Saturday, September 18, 2010

On the Right Path 一天天好起來

Our patient is getting better everyday. She has been bathing herself last two weeks. She starts to run small chores herself, like paying bills and even writes one or two emails, very limited though. Lately, she even writes a shopping list while Michael goes shopping at local fresh market. She then gives instructions to Juanny, our helper to cook for the boys.
病人一天天好起來, 過去兩週來她每天自己沐浴,開始處理簡單事物,如付賬單,偶爾也能寫一兩封電郵。最近還列個菜單,讓筆者到菜市場提籃小買,她再教華妮煮給兩個孩子。


She took her 1st post surgery lung CT scan Wed. (Sept. 16) and we should be notified by Dr. Chiu's office soon should there be any abnormality or we won't see him until early Oct.
週三到醫院照了胸部的 CT Scan,這是術後第一次。邱大夫告訴我們若是結果有異常,他會第一時間通知我們,否則下次回診要到十月初了。


Wanting to get back to her normal life soon cause' the drug does give her certain headache, she tells Dr. Chiu that she intends to take Irressa for 4 months, not 6 months or a year. Dr. Chiu is fine with that, which means she will stop Iressa in Mid November.
標靶藥似乎會引起頭痛,從四月到現在折騰了五個月,她期待能回復正常生活。當邱大夫跟她商量服藥療程時,即不需一年,半年也太久,她毫不猶豫地說四個月就夠了,邱大夫並無異議。這樣一來我們到十一月中就會停藥了。


Thank you all who continue to follow her status and remember us in ones praying vigil. 
謝謝大家一直沒有間斷的關心和代禱。

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Good progress 近來不錯

Our helper got sick this week and she took some days off to see doctor and rest. Michael was pulling his hair when first hearing this request. Well, today is second day she is not with us and we're hopeful she will be back comes tomorrow, cause Michael needs fly to Hong Kong Monday.
我們的幫佣華妮上週末從彰化回來,結果感冒了,昨天請假回家,看醫生,順便休息。永強一開始的反應是擔心家裡會亂成一團糟,今天是第二天,希望她明天週日可以病愈返回,否則永強週一一早沒法去香港上班。

Well, in all things God works for the good of those who love him, the silver lining is that we're learning to be more independent of ourselves. Eileen for one has taken up bathing herself while trying to keep a distance from our helper, hence the germs.
神叫萬事互相效力,叫愛神的人得益處。華妮這一生病,為免傳染而保持距離,反而讓藹玲學習獨立起來,她可以洗澡自理了。

All in all, Michael is amazed to discover how much a progress Eileen has been made so far. She starts to crave for food she used to indulge and asks for bites from our plates even though she won't be able to munching with hearty appetite like she used to. The stomach pill does the wonder while she no longer complains about tummy upset. Ensure mixed with grind oats power remains her staple diet. We don't hear her coughing any more. One should see how we used to carry a plastic basin, a container to collect her used tissue papers, with us to the bedroom to rest for the night. That basin was part of her peripheral where ever she went. This has become a past tense. That is a great feat to anyone who has been her caregiver of last few months. She has been in good spirit most of the time and hardly complains about the predicament being home bound for so long. After all, she is quite a nerdy person. If it were to an outgoing one like Michael, he for sure would go berserk should he being confined indoor for this long.
這一陣子下來,不留意間藹玲已有了長足的進步。她又漸漸恢復了過往貪吃的樣子,向我們討盤中的食物,雖然暫時還無法如過去那樣大口海量。看來胃藥果然有效,沒有聽到胃不適時的呻吟。每天還是“安素”拌燕麥奶粉為主食。咳嗽也沒了。過去一段日子形影不離用來嘔吐,盛擦唾液紙巾的塑膠盤子,也改做泡腳的用途。想到過去幾個月的折騰,目前的景況實在叫人欣慰。她心情看來不錯,也不因為長時間關在家裡,顯得按耐不住。她的個性本來就有些“宅”。換作是筆者,早就發瘋了。

New school year starts this week and she is able to see the boys leaving in the morning couple of times. Maternal instinct urges her to come in. 
本週孩子們開始了新學年,作為母親的她,好幾次早上爬起來,嘮嘮叨叨地送孩子出門。她在努力回復扮演媽媽的角色。

Well, we're not out of the woods yet. This Irressa does bring some minor inconveniences. Her skin is getting rough, think about sandpaper and rashes or acnes are all over her body. Scratching her back becomes Michael's routine whenever he is at home. Need to get her a stick with hand shape extension to relief her itches herself when Michael is not around.
只是革命尚未成功,同志還需努力。標靶藥也有它惱人之處。服藥後皮膚很粗糙,全身發疹子,前胸後背養得不得了。祇要永強在身邊,就不斷地要求給她抓背撓癢。看來得給她根抓癢的棍子以備筆者不在之需。

Until then, so long, family and friends, we're truly grateful of your pray vigilance and loving care.
安了,至愛親朋們。謝謝大家不住的代禱和關愛。