The “R” Word

On Thursday we saw our radiation oncologist, Dr. Sawrie, and he said Gorman is doing fine.  I asked when we might be able to use the word “remission” and he answered, “Right now!”  It’s such a simple thing but those little words mean so much when we hang on every word for some hope.  Of course, he continued and said that we have to be ever watchful for any recurrence but that he was so pleased with Gorman’s recovery.

Last Wednesday at UAB, the clinical research nurse mentioned in passing that, although Gorman has gotten an MRI every other month, in January we would probably go to every three months.  Because they fill Gorman with such dread, he was happy.  Because I want to know immediately if there is recurrence so they can address it, I was not as happy.  However, the best part was when she said that that’s the schedule Dr. Nabors uses for his “stabile patients”.  Gorman and I looked at each other and grinned.  Just the fact that he was referred to as stabilized gave us such a lift.   Mostly, the folks at UAB refer to those in clinical trials as “subjects” rather than “patients”.  Those of you who know Gorman’s quirky sense of humor will understand that he gets a laugh out of that.  So now I call him the “stabile subject”.

Thank  you, Lord, that we can find some humor in this ordeal and that You have walked with us every step of the way.