8/21/2026
Talking loud but saying nothing..
First off congrats on my colleagues making it through the first week in school!
This is why this entry took so long to write – teachers are stressed enough as it is during the period. They don’t need to hear from another one putting in their two cents of complaints when balancing everything else.
As for me, it’s been a tough but silent (relatively) week. One of the many drawbacks of chemo and cancer recovery is the side effects of the medicines. Many are known like for example the loss of hair (which I am now experiencing for the second time). Another lesser known one is mucositis which can cause a number of fun times. In particular (and grossly) is the development of pus sacs on the inside of the mouth.
If you have ever had braces you may have experienced something like this. These sores appear usually when you first get your braces at first and last for a couple of days and your cheeks and gums are irritated. While recovering from cancer they appear at random and swell your cheeks like you just got punched in the jaw. Then comes (again) the sores. These hurt and rub against the teeth to the point that it’s not only tough to eat but also sleep on one’s side (since they may be resting up against the teeth). So with all of this, it severely limits one’s ability to talk.
This is the crux of today’s message. Mobility limitations are tough but not talking is worse. Imagine this difficulty while teaching and it’s impossible, imagine not being able to sing to your daughter over facetime at night. It sucks to a whole new level but still I try and she (and her mommy) are understanding. Luckily she can still sense that I love them both and miss them.
As I saw recently on a Facebook ad for cancer patients “This too shall pass but what the hell?!”
Still things will get better.
Take care, be well, and Excelsior (or as I say now in mumble, MmmmAmmmmhummmm)!
Kevin
Leave a Reply