Other days, I put my keys in the fridge. I have to assume the same is true for most everyone I know. Best laid plans and all that. One of the side effects of trying to live one-day-at-a-time is the compulsion to make every second count. I suppose it stems naturally from up close experience concerning my own mortality. Hence stems my desire to discover and implement methods of battling the creeping deterioration so prevalent with chronic Graft vs. Host Disease (GvHD).
There also remains a nagging fear that someday the medical establishment will add the word, "Syndrome" after my name...
An Opportunity
The sudden arrival of Keweenaw Summer provided a golden opportunity to once again stretch my limits. Each day for the last week or so, I've shut down the oxygen compressor/concentrator at home and functioned as best I can without supplemental O2. Yesterday was the first day that I was able to abstain from any supplemental oxygen for the entire day! I didn't run any half-marathons or go jogging with Dante, but I did hang around and bother the repairman from Keweenaw Overhead Door as he made repairs to our BBM — Big Blue Monstrosity. Our garage door is 16+ feet of solid wood core panels and with sticky rollers, ruined pulleys, and maladjusted springs was almost impossible to lift. As he worked, I putzed about, asking questions and annoying the poor fellow. I washed dishes and did a little housework. I was slow and methodical and did not need an O2 supplement.
I put the hose back in my nose at bedtime. However for most of today, I'm off oxygen again — although I had to use bottled oxygen when we went up to Sacred Heart for a Rosary. One cannot be too careful. As I sit here now, hoseless, munching a cinnamon graham cracker and sipping cold coffee from breakfast, I am aware of how lucky I am to be breathing at all. It makes the mundane moment miraculous. It teases me to make today so awesome, yesterday gets jealous.
Still thankful for all your prayers and good thoughts, I remain a happy man. Good afternoon and God bless!
Mick
