Rambling In The Rain

I realise that everyone that cares about Chester is checking
this blog everyday or so and wondering why I'm not writing
more, and more often.
I know this because it's what I thought when he was still
living in CA, and though I spoke with him most days, I
yearned for more.
I just want all of you to know that I know how you're feeling,
and I now know how his care team in CA felt. Caring for
Chester is an honor, and time consuming, and you just want
to give him ALL of your attention, thought, and energy.
Unfortunately, that doesn't leave much of those three things
for Blogging! I cannot begin to say thank you enough to all
of those that contributed to the blog for the last fourteen months!
Having said all that, I wanted to let you all know that Chester
has decided NOT to proceed with plans for his own house.
We met with a general contractor in an effort to speed things
along, and the price of everything was more than could be met.
Chester is understandably disappointed by this turn of events.
Dan and Nancy have generously and graciously offered Chester
their home and hospitality for as long as he wants to reside
there. I will go on commuting to their home as well.
Chester met with Dr M again this afternoon. After a lot of
thought and research, Chester has decided to try a different chemotherapy drug.I will do my best to let you all know how
this goes.
Upon leaving the hospital, Chester expressed a desire to visit
a drive-in that he remembers from his childhood,Mugs Up!
That's really the name of it! They serve loosemeat sandwiches
called Zipburgers and Whizburgers (Zipburgers with cheese).
We couldn't believe our luck that the place is still in business
after all these years!! Of course we HAD to go there, and that
was definitely the highlight of our day. On the way back home
to Dan and Nancy's, we drove by the old farmhouse where our
mother grew up (and where Chester visited our grandparents
as a child).Seeing all the "new homes" built up around it was a
bit of a shock, but the old house is still there and cared for,
and that was nice to see.
We continued homeward in the rain, glad to know there was a
warm, dry and family-filled home waiting ahead.
Dawn

Home At Last

Dawn here. It has been a very,very long day with a short night ahead, so
this will have to be brief.
Chester's belongings arrived on the moving truck this morning--bright
and early.Thank you Nancy!!! The driver was very professional, and couldn't wait to meet Chester. He was a blessing, and took good care of
everything.
We have begun the process of settling him back in among his familiar
belongings, and he finally gets to sleep in his own bed tonight.
He is having a visitor from Australia tomorrow, and for several days to come, so he will have plenty to keep us all busy for a while yet.
Please continue to send your energy our direction so we can continue
giving Chester all the best of ourselves.More later!

An Additional Two Cents

Howdy everyone, Jaime here.
I spoke with Chester yesterday and wanted to expand a bit on Dawn's previous entry regarding Chester's new oncologist...
To say that I was relieved when he told me that he really liked Dr Moormeier is an understatement, since we'd been having such a run of "bad luck" with the Oncologists at Alta Bates. Chester'd begun with Dr Anne-Renee Hartman - she of the incredible shoes! - and had developed a great rapport with, and trust in, her. But she left in the Spring to relocate to the San Francisco peninsula and was replaced by Dr Chakravarthi, whom he also liked. But she left after a couple of months - before we could really establish any kind of meaningful connection - and was replaced by a doc that Chester did not like very much at all (and will so remain nameless)... It was a great frustration for him (and his team) because he'd started out with such incredible advocates for his care, only to see them disappear. So finding Dr Moormeier reinforces my optimism that the fates are again working WITH us - even in Holden Missouri!
Cheeky said that Dr M interviewed he and Dawn for two full hours - a true rarity (given that our visits with his CA Oncologists never lasted much more than 15 minutes). I know it also soothed alot of Chester's uncertainty about "what's next?" The less he has to be concerned with, the better!
Speaking of - could I also request that each of you expand your energetic circles of support for Chester to include his family? Mom, Dawn, Dan & Nancy are also going through certain upheavals in their life with their brother back among them and could certainly use the additional "juice" that was so lovingly provided for his CA care-team. Let's all buoy them up as best we're able as Chester decides his next strategy.
As to the more mundane developments - I've closed out Chester's Medical Expenses account and am forwarding him the money for use in Holden. Not being able to oversee its administration, I've asked that it be used solely for his Medical Expenses there to honor the spirit in which those donations were originally given (and I have no doubt that his family will use it appropriately)...
His loft space in Emeryville is empty now, awaiting a thorough cleaning before surrendering it back to management. It's a strange and hollow space now that he's in Missouri - it was so FULL of his life and energy for the past year that seeing it "naked" is a mild shock. But it did serve its purpose - beautifully! - by allowing him a relatively unfettered and mobile year of shelter for he and his various companions. I'll be personally grateful to both building managers, Evonne and Frank, for all their caring and the extra miles they went in attending to Chester's needs. Our boy certainly has had (and continues to have) angels on his shoulder!
I want to thank Dawn as well, for continuing to post here on her brother's settling in. For those of us now distant to him, it's reassuring to hear - however briefly - the news of his progress. (Hint: you can write as much as you like, Dawn!!!) xox Jaime

Medical Connection

Dawn here again. Chester saw his new oncologist yesterday, and he was
really impressed by her. Dr.Moormeier told Chester and I about a different chemotherapy drug that has a lower percentage of side effects,
but a lower percentage of working as well.
Chester is considering his options, and will be seeing Dr.Moormeier again soon.

Swimmingly Good Times

Hi all! This is Dawn (Mr.Cheeky's sister) reporting from MO.Chester took me to the pool for the first time today, and I started learning how to assist Chester in his exercises. I can tell you that he has not forgotten how to teach, and he was wonderfully patient with me. I was one of Chester's first students in life many years ago, and I feel very blessed to be learning from him once again.We are looking forward to making as many wonderful memories as we can in the time he will be here with his first family, and so thankful that his chosen family is still close in heart, if not in person. I will do my best to keep you all informed of what Chester is experiencing as the days go by, and we will not forget the contributions (time,love,work,thoughts,prayers,assistance)you all have made. Thank you for never forgetting about Chester!!!Dawn

Moon Musings

Chester was up at dawn this morning to watch the full moon. Together, we sat and watched the moon glow as the sky changed "technicolor". For over and hour and a half, we watched the moon's slow descent as the nocturnal and diurnal predators change of shift gave the smaller critters their brief window of opportunity for their own foraging. It was a time of reflection, wonder and deep appreciation for nature. It was also a time to consider how many more full moons he will be able to witness in this body. He states he has lived a full life and want to live more, but wants to preserve a quality of life where he can fully enjoy the time he has left.

It was a very precious time together with the wonder and mysteries of life and moon cycles.

Fried Froglegs and Moving Boxes

Its been a crazy busy week. The California crew has been packing up Chester's studio since we left on Tuesday. Tomorrow morning, the moving van arrives at the Loft to pick up his belongings. Poor moving guys have no idea what they are getting into when they start loading all of Chester's boxes of crystals!

Here in Missouri, we have been hard at work making Chester's space at Dan, his brother's house accessible. Chester's pride and joy has been the new toilet, woohoo! We still need to widen the doorways and pull out shower doors but we are getting there. Chester checked out the community center's pool with his sister Dawn and will start his hydrotherapy there next week. It also has good shower facilities so he will be able to shower off the chlorine and get all gussied up.

Dinner time has meant family and a plethora of good eating. His brother Dan has been fixing some of Chester's favorite foods. We had a mass of fried froglegs last night and we have had elk twice. We have been eating off a huge Hen in the Woods mushroom for days that Dan foraged. Wild turkey and venison have been promised for the days ahead. A definite change from his sushi, but Chester is relishing the dinners lovingly prepared by Dan and he adored the lime pie that his mama made him.

Its been a huge change but Chester is responding with grace, courage and patience as Chester and his family adjust their schedules and lives to support this stage of his life. Although the phone continues to be difficult, Chester delights in emails. We have set him up with a laptop so he can continue utilize his email until his computer arrives in a couple of weeks. I leave for Seattle tomorrow morning, but I will return to Missouri when his belongings arrive, to help Chester and his family get sorted and settled. I will be showing his family how to help Chester blog so he can keep you up to date.

Flying Home Now

Well, if the airlines are running on schedule this morning (and I haven't any reason to think they aren't), Chester and Bean are in the air at this moment, heading to Kansas City, Missouri. The drive from that airport to the family farm is about 60 miles, where Dawn, Mom, Dan, Nancy, Chet and others will welcome their boy back home. Bean will be staying for a few days to help make the transition as smooth as possible. She's a whiz with Chester, a soothing presence that calms him easily when his feathers get ruffled. She's also a medical professional who knows blood-pressures and understands medications and is great at dealing with the ins-and-outs of bureaucracy; to see her in action is very reassuring... It helps me to know he's in good hands now that he's out of mine.
The past week has been a whirlwind for us all, so you'll have to forgive our not returning phone calls, etc. We had our hands full sorting through and packing Chester's belongings, which often tired him out. Though his hydrotherapy sessions with Gil over the past couple of days helped soothe that upheaval. Cheeky loved being back in the water where he could move with more ease, elegance and efficiency. ;-]
He and I dined twice at Kasuga - he had to get his fill of (the owner) George's warm hospitality and melt-in-your-mouth delicacies - before finding himself back in the midwest, land of burgers and fries. Last night, Bean, Chrys, Gil and JD joined us there and a rousing time was had by all. The raspberry, lychee and plum sake's lubricated the proceedings quite nicely.
And if you ever have the opportunity, try some raspberry sake. It was everyone's favorite, hands down....
As to the more mundane details - the rest of Chester's belongings will be packed and picked up by movers (thanks to CM's sister-in-law, Nancy, who cut a deal for us with a moving co!) Friday afternoon and delivered to him in Missouri between the 16th and 20th, if all goes as planned. Naturally, we'll be "energizing" things for a landing sooner than later.
The money donated to Chester's medical expenses is going to be forwarded to a new account in Missouri, which he'll open once he gets his bearings. It's an unexpected blessing, because - thank you bureaucracy! - Chester can't open a Medicaid Acccount in Missouri until they receive a letter from Medi-Cal of California at Chester's new address there! So there could be some doctor's appointments and supplies and the like that will need to be retroactively re-imbursed by the state... The $2000 still in that account will come in handy. THANK YOU EVERYBODY!
I'm not quite sure what will happen with this blog. I hope that we'll have updates from the various family members as our Cheeky B continues his travel...
I'll do my best to toss in what I know and hear from the boy.
(Boy, that feels SO strange to say! Chester's been such an integral part of my life since we met 6 years ago that living without him is something I just can't yet envision. )
So... You're all basically up-to-date.
THANK YOU ALL from the bottom of the all the hearts on Cheeky's California Team!
We couldn't have done it without you! xox Jaime