Stay on the path

My wife has told me several times that she is amazed that I do not protest the series of tests the doctors toss at me to gather more information on my disease. She has said most people would not put up with it. There have been procedures that are not very fun. At times it seems amazing that they need to repeat a test over and over again. During our discussion I remember years earlier, I heard about the temperament of marathon runners. A running coach said a marathon runner is not an aggressive person. While they have to push themselves to the finish, they are fairly passive. This works in their favor because they will suffer considerable pain and fatigue before they complete the course. Not every athlete can continue to compete through their pain, muscle cramping and dehydration. Same is true for climbing. The safest route to the top often requires going back down hill. The path to the summit is hard and steady, with the occasional drop of altitude because of the route. Then one needs to regain this loss in elevation to reach the summit.

I have always felt to go through my needed medical procedures would be like doing a marathon or climbing a mountain. The path to the end has been laid out. To date, I have not questioned many of the measures the doctors have wanted to put me through. I figure it is the path that will get me to the finish line, the summit, and back healthy again.

This week I have been at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance getting an infusion of chemotherapy. It has not been bad; a little bit of nausea and tiredness. After the holidays, I will be going through more and more evasive procedures until I am done with the bone marrow work up. It is the path I need to travel.

(Side note: The SCCA is located in Seattle near Eastlake Ave. and Aloha Street. The Aloha part of the address gives me a little reminder that one of our favorite vacations spots is waiting for us. It is a nice carrot to hold out in front of me).