Alternate Therapy

Today is Erica’s 55th birthday. As anyone knows, Erica does not just recognize her birth day, but also her a birth week—sometimes a birth month!

The past few weeks we’ve been able to celebrate a change in her therapy. After the last few stable scan results, Erica’s doctor agreed to giving her a temporary break from chemo treatment to focus on her physical health. Erica will skip one treatment, typically every three weeks, giving her a full six weeks between injections.

After the first three weeks, Erica began to experience noticeable changes. She began trying different foods—no favorites yet, but the attempt is valor. Erica is showing signs of improved mental energy. Unfortunately, this has come in the form of expressed boredom. She is realizing her limitations, sad and frustrated by her limited mobility. And while this seems to be a negative, to me this is a yay, encouraged by her restlessness.

So we combat the boredom and celebrate Erica’s birthday week with her favorite therapy—retail. Three separate shopping trips to update her beach wardrobe and get birthday gift ideas. In her new electric wheelchair (which she refuses to call a wheelchair), Erica’s shopping experiences are more independent and bring the joy of freedom. She navigates to her desires while I manage the dressing room. I am told that I do very well, which is a high compliment from someone who has managed fashion shoppers professionally.

With retail therapy behind us, we are en route to Florida for a brief visit with my family. Then on to Key Largo for five days for beach therapy. Truly, a birth week celebration. Yay!

PS – Remember that trike that broke Erica’s shoulder? It’s out on the street again, cruising the neighborhood with Terra!