Monday, July 7, 2014

My week with Jeanie (and Cheri)

Debbie Davis and Jeanie Allen at P.J. Clarke’s in DC on the 4th
If you’re new to the Challenge, you might not have yet had the privilege of meeting the Swamp Taters, the tandem team composed of Jeanie Allen and Cheri Ardoin. Jeanie is battling clear cell sarcoma, a lethal form of cancer that seemingly strikes physically fit people. 

She’s now part of a clinical trial at NIH (the medical Mecca of the world, the National Institutes of Health) in Bethesda, Maryland. While this is a hump for Jeanie from her home state of Idaho, it’s a pretty short car ride from our house. And for this, we are truly thankful to be her concierge. The protocol is rigorous; Jeanie was on an I.V. Pump for the better part of a week. She named the device “George.”

When Cheri showed up, the whole mood in the SW Wing moved up a few beats because no one can be around Cheri and not be happy- or amused. 

So, the two of them conspired to produce a video of the day in the life of Jeanie, trapped in the secure campus (and I do mean secure) of NIH.

So, check it out. 

http://youtu.be/wx3RGAiYeJw

You’ll be glad you did. (The sound track is copyrighted, which may explain why the video will not play on some smart devices; view it through your browser.)

We got a special treat from the manager of P.J. Clarke’s at the corner of 16th and K streets on the Fourth. He treated us to a roof-top view of the fireworks on the mall. 

All-in-all a great 4th of July with good food and wonderful friends. 

 

1 comment:

Unknown said...

It is hard to be so far from home, especially going through the discomfort and uncertainty of the medical treatments. It was so wonderful to have you as friends nearby, to escape the doldrum of the Hospital, bring me goodies I didn't know I would need and appreciate, invite me into your beautiful home, chauffer me around, (at Mock speed!, have gobs of patience to get through the security rigamarole of NIH visitation, and take me out for one of my best 4th of July's ever! You and the FFCC team and family are truly the best EVER!