Spring Forward

It seems that we are averaging about one blog post a month recently. I’d like to post more frequently, keeping you connected to our journey. But I recently realized that the lack of activity, in itself, is worth celebrating. This is indicative of the normalcy that our life has settled into. Erica is not experiencing extreme swings in health, we are not meeting new doctors or discovering new side effects. Sometimes, a month of no news is good news.

By surrendering to the frigid February, we found ourself home most of the past four weeks. The consistency allowed Erica to become more comfortable with standard routines, like getting herself from bed to bathroom to living room every day, unwatched and unaided. These routines have allowed me to see where minor improvements can be made around the house, like an extra grab bar here or there.

We’ve explored another level of independence with Erica staying home alone for a few hours. By understanding routine patterns, we can agree on times where she feels comfortable alone. And with an accessibility hack on her phone, she can now call select emergency contacts with just a few touches.

Last week, the sun broke through. Like hibernating bears emerging from their den, neighbors were suddenly in yards, walking dogs, I even heard the sound of lawn mainenance! Erica took her place on the front deck (buried under blankets, of course). Spring had finally sprung and it is time to move forward. Thanks to the 70 degree sun and our generous friend, Terra, who loaned us her father’s electric wheelchair, Erica and I were able to “take a walk” side-by-side. Erica in control of her own speed and direction. Me along side her—not behind, pushing, supporting or steering. I can not explain how meaningful that position change was. Maybe even more for me than Erica.

The best news to celebrate is that Erica’s body scans once again show no evidence of cancer. Yay! She will be getting her next brain MRI later this month. Pray that we see the same result in the brain as well.