6am to deliver IV meds, then again at 8 to give Craig his chemo, followed by an IV push antibiotic at 10:45 before gearing up for the big reunion. Craig decided that he wanted to be there when Mom and Dad rolled in, so he got ready while I prepared his 12pm and 2pm meds to take on the road. I also cleaned the fella's car, since, well, we needed places to sit and he had none to spare. When I ventured back to his apartment to rally the troop (singular), to my surprise, I found Craig shaving! He's clearly his father's son. The man decided that he needed to shave 5 minutes before our already late departure time. (Really sweet, if you think about it. He wanted a clean shaven face to greet his parents. And, good for him for having the energy! But, back to the point). This, of course, is very similar to Dad's almost compulsive desire to want to let the dogs out, or wash his hands, or go to the bathroom, you name it, right before leaving. The ladies are punctual, the fellas are not. Go figure! But, hey, there are more pressing things in life than punctuality. As the saying goes, don't sweat the small stuff. 

Craig helped me navigate directions to the small(ish) airport on the outskirts of Denver. This is a notable point; Craig and I rarely talk during car rides. He usually is quite tired, fatigued, perhaps even nauseated; therefore, I try to remain as quiet as possible to allow any ZZZ's to pass even while driving. BUT, he was awake, alert, and interested in helping. Made my heart smile!

When Craig and I arrived at the airport, we were met by airport personnel and a representative from Williams Energy, who instructed us to drive the car up to the plane which had taxied and parked on the tarmac. The Williams Energy personnel, who escorted mom and dad to Denver, were so considerate that they asked us to pull the car even closer to the plane so that they could simply carry mom directly to the car seat.

There we were, parked next to a streamlined jet. The sky above was a bit cloudy, but otherwise beautiful. The moment had arrived, and could not have been more surreal. Craig stood tall with the TPN bag fit snugly against his back, the cord draped around his neck. He scrambled with the vomit bucket for a moment and I thought he was going to be sick. I realized later that he was merely making more room. No nausea, no pain. Not today. I realized then how screwed up the whole scenario was. Not in what was happening or how it transpired (that is quite beautiful), but the picture of my brother, who is fighting "terminal" cancer, waiting to receive our Mom, who is fighting "terminal" cancer. How f*^%ed up is that? Utterly mind-boggling. I close my eyes and shake my head in disbelief each time. Hard to believe that this is our family and we are really going through this.

Dad appeared at the doorway, and was visibly surprised to see Craig whom he did not expect to make the short trip. He crossed those five steps quickly and hurried over to Craig for a quick embrace. With the wind in my face, I couldn't tell if they exchanged words but body contact and the tears in his eyes said enough. Dad and I hugged and then we waited.

I could see Mom's profile just to the right of the plane entrance. Her white sweater complimented her blond(ish) wig. She sat patiently as the gentlemen readied another foldable waiting room chair. Slowly and deliberately, they lifted Mom using her black pivot belt and steadied her on the chair. They turned her around and already she was crying. She looked at Craig and the tears fell faster and harder. Then she looked at me and returned my wave. One by one, the men traversed the five steps until she found ground again. Dad and I cheered, while Craig covered a call from his friend Brelle who had arrived to help carry luggage and escort us back to her home she has graciously leant.

Within moments, the gentlemen hoisted Mom again to take her to her car. Their commitment extended beyond merely flying their "Angel" passenger to Denver, but to ensure that she had safely transitioned to her new destination. They helped Mom into the car, and Mom returned my obligatory "knuckles" once settled. She had made it at last (still crying, of course). Craig and Dad loaded in the back and away we went--from the compassionate wings of Williams Energy, mobilized by Craig's friends, Brelle and Leigh--to the generous hospitality of Brelle. These individuals turned a seemingly impossible and daunting trip (if achieved through conventional/commercial means) into something that WAS achievable and, in fact, relatively easy. Most importantly, it made Mom and Dad feel like they were the most important people in the world today. Mom was clearly overwhelmed by the care and support, and awestruck that the trip finally occurred. We all are. This is the product of not only Williams Energy, Brelle and Leigh but all those who shared their thoughts, suggestions, and support. We are no doubt indebted and will surely rely on your continued support to carry us through what promises to be difficult days, weeks, and months. 

To continue our day, we arrived at Brelle's and after getting acclimated to the new surroundings, so began the dueling banjos. Care giving doesn't stop at go, doesn't collect $200--at least not today. I helped maneuver Mom out of the car and into the house and then promptly set up shop to deliver Craig's medication. Immediately following that, I helped Mom to the bathroom. Given the commotion of the day, Mom's legs were spent and she had difficulty "talking to them". I would help her by picking up one foot, then the other, and then the other. We inched little by little to the toilet, and after resting there for a spell, inched back out. But, significant time had passed while navigating out of the bathroom, necessitating another visit. This was incredibly exhausting for her given the emotional, physical, and psychological workout she had already endured. She said, "I'm sorry sweetheart" and I quickly said, "lord, nooo. No apologies. I'm sorry you are tired and are going through this. We'll wait as long as you need to." Broke my heart. 

The surreal moments continue. Mom needed critical medical supplies and it was "now or never" as the window before Craig needed his IV drip antibiotics was quickly closing.  Craig joined me and we split up, trying to locate different items. Blew my mind. Here he was traipsing through a store looking for items for Mom, while carrying his TPN and working through his own growing fatigue. It brought back memories of teaming up before his cancer. The last time we did that was when picking out clothes for Mom over President's Day. By then, Craig was sick with a "hernia" or "gall bladder disease" and couldn't move that well. Still, he scoped out stores like the best of them, and helped me snag garments for Mom to try on in the dressing room, where Diane was stationed as her "dresser". This was our routine and there we were, moving at a slower pace but still set on our agenda.

We returned, dumped our load, made sure Mom was comfortable, and then sped (yes, moving faster than legal speed) off to Craig's apartment before antibiotic window surely closed. We made it just in time to hang the first bag and, just as quickly, Craig conked out from the high level of activity. While he slept, I ate my lunch (at 5:30) and ordered Mom and Dad dinner (with the help of Diane still in Oklahoma) after I realized that it would be very late before I could bring dinner to the rents. Mustn't let them die from starvation after having come so far! ;0)  Emily came over to keep Craig company (as a watchful eye--Mom and Craig really shouldn't be left alone for too long. We're a well-coordinated team). I changed Craig's TPN and by 8 I was off again to buy groceries for the rents and set up Mom's special bed. I asked what they thought of Craig and the reunion and Dad seemed relieved, stating that Craig looks thin and pale but not as bad as he had expected. Dad and Mom were scared and nervous to see Craig, understandably so. I can't imagine how it must be to see your son fighting cancer. For their sake and Craig's, I'm happy that they reunited on one of Craig's good days.

To end the night, by 9:30, I headed back over to Craig's to deliver his IV meds again at 10, followed by chemo at 11. And, wahla, so goes managing two cancer patients in two different homes! ;0) Whewwww.

Reinforcements arrived at 10:45; Jill drove in with the cats. Now, we're just awaiting the Yorkies and Diane, who has a cold and will delay departure until she's no longer contagious, to complete our family reunion. It's comforting to know that Mom and Dad are simply a 20-30 minute drive away.

Next hurdle, getting Mom on chemo stat! But for now, the big day is over. We'll see what tomorrow brings...

~E