New Journey 4

New Journey 4

This afternoon we got the good news that Lori’s first course of chemotherapy can begin. The white coat people down in the lab have been scratching their heads over their microscopes for days. It turns out that our Lori’s cancer is both weird and rare, and they had to tag it before they could go after it.

For the past two weeks Lori’s abdominal pain has intensified daily and so have the drugs she swallows daily to combat it. Last week the feelings of nausea also ratcheted up. Her diet diminished to rice and crackers and bananas, none of which stayed down. On Monday she tossed breakfast crawled into bed and slept around the clock. On Tuesday we drove into San Francisco for a meeting with her doctors who looked her over and admitted her to the hospital at California Pacific Medical Center. Nurse Bill was relieved to put her into the hands of actual nurses with IV’s and drip lines and powerful medicines none of which have controlled the upchucking and exhaustion. On Thursday they started sending her nourishment down the drip line so she now has nothing in her tummy to toss but the dizzy/nausea feeling remains as does the pain which Lori now controls with one of those push-button jobs that gives you a dose on demand. She mainly sleeps.

When they admitted her here the idea was to strengthen and stabilize her before whacking her with chemo. Now the idea is to go after this cancer and knock it into remission before it does more harm. Alas the operative word here is remission and not cure. It turns out that recurrent cancers like this one get knocked down by chemotherapy but they don’t die. Their pernicious microscopic seeds endure to grow and fight another round. This has been a painful week for the Hutchinson family in every way. Lori now has chronic cancer. And . . . we are buoyed and strengthened and heartened by all of you.

The mysterious software that enables us to send you these updates also discloses to us how many of you are actually reading them — hundreds. And how many are responding to them — scores. Plus emails. Prayers, good wishes, words of the day, photos, suggestions, recipes. We respond to none of your generous electronic love and support. Nor to the cards which I transport from mailbox to bedside daily. Nor to the flowers. And the food! Today our neighbor Jacque brought soup and had to stick it in the laundry room freezer. No room in the fridge. Offers to mow the lawn, to vacuum the house, to fly in from non-contiguous states, to handle the mail.

It is wonderful. You are wonderful. It is like standing in a river of love. These inadequate words are all we can offer. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Oh, did I mention the cannabis? I am actually keeping track. We are up to eight offers of marijuana brownies tea concentrate infusions or joints. In time . . .

Our families have been wonderful, and especially our children. Any of you who know Tucker and Kate and her husband Owen know just how lucky and blessed we are. We remember the days when we supported them.

65 thoughts on “New Journey 4”

  2. Dear Bill and Lori,
    We are sending our love and healing prayers to you and Lori throughout the day. We have been “buoyed and strengthened and heartened” by the two of you so many times…whatever we can do we’ll do it.
    xoxo Kathryn and Pete

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  3. Tiffany and I are here at ISPA and we’re thinking of you and missing our travel buddy and dance partner so much! Sending our love, thoughts and prayers your way along with so many others who are here. xoxoxo, Bill

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  4. Seems like all offers to help you both have fallen to your larger community that has risen to the occasion! Your A-List is terrific. Lots of food, assistance, cannabis, prayers, and love are sent your way regularly and we are all the beneficiaries of the therapeutic outreach. Simply sending more…and more…and more. Love and hugs…Cozette

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  5. bill and lori–your words are hardly inadequate…the depths of the love and caring that you are sharing is courageous and inspiring to all of us who read them.From South Carolina we send massive hugs and all of the positive energy and good thoughts that can get from one coast to to other…much love,cousin sandy

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  7. Dear Lori and Bill.. No words can express my feelings to hear about the pain and suffering Lori is suffering.
    I’m praying for all of you and send LOVE.

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  8. There are no words to express my feelings. I will continue to pray for all of you, to hold you close, to ask for Lori’s healing and remission but particularly for her comfort. May God give us all strength. Love you

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  11. Dear Bill: I don’t know if my note went through. Don’t know how it works.

    When I saw you in church today, I had not read your “Adventure” message and didn’t realize Lori had been hospitalized. Am not surprised. The day I came over, she seemed so weak. I was going to offer to cook soup or something. Now I know you are well stocked with food, you don’t need more right now.

    We can only pray. But as I said before, if you need a mother’s shoulder to cry on, I’m here. This is more difficult, in some ways, for you because you can’t do anything to cure Lori. I’m sure you have explored all avenues—perhaps even the Cancer Centers which are not close by. Or maybe there IS one nearby. At any rate, you know what is best and what to do. Thank heavens for your children, they are as loving and capable as their parents.

    If I can help in any way, call me. You and Lori are very special to us, and I always think of you as my son.

    Love, Helen

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  12. Lori and Bill
    I tried responding to the painful news of Bill’s last post but I don’t think it went through so I will try this way. I feel so awful for you both and know Bill must be almost as exhausted as Lori. We all hate having the stomach flu but know it will only last a day or so. Can’t imagine what you are going through. Only wish I lived closer and could do something more practical to help.
    Seems like much more than a year ago when the Royals were playing San Francisco in the World Series. In a year’s time you traveled through Europe, welcomed a grandson, and bid farewell to Bill’s Dad. My hope is by this time next year you will both be enjoying a remission of Lori’s cancer surrounded by family on a beach somewhere!
    Thoughts and prayers are sent to you both daily.
    Love, Nancy Quitmeier

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  13. Dear Lori, dear Bill,

    We hope that the next news will be better.
    Now Lori is in good hands and if she has less pains is positive.
    To be in hospital is hard but is the best way to fight this cancer.
    Be strong Lori, we are with you.
    We are so sorry for you both.
    We understand that for Bill and kinds there are difficult moments.
    You are a so nice family, the sun will come again for you. We wish from all our heart.

    We will be the month of November in Palm Springs. We will give you a call.

    Grosses bises

    Colette & Andi

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  15. Dear Lori, dear Bill,

    thank you so much for keeping me informed. I have been thinking of you every single day and I wish I could do something to help … to ease the pain … to give strength and hope … to encourage … Cancer is a monster and there are moments of my past which come to the surface again. I can imagine what you are going through and I know that everything will turn out all right. You are both strong and a fighter. And you have got each other.
    Let me know if there is anything I can do for you.

    You are in my heart – always.
    Katja

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