Peter came home yesterday. He is soaking up HOME sitting in his Swiss reading chair.

Waking up this morning we held each other and listened to the cardinals singing their morning song. What bliss!

We had breakfast and read the paper sitting in the sunroom. Ron came over and put in the screens. We took a couple of walks in the neighborhood. We had a  normal day. We loved normal.

Marie baked a Meyer Lemon Tart for Peter and she and Lucian brought it over in time for tea. Peter had not one, but two pieces and called her his tart angel as she was leaving.

A little later Mary and Peter came for a short visit with more goodies. A Spring Dug Parsnip Soup with puff pastry hearts Mary had made AND a family favorite, her delicious  Chicken Pot Pie ready to be baked at our convenience.

We skyped with Mark and with our friend Marianne in Kuesnacht. Although they both live far away, the virtual visit brought them into our home for a while.

Mark says we are geeks. Peter with his new iPad, me having turned into a mad photographer with the many cameras on my iPhone and us skyping occasionally with friends and family all over the globe. And of course the blog which Avy established and I keep going. It is a terrific tool to be in touch with all of you.

Peter and I thank you for all of the love and support you are sending our way with your comments, cards and letters. We are grateful not to be alone.

Wednesday March 28th

I had two surprises this morning, the first was seeing snow falling on our magnolia as I awakened.
The second came when the phone rang and Peter announced that his platelets had soared to 138000! Even more importantly his Neutrophils had climbed to 1.004, the number we had been waiting for. The number that meant the white blood cells, now at 1.6, were doing their job in cleaning up the inflammation on Peter's leg. He was taken off antibiotics.

Dr. Boyd came to see Peter around 11 and told him he could go home this weekend. Joyous news after a 3 1/2 week long hospital stay. Remission successful.

What came next was sobering. Yes, Peter will go home, but only for 2 or 3 weeks. After that he will return to Maine Med for another round of 24/7 chemo, this time with a different cocktail. The chance of the cancer recurring is too big and therefore Dr. Boyd wants to wipe out the blood and platelets again to make sure the bone marrow is clean. She also suggested going to Farber while Peter is at home to inform ourselves about further possible treatments.

Peter wants to concentrate on getting his strength back in the 2 to 3 weeks at home. I want to concentrate on helping him do that in every way I can. We plan to take walks, each day a little longer to get Peter's strength back. Food, which we consider to be an important part of healing, will play an important role. While in the hospital Peter requested to have our big meals at lunch time and we will continue with that. Peter's appetite has been very good, but he likes to eat small portions and I always make something he has

  y!

a hankering for that day. We are looking forward to leading a normal life at a more leisurely pace than the past 3 1/2 weeks. I will have Peter next to me at night and won't be hugging his pillow any more.....It will be a Zen kind of time, quiet and restorative.

Yesterday Christina brought this adorable and delicious Linzertorte just in time for tea! She had knitted another beanie for Peter, this one in indigo colored cotton yarn. He looks smashing in it.

Bessie made her signature carrot soup for dinner. We ate every bit of it together with the gruyere sticks she had baked.

As Peter said...it's nice to have friends. Friends who are good cooks.

Warmest greetings to all of you. Thank you for being with us.

Monday, March 26th

Bamboo plant Cherie sent waiting for Peter in his office

Midmorning we heard that Peter's platelets had climbed to 59000 and his white blood count was at 800. I was jubilant, Peter cautiously optimistic.As Dr. Boyd walked out the door I said: "Have a good day!" to which she replied: "If you do, I do!" I loved that.

Peter's leg is greatly improved and Dr. Stogsdill, [infectious disease] took him off one of the antibiotics. He was much stronger today and we did more laps around Gibson than we had the last few days.

As almost every day Peter had a Reiki session and Dr. Beck, the chief osteopath, treated him also. Peter continues to benefit greatly from these therapies and we are grateful he is in such an enlightened hospital.

I got a call this morning saying that there is a picture of Peter and me in today's Portland Press Herald and that I am quoted in the article. The link if you want to have a look is below. The picture was taken on the day of the one and only really big snowstorm this year. Peter and I were out of milk and we felt like making a fondue, so we walked to Rosemont Market through the sometimes blinding storm to get supplies. Thus Peter's trapper hat. We felt like pioneers!

http://www.pressherald.com/special/meat_recall/close-to-home-neighborhood-butcher-has-new-appeal-_2012-03-26.html?searchterm=close+to+home

Sunday, March 25th

A rainy cool day today. Peter and I enjoyed our Sunday morning ritual of reading the New York Times after breakfast.

Things are moving. Peter's white blood count was up to 600, the platelets had climbed to 29000 and the red blood count was up to. Dr. Boyd was pleased. Since she saw me carry in lunch we had a conversation about how important food is for the healing process. She herself likes to cook. Isn't it amazing how food connects us in so many ways?

Speaking of food: Lucian delivered our lunch today with the menu he created tucked in the bag.
As you can see it was quite a meal. Peter and I blissfully enjoyed every bite. Marie and Lucian are amazing cooks and bakers at whose house we have enjoyed many dinners, all of them fabulous and imaginative.

Peter is a big fan of Marie's tarts and had not one but 2 pieces of the apple galette!

One of the nurses who came in noted that Peter's room looks like a hotel room. Word has gotten around that we eat well!


Sunday was truly a day of rest for me. No rushing back and forth to the hospital, no cooking, just lolling about with my sweetie.

My dear friend Mary invited me out for dinner at Petite Jacqueline, one of our favorite restaurants. She had collaborated with Heidi to make this possible. I hesitated at first but Peter was delighted that I'd have a girls night out!  

Heidi brought dinner for Peter, a soup made with home made chicken broth and chock full of vegetables. He raved about when I went to kiss him good night.

We have a little ritual before I leave for the night. I do the acupressure points and then snuggle with him for  a half hour or so until the nurses come for his final "vital signs"of the day. It's a very special and important time for us.

Peter's white blood count read 500 this morning and he felt better than he had the past two days. Dr. Boyd who came to see him around 11 wished him a boring day, meaning an uneventful one medically speaking. We both feel grateful that Peter is in her competent and dedicated care.

Heidi spoiled us with a delicious lunch of fresh Chinese broad noodles, fried and wonderfully seasoned as well as her  special garlicky Chinese broccoli. Since it was Saturday she had time to sit and chat a while which was a big treat for both of us.

These are not bombs! They are 2 of the many beautiful ornaments by Pandora LaCasse which adorn trees in Deering Oaks Park and buildings downtown at holiday time. Her nephew was taking them down before the squirrels destroy them.  We know all about that problem since the critters chewed through several light strings Peter had laboriously strung along the branches of several trees.

This an example of LaCasse's work in Tommy's Park downtown for those of you who have never been here during the holidays. 

These daffodils are blooming by the terrace in our backyard. It is very sheltered. We like to sit there way into fall and in early spring when other parts of the garden are too cold to have lunch or a crumpet with tea in the afternoon.

Peter was a bit improved today, but he tired easily. Still waiting for the white cells to move in en masse. They crept up to 400 as of this morning, which is an improvement to the 100 he had. It's hard work and Peter is doing a fabulous job directing all of his energy to the task at hand.

This afternoon Bessie dropped off a fragrant Shaker Dill Bread she had made and we enjoyed it with our dinner tonight. It went perfectly with the split pea soup and a little cheese.

The last time she and Dana were at our house they brought this perfect little porcelain bowl. When I unwrapped it, the accompanying spoon fell out and broke. Bessie tucked a package with a new one in with the bread today. What a sweet, sweet thing to do!

March 22nd

As I walked towards the hospital tonight this elegant gentleman caught my eye. Smitten by his outfit, I bravely asked him if I may take a picture and he graciously posed for me. Just look at the colors, the crossculture symbolism of the print. He told me the fabric is from the Congo and a friends wife here in Portland sewed the ensemble for him. Look at the shoes!

Peter had his hair shaved off today and is now wearing the beautiful wool cap Christina knitted for him. She is already working on one made with cotton yarn since the temperatures climbed to 80 plus degrees today. Thank you Christina!

It was not the best of days. Peter's inflamed leg was not much improved and the head scratching by the various doctors continued. That team of white blood cells needs to get its act together so my love can continue to move forward on his path to recovery.

Peter and I did venture down to the courtyard and sat in the sun for a while after lunch. Even with his mask on he was able to soak in its life giving strength.

Coming back to his room Peter exclaimed: "Ah, what an oasis!"  I have brought in a few touches from home including a lamp to make the room cozy when night falls and in the daytime the wall of windows makes it inviting. The hospital noises are muffled by the low hum of the air circulation system. We make the best of a less than ideal situation......

Thank you for all the recent comments. I wish you could see Peter's face when he reads them!

March 21st

It was 61 degrees in Paris today and sunny. Had everything gone according to plan we would have arrived there on this day. We had rented an apartment from old friends for 3 weeks in a fabulous location one block from Musee D'Orsay. Friends were going to join us staying in a boutique hotel down the street for 9 days.....

But we are here and Peter is improving and that is all that matters right now. We are waiting for especially the white blood cells to start populating Peter's body so they can fight off infections. There are 5 major types and all of them are needed. As Dr. Stogsdill explained today, one can compare it to a baseball game. In order to be able to play, all bases must be covered.

We ate well today. For lunch I made a watercress soup, green and springlike. With it we had a little cheese and bread and later a piece of Marie's pear tart.

At 6 I picked up an Indian dinner at Yosi and Grant. Dal, Spinach With Paneer and rice, a meal we had enjoyed at their house and Peter requested. Their children Grace and Isaac went all out with special get well wishes.

Thank you for the wonderful messages you posted. Reading them gives Peter so much joy.

March 20th

Today at 3 Dr. Boyd came and gave us the good news...the chemo was successful. As you can imagine we were beyond elated. As I watched Peter's dear face I could not help but cry with joy. The first hurdle is behind us. The repopulation of healthy cells and platelets is in progress. If blood tests show something funky, as Dr. Boyd called it, there will be another bone marrow test in a week.

Peter is still battling with the severely inflamed and swollen right leg but hopefully the new antibiotic cocktail will clear this up in a couple of days. Osteopaths, Reiki therapists and acupressure points manipulated by me bring Peter relief.

Thank you for the healing thoughts you have sent our way. They sustain us and give us confidence.

The card Don and Ginger sent

It has started...Peter is beginning to loose his hair. Since he is such an esthete, the thing that bothers him the most is the messiness......

I did a terrible thing today. A nutritionist and her student stopped by and asked Peter if he is choosing well balanced meals from the hospital menu and if he would like some help in making choices. Peter's eyes widened because he knew what was coming...... I told the poor woman with great indignation that I bring all of his meals since the hospital fare is atrocious. Understandably she was taken aback and made a graceful retreat with her student in tow. Peter was mortified by my tactlessness and me, I was full of remorse. At his urging I left the room in search of the ladies, found them and apologized profusely. They were very gracious and kind, forgiving me in the sweetest manner. I am so glad Peter keeps me on an even keel even now in these difficult times.

We eat well! Yesterday Marie made us an incredibly delicious Pear Frangipani tart. I picked it up at her house and brought it, still warm from the oven, to Peter who was in ecstasy eating it. Literally!

Today Christina brought Gnocchi en Brodo which made Peter a happy man. And look at those adorable tartlets for dessert! We are so happy that a little thing like an extended hospital stay isn't going to keep us from enjoying great food with a little help from our friends.

March 18th

Origami crane mobile made for Opa by Ciara and Ysanne

Many thanks to all of you who have posted comments. They help Peter tremendously in this difficult time.

As night fell today we watched masses of crows swoop over the rooftops towards their night quarters. While watching we thought of our son Mark who loves crows as we do.

Tomorrow is an important day for Peter. Dr. Boyd will be doing a bone marrow biopsy to determine if the chemo took. Peter and I are understandably anxious. Please send your healing thoughts his way.

The last few days have been up and down. Peter developed a mysterious infection on his right shin about a week ago which has gotten more and more angry looking and has spread. The Infectious Disease team was called in. An ultrasound and MRI ruled out a blood clot or common infection. We are hoping by tomorrow the mega intravenous antibiotics Peter is getting will bring some relief. It is very painful to touch and when Peter gets up. Walking makes it better. Go figure! Could be an inflamed muscle.

Our friend Vicki who is an acupuncturist stopped by on Friday and showed us two acupressure points on Peter's foot to help energy flow [ he can't have acupuncture at this point]. I work on the points several times a day and we are amazed to see how the inflammation recedes temporarily each time, bringing Peter relief. Thank you Vicki!

It's late....11:30. Time to go to sleep. So long for today.

March 17th

Today is...almost was my birthday, a strangely beautiful one. Over breakfast with Peter we read the many cards I received from friends and family near and far. So much sweetness, so much love, my heart is full! My niece Monica sent me a pile of old family photographs she found The stunner in the pile was a postcard I mailed to my parents from aboard the oceanliner Nieuw Amsterdam. I was 18 and wanted to marry a man my parents did not find suitable, so they sent me to Europe for three months in the hope I'd change my mind. That's how parents were able to handle a crisis at that time :) And what a wise thing they did! Separation does not always make a heart grow fonder. Had it not been for the imposed exile I would not have met Peter, the love of my life, the man with whom I have shared an incredibly rich and wonderful life.

While I was with Peter today elves were at work at home. Peter had asked Heidi and Ron to get flowers for me, lots of them. Heidi made bouquets for every room in the house including the bathroom. The two of them cleaned and tidied and set up a birthday table. When I came home at four, we had a little celebration in the sunny sunroom. There was champagne and the cutest mini birthday cakes, cards and presents, laughter and tears.

Our friend Mary made an elegant birthday lunch of lentils, roasted root vegetables and poached salmon and for dessert an incredible apricot almond tart. For starters there was a wonderful cheese made in Maine to have with the chilled Pinot Blanc! The wine we'll have at Peter's homecoming celebration.

March 14th

Partial view from the windowfront in Peter's room

Peter has been at Maine Medical Center in the Gibson Pavilion for a week now and will be there for 3 to 4 weeks with the goal being that the cancer goes into remission.

Lunch at our table by the window

The treatment of course is hard on Peter even though he is in excellent shape. We are on a roller coaster ride between the highs of good days/ hours and the lows when Peter is struggling to stay awake. Luckily he never got nauseous and his appetite was excellent the first few days of chemo so we could enjoy all the home cooked meals I bring to the hospital.

The staff is wonderful and they love Peter. They think we are the cutest item. We feel safe and confident that there will be a good end to the nightmare. Peter is in a pressurized wing of Gibson which is nicknamed The Penthouse. The air is fresh like the outdoors and sunlight floods the room in the morning. Peter has daily Reiki sessions administered by therapists who volunteer at the hospital. At least 3 times a week he gets osteopathy treatments. The effects of these two therapies are amazing. They help calm him and give him energy to withstand all the challenges.

There is a radio/CD player in the room and we listen to our favorite jazz cd's. There is a DVD player. A friend with connections sent us a stack of the latest Oscar nominated movies and we watch them in segments over several evenings snuggled on Peter's bed. Would it not be for all the paraphernalia and the constant humming of the equipment it would almost feel like a vacation.

Peter started out feeling terrific today but as the day progressed a lot of issues came up and the room was like a beehive with people checking on him and making sure that he would get all the necessary help. It's scary.

Going to stop now since I want to send the first posting out to all of you. Now that the blog will be established I can simply give you updates. We welcome your comments and will respond. It is so important to know that  we are supported by the love of our family and friends as Peter faces one more challenge in his life.