March 17

Joseph now has his pain pretty well under control and 🤮  almost nil. He is now taking pain meds, anti nausea and steroids via pills and liquids (no intravenous). He eats scrambled eggs, soups and drinks chocolate milk ... and he is amazed to be feeling this well even without the radiotherapy (on his brain lesion).

So given the uncertainty with Coronavirus and potential restrictions within the hospital (visitors, staffing pressures etc.) we feel perhaps home is the place to be. We will deal with radiotherapy later - it seems the steroids are having a similar effect in helping with the vomiting (that was almost the undoing of him).

He is able to take small walks with his walker and big rides in the blue chair (just a🤮 stifle!) The brunch (thanks Ken & Eileen) with kiddies was the best medicine.

We’ve been here for two weeks - we’ve gone from 2-8 on the wellness scale or 8-2 on the pain scale. We’ve had such good care but are ready to leave and with assistance from the Palliative Care team we can. We don’t have a blue chair at home but we do have extra bits to help and I think they will send a nurse to check in on him and up on me. Tomorrow would be good but by Friday at least.

On this roller coaster ride, we feel we are stuck at the top while something is happening below but we can’t see down. We didn’t exaggerate - he was very sick - the doctors said he was - but for now we’re happy for the ride to the top and we’ll enjoy the view - for a week, a month - who knows.

He asked me again to tell you that Joseph loves reading your wonderful notes and beautiful words.