Cunningham-Ramos AML & Stroke after TBI Journey

I keep thinking about when kim was diagnosed with cancer on January 2022, when he suffered a stroke in August 2022, and when he came home under hospice on November 1, 2022 as milestones and I’ve been wondering why? Do I view these as low points in our lives from where we picked up the pieces and continued this journey of life? Are they the big steps in the ladder of descend toward death?

It feels as if we have been on a train with very few stops, where we’ve spent a lot of effort; have experienced a lot of sadness and setbacks; and have had some accomplishments and some joyful moments. Basically, we’ve carried on with life, adjusted to our new norm, and continued to live, and yes, with hopes and aspirations!

Kim wants to see ‘red barns’ again! Those you see in the beautiful finger lakes. After watching one of the wonderful YouTube sailing adventures, Kim says: let’s buy a boat and go sailing!

I started to volunteer for 2-3 hours as I can ( and when caregivers are watching Kim) at the Annapolis Maritime Museum in Eastport, a section of downtown Annapolis. It is a great way to occupy my mind while helping the community and educating the public about our beautiful Chesapeake Bay.

Life goes on and we go with it, not only surviving day to day but also thriving with the pieces left behind. I then realize that the ‘milestones’ are of surviving cancer, surviving the stroke, and now surviving Hospice.