It’s been two months since I have published anything due to a series of unfortunate events that have hit our household. I will try to catch you up here by beginning with a story….
“Who gets cancer in their leg?” Both Johnny and CJ were present for the biopsy report of a large malignant tumor in their dad’s leg, and this was a question CJ posed. It was May 2015. There had been several misdiagnoses of this tumor over the previous months in regard to what it was and how serious it was. On this day, the surgeon revealed that he thought it was worse than first considered, a grade higher. This kind of grade was not good news, and I was grateful to have their physical presence in that consult room with the oncologist.
Over the past eight years, Mark has had surveillance through a series of scans and x-rays; he is now on his third specialist, a result of insurance issues and retirement. We continue to be hopeful through the years of his recovery and are always thankful when no new issue presents itself. Because of the surgery, he now walks with the help of a brace on his left foot, since the tumor removal left him with a permanent drop foot.
Fast forward eight years, to this past May, and the reason for the photo I posted. While working on a series of cabinet doors, Mark’s hand slipped and sent his fingers into his table saw. The sight was gruesome, and we traveled to the nearest emergency room to be treated. Anyone who has visited an emergency room in the past knows “waiting” is the protocol. Hours and hours of waiting. Thanks to the hard work and perseverance of a dedicated PA, we were finally put on the schedule for surgery the next morning. Surgery was successful and he was sent home right away. A subsequent cast to keep his hand curved, in the hopes of healing a nearly severed tendon, remained on his left hand for the next five weeks.
During the month of April, we had been settling into plans to go visit one of our sons who was living in Europe at the time. I have never visited any country in Europe and was looking forward to it. Because of the awkwardness of the cast and his inability to lift things, we put our plans on hold and, eventually disbanded them. It just wasn’t the right time to go. Obviously, we were all pretty disappointed but felt this was best. We adjusted to a new normal. It’s not often one stops to think of all the things one can’t do if only one-handed. How do you put toothpaste on your toothbrush? How does one put deodorant under a right arm with a right hand? How about tying your shoes? We marveled as we discovered these limitations and tried to keep a sense of humor about it.
One of the biggest question marks for Mark during this time was how much functionality he would have with his left hand as he recovered. How long would it take to do basic skills like typing? He became adept at voice-to-text. But the biggest bummer was clearly the unknowns about guitar playing. As I mentioned, Mark was at the end of making new cabinet doors for a kitchen remodel. Thanks to the gracious help from a handyman and his son, the remodeling project went forward with limited contribution from Mark. But guitar playing was completely dependent on the recovery of that left index finger. Several weeks went by with his guitar hung on its stand (see photo), which was so strange since he played daily. After the cast was removed, therapy on his fingers and hand commenced, and, slowly but surely he started playing three-chord hymns, “It is Well with My Soul” being one of the first ones. Weeks of therapy have helped him get to “some version of okay”, and he continues to do his exercises of “scar remodeling” and “nerve desensitization.” With the ongoing challenges of arthritis and a recovering finger, we’re not sure his finger will ever be the same; in fact, it probably won’t. But he’s grateful every day to pick up the guitar and practice, even through the pain and discomfort. And he’s back to “careful” woodworking as well, but no major projects.
At this point I’ll wrap up by saying this was not the end of our story. In a routine dermatology appointment in early June, it was determined that I had a rare and moderately aggressive form of melanoma on my heel. It was discovered early, for which I am thankful. I’ll write about that in my next blog.
The graphic in the photo above has been hanging in our living room for a long time. It is a partial photo of the whole fresco entitled “Creation of Adam”, painted by Michelangelo in the early 1500s in the Sistine Chapel in Rome. On the left side of the painting, the left index finger of Adam is touching God’s finger on the right. The meaning is not lost on us personally these days. God has kept His eye on us, and we have felt His presence and the beautiful prayers of our friends to sustain us during this strange time. His divine surveillance is getting us through.
“For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.” Psalm 27:5
“Because you are my help, I sing [and play guitar ;)] in the shadow of your wings.” Psalm 63:7
Amen.
