AFTER 21. Old cat

21. OLD CAT

I lie on the couch

You climb onto my chest

Lie on my heart

Opportunistic for warmth, contact,

Purring.

Not so long ago

Clara lay on this same couch

And you lay in her lap

She scratched your ears, just so

Special Clara way of scratching

That you loved.

Really, with Clara immune deficient

From chemotherapy

You shouldn’t have been close to her.

But you loved to be there,

And she loved to have you close,

Soft, purring, cat-smiling

To her ear-scratching fingers,

Giving Clara some moments ease.

Now, I have you close,

I touch what Clara touched

And I love you for loving Clara,

Old cat.

3 August 2010

MIDDLE Summary

MIDDLE

Summary:

We settle into a routine of life with a life-threatening illness. Clara has periods in hospital, alternating with time at home, depending on phase of treatment program. Sometimes even goes back to school.

We accustom ourselves to the rigours of chemotherapy and its side effects, including nausea, vomiting and hair loss. Blood is tested regularly, monitoring level of lymphocytes (white blood cells) that the cancer over-produces and level of red blood cells that the chemotherapy is also destroying. Sometimes a blood transfusion when red blood cell count is too low.

And many other medical procedures and interventions, keeping Clara well enough while she copes with leukaemia and chemotherapy. We grow familiar with the Royal Childrens Hospital cancer ward, the nurses, doctors, helpers, the hospital daily round, the beeping IV feed. It becomes sort of comfortable, though still so hard. Somehow Clara remains cheerful, in good spirits, a lot of the time; such a courageous soul!