Instead of weaker, I have gotten stronger this week.  My stamina, concentration and balance all are better than last week.  The biggest improvement is my left arm. I¹ve been worried my arm and hand might not be very useful again.  I was starting to plan a life with only a right hand.

On Monday through Wednesday, I accidentally took too much Klonopin.  This broke long-standing, low level muscle seizures in my left arm.  This, plus my treatment, restored much of the arm movement had I lost over the last three or four months. I have most of the range of motion in my left arm, although I lack strength and fine motor skills. Even after I cut my medication back to previous levels, the range of motion has been maintained.

My dad was with me this week while Abi took care of the home front.  His wife, Carole, was here part of the week as well.  They both gave me excellent moral and physical support to continue on this healing journey.

Dad and I did a little shopping and I got some new “toys.”   The most important is a monopod that allows me to use my film camera with minimal effort.  I was planning to sell my camera because my left hand could not support it¹s weight, I could not operate all of the controls like the zoom and it is just too heavy to use with one hand.  The monopod features a quick release and can double as a cane.

Being away from home is sometimes uncomfortable, but it has advantages as well.  It allows me to rest when I need to, concentrate on my treatments and have my needs be met by my caregivers allowing me to be in my own rhythm. This allows me to focus on healing without some of the distractions of being at home.

For ten years, Abi has been predicting that I will get male pattern baldness.  Although not quite in the pattern she predicted, I am loosing my hair specifically where I am be irradiated.  Instead of a gradually receding hairline, I am displaying a specific fallout pattern.

A couple of weeks ago, I was awarded Social Security Disability.  Abi and I are still trying to figure out exactly what that means, but at least the government has acknowledged that I am disabled.

Thursday evening, we spoke to a doctor consultant named Mark Renneker.  He knows a lot about cancer resources and especially about brain tumors.  He told us that the Cleveland Clinic is a great place to be and that I am getting the right treatment for where I am now.  He thought he could help guide us in the next phase of my treatment. He also made the distinction between healing the brain and fighting the cancer, rather than just trying to minimize the damage caused by the cancer and the treatment.

So, I start the new week with my brother as my companion, encouraged by the possibilities Dr. Mark brought up and that Hana, Zachary, and Abi came to visit me so that I did not have to drive to Yellow Springs this week.

I felt all your caring thoughts this week.

Thank you for your warmth, love, and support!

Dan
http://life.katzstein.com
http://www.katzstein.com 

"life can only be understood backwards,
but must be lived forwards"