Tue the 2nd of Jun – Hello Trees

On Saturday, Mara ventures out of the hospital for the day. No, she did not escape through the window dangling from her drip. And no, she didn’t bribe any of the nurses to help her break out. She is legitimately released and expected back at 7pm sharp. Her cough and nausea have subsided and her appetite peaks out of its hiding ever so timidly. Her first steps are very unstable and shaky. She can hardly stand, heavily leaning against anyone or anything and needs to rest every 2 minutes. By the time she reaches the apartment, she is out of breath and shocked at how drained she is of energy. She eats a few bites of spaghetti and crashes in bed for a long nap before returning to the hospital.

This exercise repeats itself in the coming days. Very slowly Mar starts to feel less dazed. This morning I pick her up. At turtle speed, arm in arm, we walk from the hospital to the apartment. It’s a sunny Tuesday morning with a mild wind sweeping through the trees. Mara marvels at the beauty of every little detail. She basks in the sun and feels the cool breeze gently kissing her face. She savors the moment. We pass through a path bordered by very fragrant herbs made of thyme, rosemary and lavender. Dad, walking behind us, helps himself to some sprigs of rosemary for tonight’s stew. They grow in abundance on these hills. Even through her mask, Mara greedily draws in the aromatic perfumes of these surroundings. It all seems so new to her or maybe having been denied for so long, she just experiences every moment with renewed intensity and complete happiness.

She eats a little and sleeps a lot. At this steady pace, she will soon be discharged all together from the hospital for a couple of weeks. After that she will undergo another bone marrow puncture. We will then find out if this chemo treatment had the desired effect. It will. It will. It will.

One of the Doctors said “piano piano ci arriviamo”( slowly slowly we’ll get there). I like the simplicity of this mantra.. May it be so.