On Monday she returned to her office for the first time in two months - she missed part of that time because of the shutdown and rest related to her autologous stem cell transplant, starting with the preparations.
She did not come close to working a full week - she is still rebuilding her stamina.
But it is good for her to again feel productive.
And of course to again be earning an income, having burned through her leave and her donated leave (although she is now getting more donated to her).
She will only be in the office a few days this week because of a prior commitment, serving as a member of the archives committee of her national church, which will require her to travel (by train) to Syosset New York.
She is driving herself to work, and slowly integrating herself back into her life as she knew it.
She will resume the infusions to rebuild her spine on Tuesday, and sees her oncologist to set up for resuming her chemo to be on a maintenance level of one drug. And after the first of the year she will return to her physical therapist to begin rebuilding her strength.
Our journey through this process is far from complete.
She will live with her cancer for the rest of her life, unless a real cure is discovered - she can look forward to an extended remission.
That Sunday night of January 27, when we were first informed that she probably had metastatic organ cancer that had spread to her spine, we thought we might not have much time together.
Of course there are no guarantees, but now we feel comfortable in planning for things in the future - perhaps when she is able that the two of us final get to Italy.
We could not have come this far without the emotional, social, and spiritual support of so many of those who will read these words.
We are grateful for the material support - people who helped me clean the house, or drove Jurretta to appointments so I could teach, or watched her when she could not be left alone and I could not be with her.
For those in the Daily Kos community, we have a regular reminder in the beautiful and healing quilt that you gave her.
Milestones will be fewer in the future, further apart, and thus I will impose these updates upon your far less frequently.
In the meantime, accept our sincere thanks for everything.
We love you.
Peace.