Dear family and friends,

Nora was discharged today from the hospital. Beautiful Regina helped me pack all of Nora’s stuff.

She is home.

The ambulance (tough to fit her into a Rav4) pulled up at 11:30 a.m. Great friend Karen Palmer had already walked the dogs and helped the EMS folks and me get Nora comfortable in her new hospital bed I arranged in our Wii Room.

“Wii Room?” A few years ago, the kids got us a Wii (video game console). They also got us the Tiger Woods Masters CD. With the use of the controller (which acts like a golf club), Nora and I would play dozens of fantastic courses. (When chemo began 9 holes was enough.) The Wii Room became our play room. It is now Nora’s bedroom with a wonderful view of Boyd Creek.

Within hours of getting Nora situated a nurse from Hospice Care of the Low Country (non-profit) was there to help show me how/when to administer the drugs she needs to keep the pain at bay. They came as advertised: sensational. No need to go into detail but Nora is now comfortable. I’ll be adding daily day care beyond Hospice.

The plan is, if Nora gains enough strength, our oncologist, Dr. Yannucci, wants to give her more chemo in her spine. In the past 12 hours Nora has become more coherent and talkative than I have seen in weeks(?). Still doppy, but more Nora than not. If she improves, we go on palliative (home health) care program. If not, hospice care is in place.

Having Nora here makes me the happiest person in the world and maybe the most frightened. I’m in charge. And, at night, a solo act.

Nora will get the best care possible. With determination, she will get on with chemo. But no one knows. No one knows.

Nora got a precious shell delivered by friend Wayne Reeder tonight, a bit of Boyd Creek magic.

Know we live in a (neighborhood) world of kindness.

Paul