Post #10: Amazing Father's Day!

Dear Everyone,

You would not have believed it, but then again, knowing Anita, I think you would! When John and I got up this morning, Mother had already been up for an hour and a half, was fully and beautifully dressed in a lovely lavender/purple shift and jacket, had her makeup and jewelry on, and looked absolutely lovely. She did it for John for Father's Day.

The effort it must have taken her tears at your heart. She said she had to stop for breath and rest every few minutes because her heart was racing so. But this was something she wanted to do, and willed herself to do, and she did it spectacularly. I can't think of a more loving and giving present - for any occasion. She stayed sitting up in the living room while he opened presents and we toasted with Mimosas. Following that she ate breakfast with us (eating a little bit of scrambled eggs, a strip of bacon, and some toast with a little bit of butter) and topped the whole thing off by playing a little bit of piano! "When the Saints Go Marching In." I managed to capture it on my digital camera recording feature. One of those moments that will never be forgotten. John and I also took several photographs.

But as they say, that's not all, folks! She continues to plan renovations to the house. She has completed yet another color dimensional drawing of the "bedroom plan" and is now working on her and John's plan for French doors leading out of the living room into the yard. She has always loved to develop plans for renovation and remodeling of the homes that she and John have lived in over the years and this newest house is no exception! In that respect, amongst others, she and John are truly artists.

Finally, after all that, she was tired out as you can imagine and has been napping the rest of the afternoon. Her accelerated heart rate and shortness of breath when she makes any exertion has not diminished since yesterday, and is still very worrisome. However, her appetite and ability to eat have remained steady and the nausea is under control. She said today that she has been craving protein. So her body is telling her what she needs, and fortunately she is able to ingest it at the moment. Tomorrow she has an appointment with the oncologist who will be evaluating her progress and to whom all three of us have many questions to pose.

Wishing you all a healthy and happy Father's Day,
Melissa