Monday, June 26
Laurie and I have had almost a week to process my current health news – Dr. Beer is out of options. Although it is not what we would choose, it is the reality and we are ready to pick up the pieces.
Since that long, hard day at OHSU last Tuesday, we celebrated my 61st birthday. Laurie, Corrine and I ventured to a place only 65 miles from home where none of had ever been before. We launched a canoe into Siltcoos Lake, paddled to the Siltcoos River outlet en route to the breakers of the Pacific Ocean. The lazy water, huge Sitka spruce, twisted shore pines and the myriad of birds were simultaneously stunning and relaxing. Soon we had broken out of the forest into the huge sand dunes – snowy plover habitat. Immediately we witnessed the majesty of a gigantic bald eagle lifting itself into flight from an ancient beach post. We continued paddling for a fe
w hundred yards, but quickly realized the gale force winds would be just too much for us to overcome to gain access to the true ocean. Perhaps this is the lesson of my present health state – yield, accept and mold to what my journey now offers? We walked a bit, turned around, found a glorious spot on the dunes in the sun, lunched, napped and bonded. It was one of those extremely special, harmonious human/nature-interfacing experiences. By early evening we had paddled back, hoisted our canoe from the lake and were enjoying the sunset on Cleawox Lake among the huge green coastal trees and giant sand dunes. Laurie heated up some dinner, they polished off a bottle of good Italian wine and we continued to revel in each other’s company and nature’s grandeur. The old reliable VW van whisked us home after dark and we snoozed comfortably in our bed that night!
Also since that long, hard day at OHSU, Laurie and I have spent almost every minute together. The time has been filled with intense, real conversation and many a tear. The result is a most incredible, deepening, loving, all-consuming relationship between us. It is truly a most wondrous, beautiful thing – one that I could simply not have even imagined just a short time ago! The tribulations of life have a curious way of freeing us to feel the truest human experience.
Presently, Laurie and I prepare for our huge; much anticipated family reunion in Whistler BC. We depart Eugene in four days. Over the next two weeks we will also be traveling to three major domestic cancer research centers (Portland, Boston and San Francisco) to gather experimental trial data to discuss with Dr. Beer. Come mid-July we are determined to have a plan – whether it is active or passive we will know soon enough – but in either case it is time for us to move on. In the meantime, we anticipate enjoying each and every magical moment of each and every day that life offers us and to roll with its punches.
A simple Happy Birthday, Mike
What you guys do in a matter of a week I could never do in 3 months! Amazing team you are. I am holding on to thoughts of a better and more successful treatment option that gets you back to “Normalcy”…..more play time, trips that are to destinations YOU choose and BLISS for the both of you! Laurie, fun outing yesterday and Mike…..I’m on a mission of comfort for you! Whoo hoo! xo kt
Dear, dear Mike – Thank you for sharing yet another part of this journey with us. You continue to demonstrate your great capacity for joy, which is truly inspiring to me (and I know, also, to so many others). As you move forward with consultations with other specialists, I might hope that you would consider the perspective that there are no “passive” options. YOU bring the “active” to them. Happy Birthday and much love to you and Laurie!
Hey Mike & Laurie,
I continue to get up to speed on the situation. Reading older posts… just read Rock Star… sounds a bit like the guy I apartmented with back in ’81, in the sense that he just quit one of his older Rock Star jobs inventing nuclear submarines for the gov’t so he could be a different Rock Star inventing handlebars that would eliminate wrist and hand paresthesia in the real “bikers” of the world. Needless to say some things haven’t changed, Mike you are still the Rock Star! And now you have a Rock Star partner! Laurie, awesome meeting you a couple weeks ago (and ditto from Carol!). Truly the highlight of our mecca to the NW was the Saturday with both of you at the farmers’ market… reminiscing and learning more only reiterates in my mind that the relationships that we have with others are our greatest blessings. Unbeknownst to you, I have regaled many with Mike Heil lore over the years, perhaps with an embellishment here and there, just hoping that it didn’t deter folks catching a glimpse of this 1 in a mega-million guy. Reading comments on your blogs, I also know you have some Rock Star amigos. Had breakfast with some on that Sunday morn. “Rock Stars of a feather flock together.” I’ve said it before, my words and thoughts cannot be expressed any better than what others have already said. So easy to pray for youse! Sucks to read some of the reports. Proverbs 3:5&6.
Thinking of you and Laurie everyday. I’m with you stride for stride.