Skip to main content

An Inspired Gift



Mathew kept a journal for years and always had it with him for every doctor's appointment and hospital stay. Even when we went in as an emergency, but he didn't have one with him for that first admission. I don't think we expected him to stay. As it turned out, a former girlfriend's father was on the staff at that hospital and brought Mathew a new journal.

Here is the inscription:

To Matt,
Inspiration comes from the damnedest places.

Alan
2-27-14


Alan also brought a guitar to Mathew's room. Such a thoughtful and inspired gesture. Mathew was a musician and practiced many hours a day. As sick as he was, he picked up that guitar and played for the nurses at the Zephyrhills Hospital and at Moffitt, since the guitar made the transfer with us. 

Though it stayed at home the rest of the times Mathew was inpatient at Moffitt I believe that because it was there, in the beginning, it created a continuum from pre-diagnosis life, to life with cancer. He continued to play and practice and record songs no matter how poorly he felt or when his hands were struck with neuropathy from the chemo. Though he did have to rewrite and simplify much of his music.



Here is a recording from before Mathew's cancer diagnosis. It is is one of my favorites.
https://soundcloud.com/confectionsforcats/malaguena 
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Replace the 3 Lumen Pic Line with a Port

Mathew's 3 Lumen Pic Line was replaced with a Power P.A.C. Both Mathew and I were given Medical I.D. cards to carry at all times. I have mentioned before that texting from the DRC is almost impossible. The staff told me it used to be the X-ray department so the walls are leaded. Again, the phone tree would have helped so much. I texted the following information to my niece, my sister and Mathew’s Dad and Stepmom. And probably Joseph and Carlos. I know that could have been reduced to two texts, three at the most. At the time  I didn’t know about group messaging as my phone was an old Android. Texts Between me and Diane Hi. We are at the hospital early because Mat is in a lot of pain.  We think the bill stent may have moved. Sent 3-31-14 Because he was NPO for other  procedure they should be able to fix today. Sent 3-31-14 In the DRC sending texts is almost impossible so if you don’t hear from me for a while don’t worry. If ...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Cancer Poem by Mathew Rodgers 2014

From Mathew’s Journal 4-5-14 “I lie awake in my pain bed metallic noises chirping from my strange computer  companion”
Post a Comment
Read more

Hair Loss After Chemo for Sarcoma, My Son's Point of View

I can't imagine or pretend to know how it feels to lose your hair because you have cancer and the chemo causes your hair to fall out.  I only know what I saw with Mathew and years ago, my sister Elizabeth's experience as they lost their hair to chemotherapy. But it was something that affected Mathew more than just the initial hair loss, it had nuances. Here is a journal entry. It's short but I think it speaks volumes. MATHEW’S JOURNAL     5-23-14 Lately, I’ve been envious of people’s hair. Well, I guess not envious of other people’s hair but missing mine. I told my Mom about it and expressed to her that I was afraid I was falling prey to vanity. She expressed the idea that I may be missing having hair because it’s part of being healthy. I do miss having a life and at the same time, I’m afraid that I may never have a full life again or that I may lose what’s left of the one I have. -  I’ve been thinking about dying a lot lately. I don’t know wh...
Post a Comment
Read more