Today was a great day. Compared to yesterday, when we learned that Rich had a serious staph infection, and his veins couldn't hold the IV insertions, and we were wondering how many heads this monster had.
"Seven-headed Hydra," I said. "Killed by Hercules?"
"Wasn't it Odysseus?" Rich asked.
I got the slayer right, but the number wrong. Hydra had nine poisonous heads, and neither Rich nor I could remember how they were removed. A magic sword, perhaps?
One head is sufficient. Who needs more? Slaying the chordoma is enough of a challenge. If only we could find the magic sword...
Right now, the most dangerous head is the staph infection, and from what we learned today it is amenable to antibiotics, and six weeks max -- maybe less -- should do it. So today Rich had a PICC inserted in his shoulder, and he will have four hours a day tethered to the IV antibiotic drip, and this will postpone the possible chemo, but his veins will recover (temporarily assaulted by last chemo) and we hope to be going home by Tuesday, and his recovery from the surgery has been brilliant.
As for the magic sword: Not one, but many, held in the hands of all who are reading this, all who have bathed us with their calls and letters and care.
Pity Hydra. She doesn't have a chance.
Candace
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