Scotland bound

I’m leaving on July 12th for an extended stay in Edinburgh. Last year mom received four cycles of chemotherapy and 31 days of radiotherapy to treat the cancer in her lungs. Last Tuesday she had a biopsy on her liver where they suspect the cancer has spread. Also planned, the removal of a kidney containing a large tumor. The results of her biopsy will be ready shortly after I get there, and what it reveals will say a lot about what happens next.

I’m bringing with me well wishes to my mother from so many of you. She is a woman of faith. Your prayers mean something to her.

I left last year confident that she was receiving exceptional care from the British National Health Service. She’s got supportive friends — Thank you Willie and Irene — and good neighbors who check in on her — Nora, Frances, and George.

My job is largely keeping up morale. Help mom stay active and distracted; try to keep her from getting into the rut into which her depression tries to take her. On my last visit we travelled by bus to St. Andrews, Glasgow, Loch Lommond. We even flew to Brussels for four days. I’m not sure what to expect when I get there this time.  

There will be changes at the bookstore. Rachel is focusing all of her energy on taking her midwifery exam in August, the last big hurdle before she get’s credentialed and achieves her longtime goal of becoming a midwife. That priority won’t give her much time to either work at the store or manage the large pool of friends who’ve volunteered to help run the shop. So, unlike last year, when so many of you stepped in to help out when I left, this year the store will be run by two people who will cover most of the store hours. Kevin Mims will run the bookstore during the week; Debbie Reeves will run the shop on weekends. Two capable friends who we can’t thank enough for their efforts.

I tried, as best possible, to tie up loose ends before I left. I’m sorry for those I’ve left hanging. I’m tentatively scheduled to return in September. I will, of course, stay for as long as my mother needs me.

Thanks again for your understanding and support. For those who want further updates, I will post them here and on Facebook.