Sandy Beardsley
Living with a Brain Tumor
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05/18/06
Sandy is Out of the Hospital!
Filed under: General
Posted by: Dan @ 8:43 pm

Another great day… the best one yet. Sandy got her post-op MRI this morning at 8:00 and was released from the hospital about 1pm….

But first, a little story from yesterday….

I was walking back toward the hospital after getting a little fresh air in the late afternoon sunshine, turned a corner down a walkway lined with beautiful flowers and trees leading to one of the hospital entrances… when I started hearing, softly at first but getting louder as I got close to the building, the sound of a Native American flute. At first I thought I was hearing it in my mind, because it’s a sound that I and especially Sandy really love. I couldn’t tell where the flute song was coming from because it was echoing off the buildings on each side of me (sound familiar? I had a similar experience with Gregorian chants on the Stanford campus last October, somewhere in the October blog notes). For a second I thought I was hearing the CD we had in Sandy’s hospital room, but realized it couldn’t be because her room was on the other side of the building. I soon saw the source of the flute music - from a distance he looked like James Earl Jones in the movie Field of Dreams - sitting on a bench and playing a beautiful and haunting flute song. I stopped and listened, he looked up and smiled, a warm light in his eyes.

I went in to the hospital, up to her 3rd floor room, and told Sandy I had something very special to show her, but I didn’t tell her anything more. Luckily she was up for her first big adventurous walk and first trip outside. She held on to me as we walked slowly down the long halls, down two escalators, and out into the fresh air. I was afraid the flute player would be gone by that time, but he was still there. He was reading a book though, his flute in a leather case next to him on the bench. We walked up to him (Sandy no doubt wondering what I was doing) and I asked him if I could possibly impose on him to play again for Sandy because she loves the sound so much, and also told him she had just had brain surgery on Monday. He smiled warmly and said, “Certainly, sit on down here…” Sandy sat down next to him and he began to play a traditional-sounding Native American song on his beautiful cedar flute. After he finished, he asked Sandy, “Would you like to learn how to play?”  Well, with a little coaxing, he talked her into it. He taught her how to play a basic scale of notes, and she was able to do it after a few tries. She’s a natural (and quite possibly the first person to play a Native American flute wearing gnome pajamas!). What a special experience - Sandy was glowing with the magic of it. Harrison, we thank you.

See photos of Sandy and her flute teacher, and many other photos of her last day in the hospital. CLICK HERE

This morning, Sandy had her post-op MRI. It was a grueling and painful experience for her. She had to lay down on her back, and on the incision site on the back of her head - tender and very sore with 22 staples - while the MRI machine pounded and grinded its incredibly loud piercing noise for 40 minutes. She toughed it out, barely making it, since she also had to hold absolutely still the entire time.

Needless to say, getting out of the hospital was like being released from prison - the warm sunshine and soft breeze on our faces. And fresh air! Don’t ever take that for granted. Seeing her dressed in her colorful clothes and red cowboy  boots, walking outside and smiling that amazing smile of hers - what can I say - I was beside myself with joy. On our way toward the car, we had a funny and wonderful experience. A woman was approaching us walking a large dog. I could tell from her uniform that she worked at the hospital - I had seen these folks with dogs before, they take them into the children’s ward to help cheer the kids up. So we got to meet Liesl, an  Estrella Mountain Dog from Germany. Our friends in our hometown will laugh at the coincidence, and good sign of getting closer to home. [We live in a town built to look like a Bavarian village in the Alps; and a local theatre company performs the Sound of Music play, with the character Liesl, all summer on an outdoor stage in our mountain town]. So we patted Liesl the Mountain Dog, missing our own dogs back home (THANKS Amy for taking care of them and sending the great photos of the dogs hiking!)

Also a big thank you to everyone for the amazing notes, emails, letters and continuing love and support. And a thank you to Carol for sending the beautiful handmade quilt (Sandy is never without it). And thank you to Margaret and Greg for the Labyrinth - a very special and magical gift. And thanks to all the Orondo School students for the wonderful cards they made.

After that, we got a little more dose of reality when we walked over to the Cancer Center to pick up some of her medications for the next few days. But we got back to our hotel - this green quiet oasis of big trees and a creek running through it - and it felt like paradise. Sandy is laying peacefully on the bed while I write this. And we are so happy to be here. We’ll deal with tomorrow - with its trip back to the Cancer Center and the oncologist - tomorrow. Tonight we’re together in our little home away from home. We hope to be leaving here for our real home next Tuesday.

See photos of Sandy, her flute teacher, and many other photos of her last day in the hospital. CLICK HERE

Good Night,
Dan

12 Responses to “Sandy is Out of the Hospital!”

  1. pk Says:
    May 18th, 2006 at 9:51 pm Oh you guys! Such a special day for you. Thank for sharing the gift of this day. Thank you for the breath of fresh air. And thank you for seeing the beauty in every day and opening our eyes to it. Thank you for living life - for living love. So happy that you can be together in your special home away from home. Now Sandy, just click your heals together … Good night - sweet, sweet dreams.
  2. Janet Says:
    May 19th, 2006 at 1:44 am Sandy and Dan, Thanks for the great update.Your smiles are worth a millon words.I so admire your fantastic appreciation and love for each other and everything around you.Have a great day.
  3. Leda Says:
    May 19th, 2006 at 3:58 am Am following you step by step with faith and admiration
  4. Caryn O\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ Says:
    May 19th, 2006 at 7:33 am Yes, a great day! And super pictures. This journey that you are sharing with us is a most incredible experience. We love you and are so proud. Mom in Waldport
  5. Tracy Ismert Says:
    May 19th, 2006 at 10:15 am Hey Dan and Sandy, I came bu the hospital yesterday but you guys had already left. Sorry I missed you - I walked straight inot your room and saw the bed had gone. Did Sandy leave her slippers behind ? or do they move anotehr patient in that quick. Please send you address in Washington as I have a little something for Sandy. Much love Tracy ( Angel Adventures ).
  6. Susie Says:
    May 19th, 2006 at 10:41 am Sandy, you look awesome. I think when you get home we will all be expecting a Native American flute concert from you. So I hope you were able to get one of your own to practice with. It sounds like you will be home soon. Yeah!! Love and prayers. Susie
  7. Shirl Says:
    May 19th, 2006 at 12:03 pm Sandy, I’m thrilled that you’re doing so well, and have a great big smile plastered on your face. Remember bud, keeping happy is important because “Happiness is like peeing your pants, everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warmth.” Love, Shirl
  8. pk Says:
    May 19th, 2006 at 9:13 pm Hey Dan and Sandy, Today has been full of surprises, special words shared, new opportunities, chances taken, heartfelt emotions, the love and support of friends - witnessing friends/community rallying for a cause to honor, pay tribute, express their love, channel their pain for a dear one - hugs, gifts, sharing, caring, laughter, rain, sunshine, clouds, blue skies, random and not so random acts of kindness, flowers, bird song. And I find myself thinking of a special card shared by a special someone with these words from Mother Teresa, “i have found the paradox that if i love until it hurts, then there is no hurt, only more love …” And i think that maybe, just maybe, i’m starting to understand. With thanks, endless thanks, and wishes for a good night, sweet peace, sweet dreams - I reach out to you.
  9. claudia Says:
    May 20th, 2006 at 10:43 am LOVE YOU TWO. Safe journey home.
  10. rojai Says:
    May 20th, 2006 at 5:55 pm Sandy, I am so elated to hear about your progression out of the hospital. Now when I see a wooden flute I think of David Caradine (Caine)from the Fung Fu TV show. So Grasshopper…. “When you are old and have many children, people will ask you, ‘Who’s that old man in the backyard, playing the flute?’ - Or whatever - You will simply say, ‘That’s my dad.’ Please … do not refer to me as…Pop.” - Caine to young Peter in flashback I have absolutely no idea why I pasted that quote into this note. I found it on the Kung Fu website. OK how bout this one? “Sometimes one must fight the physical battle so that the spiritual combat may be won.” - Caine to Li Sung “To win those, you need more than kung fu.” - Li Sung in reply “Yes. When two great warriors fight, it is truth that is victorious.” - Cain Here Here to the truth - rojai
  11. Mary Says:
    May 20th, 2006 at 10:28 pm And I find myself thinking of a special card shared by a special someone with these words from Mother Teresa, “i have found the paradox that if i love until it hurts, then there is no hurt, only more love … PK quoted Mother Theresa and I admit that I am still in the love until it hurts, so thank u because Dan and Sandy with you two, in honesty, knowing you two there is no hurt, because you give only love. Which I treasure giving back.. Mary
  12. Theresa Says:
    May 22nd, 2006 at 9:32 am Have a great adventure home. Thank you for sharing so much. Theresa

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