Psalm 121 and Of Course, I Love My Doctor

On Saturday, John and I saw my doctor for my monthly check-up. (There was no wait.) He took lots of time for my questions and for working out explanations and coordinating medicine and near-future tests (like a CT scan in December). He said, since Tuesday is my last scheduled chemotherapy (#9), that my next check-up with him will not be until December. We will skip October and November.

At the end of my questions, I pulled out my phone for a little mystery story. Last month, when I had not yet uncovered my clock radio from its box, I had just set my phone for 6:30 a.m., before my 8:00 a.m. chemotherapy (#8). In the morning the phone went off, and I turned it off. But then I realized it was five minutes early. Then I realized it was not my alarm, but the phone itself. I wondered, "Who would be calling me before 6:30 in the morning?" I let it go, figuring if it was important, the person would call back. If not, it was probably a wrong number.

But finally, one day, I did a reverse look-up on the computer. To my surprise, the number was my doctor's home phone number! So at my appointment, I said I had a comic-relief story, and I showed him my phone (and think I said I was sorry for hanging up on him). He smiled when he saw his number, and explained that he likes to have all his patients' information lined up in the mornings before patients have chemotherapy, and he could not immediately find a piece of mine. I guess he found it. But the story told me something interesting about my doctor.

What commitment. My doctor was already up before 6:30 a.m. - before I was - checking my treatment plan and that all my test results were in and that everything was ready for me. And if he did not see what he needed, he would do whatever he needed to get it.

"I lift up my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip--he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you--the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm--he will watch over your life;

the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."

Psalm 121

PetSmart Therapy

On Friday, John's "day off", we went to a favorite store, REI (outdoor recreation. Since John likes to shop there so much, almost all the clothes I wear are from there...) to spend his member-rebate on a backpack to carry his computer, so he can sometimes ride his bike the three miles to work. Of course, when we move, we need to explore new stores, or different versions of familiar stores. So we found an REI in Troy, not too far away.

Then, just for fun and because I had been wanting to see a puppy, we stopped next door at the PetSmart. (Our dog Oakley died almost three years ago.) I didn't really think I would see puppies there, but it seemed like a hopeful activity. We wandered back to the PetsHotel and and Day Camp section, something I had not seen before. Through a window, we could see dogs and their people in training. We just watched for a few minutes until someone came up to us who worked there, and asked if we were waiting to pick up a dog, and then started talking to us. I said we did not have a dog right now, but just wanted to see some. She took note of my scarf-covered head and commented that yes, I had other things to deal with now. I normally do not have cancer-related tears, but her compassion suddenly made my eyes overflow. I told her I just wanted to see dogs. I just wanted to touch one. She was very dear. She said there are almost always dogs in the store and she walked us around to find one to visit. There were not any roaming at the moment, but she quietly said she would pray for me, and she kindly insisted I come back to the store another time.

I probably will.