Of crashes in the snow and crashes of the vaccine website

 

This photo makes me look better than I actually looked in motion. I went twice and was thinking that I might try it again because the third time could be the charm.

I have gotten SO timid going down the tiniest little incline. We went to the golf course across the street. I used to go zooming down the hill and into the woods. (Ouch, when I wrote zoom it hurt me because I am so tired of it but also grateful for it, especially the Y yoga and exercise classes.) Now, to get to the flat part, when we went down on the other side with a slighter incline, I landed on my bum both times. Boyfriend had to take his skis off to lift me up. After yesterday's snow it is so pretty out that I told my friend I might want to do it one more time.

She asked why I would do that.

I said because I'm stubborn I guess. But then I thought better of it and realized I should stick with what's going well. That would be running, but I have to find the balance of doing enough so that it makes me feel good and doing so much that I hurt me knees.

I needed something after last Thursday's fight with the Massachusetts COVID vaccine site. What a mess. It crashed almost immediately when it opened up to about 1 million people at the same time. 

I was looking forward to getting it from Dana-Farber, But they took it away from the hospitals to focus on bigger centers. At one point, people like me were at the top of this phase. Then the state moved those with two or more co-morbidities down to be with all of those 65 or older. It is too confusing to even explain. That was the group to which it opened up Thursday. 

One person tweeted: "Using the Massachusetts vaccination website is like feverishly clicking on Ticketmaster with millions of other people, except instead of trying to see Beyoncé you're trying to keep parents alive in a pandemic."

The Washington Post had an interesting and troubling story about the problems that medically vulnerable people are having in getting the vaccine. 

But wait, I buried the lede...

Just as I was giving up hope, Katie, who had been working on the vaccine effort with me, texted that she found me an appointment! Actually, her boyfriend found it for me. It was at The Eastfield Mall on Monday. It was at first hard to believe. I think the moral is that you need a millennial. I've heard other stories like this. 

In any case, the night before, it was hard to sleep. I felt like I was going on a big trip the next day. Actually, going anywhere is a big trip. It wasn't very far, but it was a big step. 

The date, 2/22, was memorable in my family. As Joe texted: "I know we didn’t exactly nail down the timeline but can say that 2/22/09 was the night we won our hockey championship and then went to see you, and doctors said they didn’t think you’d make it through the night. Not only did you make it, but here you are 12 years later going to experience another medical miracle!"

I got the Pfizer and am scheduled to go back for the second dose on March 16th. 

It just so happens that if nothing else, the blog is a good memory jogger for me. I found this post, I'm still here, from March 11, 2009, in which I had typed up some of Diane's group emails. Diane did a great job! 

She wrote this on 2/23: 

The good news first: her white count is good and there are positive signs that the transplant part of what has happened has gone well.

On the other hand, she continues to have multiple complications – infections, fevers, problems with blood pressure, kidney failure, and GI bleeding… some of which is under control or being treated through dialysis or medications, and some that is being tested further.

We (Ben, Joe, Katie, Jim, and me) had a long meeting with the oncologist today. I wanted her children in particular to hear directly from the doctor what we are dealing with and what the treatment plans are. There are many elements that are being addressed individually and collectively. We are taking each day as it comes while being fully aware that things can turn for the worse at any moment. The kids will come back tomorrow for a visit as well.

I’ll leave you with this - I was there quite late last night after having been called back to the hospital by the oncologist. As I sat in the reclining chair next to her dozing off and half watching her sleep, I visualized us asleep in our beds at 1200 Fifth Ave… happier times and in its own odd way, a sense of peacefulness."

No matter how crazy things are now, I can say for sure that they are indeed happier times.

Oh, here's my attempt at an "I got vaccinated" selfie.