Just over a week ago we went down to see Steve and Terry and to help celebrate Steve's Fiftieth Birthday!!! Whoo hoo! You old fart...... We had a great time and I got to see Steve in person for the first time since Christmas. I don't know how my baby brother got to be so old though....
Steve was looking good overall even though he had only been home a week from his hospital stay. He did tire easily and he rested occasionally which helped. I got to see his scar for the first time from the January 4th surgery. It's on the left side of his head and looks like a boring version of Harry Potter's lightening bolt, just straighter and not so snazzy. It starts in front of his ear (where sideburns would be if he had them) about an inch and a half. Then it makes a right angle and goes across the top of his ear another inch and a half before making another right angle and moving up the side of his head for about two and a half inches. The whole thing is very neat and mostly hidden in his hair. When the scar shrinks in front of his ear, it will hardly be noticeable, I think. There is no dent or dimple from going through the skull either. Not bad for such a big surgery.
Most of Steve's weight loss is in his legs. He was Mister Baggy Pants. He walked on his treadmill and is trying to build up some strength, but it hasn't happened yet. He walked fifteen minutes the morning of his party.
I'm pleased that Steve doesn't have apparent cognitive problems. Over the whole weekend I didn't really notice word finding problems although I heard he had a couple of missed words when talking to other folks. He is still capable of working and analyzing things and should be able to work again, once he has enough energy to make it through the whole day and after chemotherapy and radiation.
Terry had a party at their home with about twenty to twenty five friends and family. We had good Italian food and Gelato!! for dessert. He got some good presents, too, including photos from when he was young and cute. Steve has always been an early-to-bed and early-to-rise guy and with his higher level of fatigue he excused himself around 9:30 to go to bed. The rest of us closed up the party shortly thereafter. Fortunately for me, when he awoke the next morning he had enough ummph to make us pancakes. Thanks, Steve!
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