VOYAGES of the Starship GENESIS two seven
The PASSENGER’s LOG
Stardate 15 May 2021
These are the voyages of the Starship GENESIS two seven – It’s continuing mission to seek out new meaning and new illumination for the path of The Passenger. Perhaps, I thought as I began to write this, every single person on earth is assigned a Starship or perhaps the same Starships will take multiple passengers either at separate times or concurrently, though perhaps the Passengers never realize they are sharing the deck space with others than their crew. I suspect, however, that each Passenger’s ship is different for the paths they take are never really the same and the crew upon my ship would not be the same as the others. So, musings aside, let me regale you with the most recent in events upon our divine journey into the know-unknown. That is a term, a conundrum, if you will, I may describe later. I also want to take some time later to delve a little more deeply into why I chose Genesis 2:7. For now, let’s review the week.
For the last week and for the short-term foreseeable future, our Starship is docked along side the wonderful, Akron Children’s Hospital. An incredibly special crewmate, Ally, is in sick bay there and will be so probably through the middle of next week. I will direct you to her regular update page for further. https://www.facebook.com/suzsnyde
Know that your prayers are coveted, your notes, cards, and other forms of outreach to her are deeply appreciated. We hope to be underway again soon, with a full contingent of crew on board.
As for The Passenger’s update: An overnight study of my oxygen levels was completed this past week. The results have not been released but it is expected that I will be assigned an O2 companion probably for nighttime and certainly for times when I am “exerting” myself (i.e., walks to the refrigerator and back).
The last visit with Dr. N determined I would remain on the steroids through mid-June and we will then test again my 6-minute walk, my lung capacity and a I have another CAT scan ordered. Also, to preclude the expected long wait to get into the pulmonologist at the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. N. has already made those arrangements and I will be asking our Captain to dock the starship in Cleveland for a day or so in about another four weeks.
I am asked frequently how I am feeling and if the steroids are making any difference in my breathing ability. As to the former, when I feel good, I feel extremely good. My pain level in my back and legs is down and my energy is up. When I am feeling poorly, it is as if the Energizer Bunny has had the plug pulled. I am completely drained and only rest will start me on the way back up. Rest, however, has been difficult lately – by that I mean the last three or four days. It seems my body is fighting me when I try to rest. Heidi had to come to the house the other night, in Karin’s absence, to administer the medicine I needed so I could sleep. God knew what He was doing when He gave me a physician for a wife, a highly trained nurse for a daughter and a host of other crewmates, all with exactly what I need when I need it. Praise Him!
Today was an emotional rollercoaster, which is something they said could happen with the steroids. Even this moment my emotions erupt thanking God for His care for me through my family. Not really having had that kind of a side-effect so far with the steroids, I was surprised it came today but I realize it is on the heels of two or three nights of fitful, if any, sleep. Two nights ago, I was awake an entire night, unable to gain the pleasure of sleep’s shroud over my eyelids and a loss of some of my usual on-board medicine yesterday, put me behind the 8-ball trying to play catch up and get rest at the same time. That doesn’t work. So, I think I paid for it today with the rollercoaster ride. I think the ride attendant would have stopped the rollercoaster had he realized how close I was to letting go breakfast his way! They always say, “Keep your hands and arms inside the ride until it comes to a complete stop” but they never mention lunch! But now, as the day draws to an end, I am hopeful that tonight will be a peaceful one and tomorrow will dawn fresh and new with the joy of taking my grandchildren to church in the morning!
As to the latter question, is there any difference in my breathing with the steroids. If there is, I am not noticing it. The cough they said would begin has begun. It is a useless cough. It brings nothing up and does nothing other than to irritate those who have to hear it or me, The Passenger, who has to have it. It’s a dry, meaningless cough, just another symptom of lungs not wanting to complete their God-given duty to bring life-giving air from the outside of me to the inside of me and expel that which I no longer need.
A grand surprise this evening! Crewmate Ally is doing some better and the constabularies at ACH gave her a little more freedom than she had before. A sign she is improving!! Thank you Lord!!
I continue to trust fully in the Captain of this vessel and know that wherever this journey takes me and my crew, it will be the right place. When I see people on the street and they ask me “How are you doing?” I can usually tell whether they know my circumstances or not. That happened this evening. I did what I have intended I shall always do. I ask, “Have you heard what I have going on?” If they answer “No” I simply tell them. No fanfare, no horns, whistles, balloons falling from the sky or celestial light beaming down from the clouds, just… this is what it is and I am trusting God to take it from here. I hope that is the right thing to do. I don’t want to just say, “Oh, I’m finer than peach fuzz” and smile and walk away, not if it is someone who has known me for any length of time, at least. To a stranger who simply greats me on the street with a ‘Hi, how are you?’ That will get the polite, smile and a ‘Hi’ back and that is where that ends. I guess I want those I know to realize that I covet their prayers and that I am trusting God. If that is not the right way to handle this, then for goodness sakes, let me know because, obviously, I have never traveled this path before.
With love,
The Passenger
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