More Good News

Yesterday Jon got the results from his recent PET scan -- no new lesions on the bones and his lungs are better than they were a month ago. These two scans were very close together, compared to normal times, so I guess it's just another snapshot. But the trend is all good. Now we have three different tests (bone marrow biopsy, blood counts, PET scan) that agree that his myeloma is in retreat, quiet, not making trouble.

Next Tuesday we meet with Dr. Imus by video, and he can tell us what he sees, which will be more official than Jon's reading of the notes. 

Jon is certainly getting better, bit by bit. There are symptoms that linger -- he still has this yucky cough that came with the last pneumonia, he is really tired, his sleep is not good. And there is another issue that has not yet been addressed, but now maybe there will be some time to try to figure it out: both of his arms/shoulders have been hurting him terribly for a few months. Our friend Betsy just had a shoulder replacement because her joint had deteriorated to the point where it hurt all the time, night and day. That's kind of how Jon is. He really does not want to confront a big surgery like that. We shall see. I think he might put this in the category of spending too much time and money and energy on a body that has a short time line (he stopped buying new shoes for himself when he first got diagnosed, and since then has only bought the least expensive shoes he can find).

But, overall, everything feels encouraging. Jon went to Loudoun last week with me to try to figure out why the water wasn't working (we do not yet have anyone who can replace Jon when something complicated breaks), he came with me to Yael's play that same night, we went to a party on Saturday and yesterday we spent the whole day going back up to PA to retrieve our repaired car. We went out for lunch together for the first time since those early days in Baltimore. In between he spends a lot of time watching and reading stuff on his phone. The news absorbs him, TikTok entertains him, and there are so many puzzles to do.

I will say, on the downside, his appetite has not returned. And he is not cooking. This is a bummer for me and Rebecca. I have been cooking more than I have cooked in years, and it is nothing like when Jon cooks. He has spoiled us for a long time. I still cook the same way I cooked 20 years ago before he took over. It's fine, but it isn't amazing. We hope his interest in food returns, for his own good and for ours.


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