We set out for Perth with our emotions in a jumble. Apprehensive but hopeful. Concerned but positive. Wishing for the best but preparing for less than that.
With Michael's respiratory specialist, Scott, at the helm, we have been tracking a nodule in Michael's right lung for nearly two years. It first appeared in a CT scan when he was terribly sick. Scott was loath to biopsy this lesion. It was situated in Michael's "good" lung, which could have caused greater complications. So instead, Michael has had multiple CT scans over time. This has not been fun. It's been an unseen intruder than we have never known whether it was going to cause harm. Or not.
And so, with our hearts in our mouths, we returned for an appointment at Joondalup. Scott was upbeat and reassuring. The nodule hadn't grown. In fact, it had shrunk slightly. Not cancer. Scott quipped that Michael no longer needed CT scans, as his chest had become boring. We were ecstatic.
Except, we then tackled what could be a lurking chest infection. Scott didn't hesitate. Michael was prescribed antibiotics immediately. And I had instructions to call either Scott, his rooms or the hospital if I thought Michael was deteriorating. Which he has been known to do without any warning.
Still, this appointment was a fabulous outcome to a two-year vigil. The fags were mentioned in passing. Three cigarettes are three too many, Scott reminded Michael. He is contemplating how to give up the dreaded fags, which he uses as self-medication for his anxiety. An incentive is staying out of hospital. Michael's current goal is no admissions for twelve months. We still have five months to go...
Lunch at "Pause for Coffee", the excellent cafe in the Joondalup Medical Centre. Our appetites had returned. We were still euphoric.
Onward and upward. Driving back through the suburb, we stopped at the scene of a savage fire that had torn through Yellalonga National Park on the edge of the residential area. Some idiot had been camping and lit the surrounding bush with a cigarette lighter to clear an area around his tent. Ye Gods.
The resulting bushfire had caused a university to be evacuated, damage to student accommodation and the loss of a house. Looking at the smouldering remains was sobering. Fire is vicious and arbitrary and unforgiving. We were amazing at the audacity of the firefighters to prevent further property loss. We felt grief for the owners of the destroyed house and relief for their neighbours.
We drove on after taking photos. We still had places to go and people to see. But we drew breath just to ponder the highs and lows. Life can change in a flash. Never forget. We are committed to living every day as well as we can.
Scott, looking suitably like a specialist in a professional mug shot..we never see him looking like that.
The destroyed Joondalup house
and the bushland across the road
still smouldering
somebody's chair?
Michael surveying the stark reality of the wreckage.
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