Today was a good, big day for Tanja, kicking off with just over 2 miles at the track as a warm up to her trip downtown for OT.

The OT therapist is a favorite of Tanja’s because of her energy and her positivity. Today she began with some massage of Tanja’s beleaguered shoulders, then some tricep strengthening and other deviously challenging exercises which, though difficult, were all performed while lying down so that Tanja emerged at the hour’s end looking energized and wondering about lunch–always a good sign.

In the afternoon, she worked on her leggo flowers, which are coming along nicely and are great for her dexterity.

Then she did some handwriting in a little notebook she produced from her endless supply of little notebooks. I was unable to procure a photo of her penmanship but I did get a glimpse of it over her shoulder and it was surprisingly moving to see; her neat little rounded hand has returned.

But, as lovely as today has been, the thing we’re all really thinking about is the six-week follow-up visit tomorrow with the neuro team at OHSU. Tanja has lots of questions for them but the big one is, when can the collar come off? It would be hard to overstate how uncomfortable she finds that thing. And it is relentless–apart from a couple minutes every two days when we change out the pads and wash her neck, it is always there. She can’t look to the side. She can’t look down. She can’t really look up. Eating is a particular chore. Sleeping is made more difficult (though her deep fatigue easily overcomes the discomfort.) And it itches. And one is not fond of the look.

The hope is that they will take it off her tomorrow. The fear is that they will say two more weeks. I believe the latter will be met with tremendous disappointment.

Today we bought a new fridge. They had one they could deliver today. But the one we wanted was a solid week out. Another week of a cooler on the porch?

“I think,” Tanja said, “it’s worth the wait to get the extra capacity. It’s not that long in the big picture.”

“Totally agree,” I said.

“What?”

“What ‘what’? I agree.”

“You think it’s silly.”

“On the contrary,” I insisted. “I totally agree it’s smart to stick it out, despite the inconvenience, in order to get the outcome we really want.”

“Ok,” she said. “Fine. I’ll do it. But I won’t like it.”