Ok so you have had the drum from the direct source and now I will post from the other side.
Serg has done amazingly well given he is not one to live without structure , a degree of certainty ,control, lots of physical activity, morning coffee and loads of technology……… What he is gaining is patience for the uncontrollable, an ability to succumb to forces beyond his control , a respect for the use of carbs and sugars in ones diet and a calmness that can be acquired when technology is not used.
So the past sequence of events you all know and the only way I can describe the journey is like for those who can remember… the first six months of beginning a new parent. You are in a fog, functioning and fumbling though, thinking you have things under control and then the game plan changes. The 8 weeks have been another example of how the human spirit can adapt and cope when things go off course. Along with becoming reconnected with the medical environment with Serg diagnosis, we moved house in the same week, kids finished the school year [yeah 8 weeks of kids at home being kind and respectful to each other?] ,daughter’s had birthday’s and oh it was time for Santa to visit.
Becoming reaquanited with the medical system was a bit like going home… both Serg and I revisited some of my old nursing day stories with laughter . The girls on the other hand were filled excitment of finishing the school year and loving their new home. At this time it was a matter of keeping a close eye on how all of us were feeling about Dad being sick whilst keeping things as normal as possible.
So by end of January I could not wait for girls to return to school and Serg to commence treatment. I think we were all looking for some structure in our lives. The school community has been great support to the girls in the most subtle way and we can never underestimate the many elements beyond the home that support our children growing. It has been only in the recent days seeing Serg not drinking coffee, staying in bed or not looking for his iphone that has brought the reality of situation – but now the girls ask how is dad ,is he ok and can I go on the computer…. Those Duchini girls are resilent.
It has been the most reassuring that Serg has been privelged to access leave from work with full support. Work often plays a hugh role in defining us on many levels some good ,some not so good and like women who have taken maternity leave it’s a difficult time to learn to only get praise , feedback or criticism from ones self at home. I think the one of the biggest things that will be accomplished is using up all the hotel soaps that serg has an obsession with collecting on works travel. He fails to understand we cant possibly use the amount of hotel soap we have collected so far… perhaps I could do a buy back.
So we have finished the first cycle and all went so well until over the last few days Serg was unexpectedly very fatigued , nauseas etc… I have never known him to eat 8 pieces of toast and jam[sugar free of course] and my support is only just being there and keeping the girls from arguing over who had the last turn on the computer. Silence was critical ,calmness is comforting and waiting to feel better needs patience.
So we move forward and Serg would love to have a weekly CT scan to see that he is beating this sucker… he has thought about buying a CT scan but none listed on ebay.
My Unplanned Sabbatical 