The Walk Beside

Stumped

Posted on April 3rd, 2008 by Cam.
Categories: Let's talk.

This morning started with an appointment at the hospital with the Nurse Practitioner getting the final rundown on how we are to manage high-dose chemo. We are feeling very well prepared for this next phase. I then had my infusion for increasing bone density. We met another couple there, the husband also having multiple myeloma, so we talked about how each other’s treatment was going. They overheard me telling one of the nurses that I used to teach at a Christian school, so when we chatted, they were telling us that they just prayed against the affects of chemo, and he got through quite well. I am not sure what their belief background was, but it seemed every time I mentioned a crap aspect of my diagnosis, she would say, “Praise God”.
“I have been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma”. – “Praise God!” said she.
“I’ve got to have high-dose chemo next week”. – “Praise God!”
“They say I will be out of action for up to two months” – “Praise God!”
I am not sure if it was a statement of faith or she was happy that someone else had an equally bad prognosis.

I had another incident today in my ongoing habit of making fools of the Australian professional sporting community. At the beginning of the session today at Chemo Gym, there was an announcement made about congratulating one of the volunteers on an achievement they had made in cricket – something to do with being selected for some team. I missed the details but clapped anyway.

We all went off and did our warm-up walk and as we were heading into the gym Smithy (the gym owner) says to this guy, “Shaun, can you work with Cam today”.

I need to let Smithy know not to send elite sportspeople my way, he seems to always send them my way. I am afraid all I do is bruise their ego when I have no idea who they are or what they play. Anyway, I introduced myself and checked his name, “Shaun, is it?”. It turns out this guy is Shaun Marsh, son of Geoff Marsh (I hear he played cricket too. What are the chances!! Two cricketers in one family!). Shaun has just been chosen to play for Australia in the West Indies, or something like that. I had to check out his details on Wikipedia. I was up front with him though, and told him I don’t follow any sport so he was not to get offended if I had no idea who he was. We then just on with the workout and I learned more about cricket as we talked. He probably has gone home depressed and shocked that I had no idea who he was, Praise God.

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