All Is Well!

Tue, 05 Sep 2000

Hi all,

I know it's been awhile since I've filled you in on what's up in the Shore household and just how Phil is getting along, but as they say, no news is good news, and even this news is good news!

Things have gotten a bit back to normal here and Phil has started back to school. He is hoping to have his hair back by Halloween so he can dress up as Drew Carey again this year and take his accordion to school, playing it from class to class. Many kids at the school who didn't really know Phil, knew "Drew Carey" from last Halloween. From the looks of things, he will have a nice crop of new hair by the 31st of October! It's coming in quickly!

His energy level is still very low, but he is happy to be back with all the kids. I don't even think he minds the homework that much....so far! He was kidding me after two days of school that he hadn't missed a day all year.....we laughed!! By Friday of the first week, he missed a day due to some side-effects from his maintenance chemo! We weren't surprised!

This maintenance chemo, although less intense, is no piece of cake, and we aren't quite sure what to expect after each treatment, with different reactions each time, but we'll get the hang of it and then be able to gauge a bit better how long he'll be on the couch after those visits. The maintenance chemo involves office visits of IV drugs, and then he is on daily oral medication also. We are very familiar with all of this, having already done 2½ years from the last time, although different medications. This time it will be only one year, God willing!

I really feel that God is giving us a time of rest and just being able to enjoy each day, and we are!! The flames have dimmed to a small pilot light for now. If we have learned one thing, it is to cherish each day we have together. Sometimes it may take a whole lifetime to learn that, and sometimes it just takes a young boy to teach us that. I know I am not the same person I was many months ago, and most people that Phil has touched could make the same claim. I have filled pages with poetry of lessons learned and trials faced during this time and if any of you are interested in reading that, it can be found on my web-site at dcshore.com Jim just got that set up for me. I just write, I don't understand computers or the web....! :)

So, the Shore household is quite content, and happy, and a little quieter....our 19 year old son, Chris, moved to San Diego a couple of weeks ago! Yes, we've already redecorated his room! You've seen the commercials....! :) With Jimm living in Fresno and Chris in San Diego, our phone bills have gone up, but our food bill has gone down! We almost had to hide the dog, or Chris would have taken her with him but he told me that he and his roommates have gotten a snake.....I think I'll be staying in a hotel when I visit!!

Please continue to keep Philip in your prayers. His battle is not yet over, but he is definitely enjoying some better days and enjoys the freedom of having that electric (it's quiet) scooter to get him to Walmart or wherever he needs to go. What a gift that was!!

Love, Diane