This week's blog comes courtesy of My Michelle!
We really are seeing some unprecedented times, with our province having recently put Ontarians under emergency order to stay home to help reduce the spread of COVID and hopefully reduce the strain on our health care system. For us in the Erdmann household, it feels pretty much like business as usual, as we have been dealing with the lock down conditions of recent weeks being part of the GTA, and also the lifestyle choices we have made, being careful with Richard and cognizant of his immunocompromised status.
We have been very fortunate, and while the news coverage reports of delays in treatments and care for many patients, Richard remains being seen and receiving treatment right on schedule. We had only one scary experience where he was on a "waitlist" for the infusion chair at his regularly scheduled treatment day, but in the end a "chair" opened up, and in he went. It was a frightening few days, and we felt very powerless and at the mercy of the system.
As you know, with the current restrictions at Southlake Regional Health Centre, patients cannot bring a support person in with them for their treatments, and I have to leave Richard at the "Kiss and Ride" by the door. Richard has shared that the cancer clinic is always "full" and many people are quite frail and ill looking. It makes me very sad to think how cancer is touching so many people's lives, their loved ones and re-writing how their lives were to be. I try to stay in the moment and be thankful for what we have, that Richard is doing well and not think of what might have been. I truly am thankful that we have had care and treatments, experienced no delays, and have had more time together - I do not take this for granted.
I think that cancer treatment in the time of COVID is a blessing and a curse - it makes it easier for us to cocoon at home and reduce his exposure to potential illness, but it also adds an additional layer of concern and a health threat that was not there before. It also limits how we can spend our precious time. While I wouldn't change a thing and spending time together is what really matters, it does get a little tiresome not being able to do just a few more things that we always really enjoyed such as going out for breakfast together, enjoying a beautiful meal at a restaurant, or just poking around in little shops and doing a little shopping. Simple little things, that we truly miss.
We are beginning to feel a little bit like that movie "GroundHog Day", reliving the same day over and over. Embarrassingly, the highlight of the days are definitely going out for a walk with Lily and stopping at the mailbox, and "oh happy day" when there is a delivery at the door to break up the boredom!
So if I have to be in a "GroundHog Day", I am so glad to be able to spend it with you! ......"But honey, what day is it again today?"
Love Michelle
