Tour de France

Tom came home from his hospital detour on Friday, and is again absorbed in viewing the Tour de France each evening on NBC Sports.  Thanks to the generosity of his colleagues at TIAA-CREF, he has a new Tour de France T-shirt and commemorative yellow wrist band.  

Today Pete, grandson Royal, and I drove to the summit of Emigration Canyon for the Tour de Emigre (held each Sunday).  Just like the locals in France, Tom cheered on the bikers pedaling up the steep grade.  Then Pete drove us to the top of Big Mountain (Grande Montagne) where Pete and Royal hiked the old Mormon Trail and Tom and I took in the view of the valleys of the Wasatch Mountains.

Like the bikers in the peloton, Tom has made great progress this week in a very steep climb.  A big thank you to all of you who wrote your words of encouragement that we read to him as you posted on the blog.  On to the next stage of the tour!

Detour

If all had gone according to plan, Tom would be engaged in the first stage of the clinical trial at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles.  Alas, it was not to be–yet!  He has been in the Huntsman Cancer Hospital in Salt Lake City since Monday with an infection of indeterminate origin.  He is much improved but has developed that same nasty heart arrhythmia he did last July, so he will be in a few more days until the doctors get that heart back on track.  He is in very good spirits but somewhat frustrated he is not in LA.  All the various medical teams have been in consultation and we will get to LA as soon as he fully recovers.  We have a great set of docs and nurses and the hospital is posh with good food.

As he lays in bed his view out the window is of the foothills of the Wasatch, and every time a biker or runner passes by on the trail, he wistfully sighs.  With your support he can get back on the trail. So please leave a comment if you have time.

Credits:  To Pete who has faithfully provided good times at night after Susan goes home and brings in BBQ for Tom for lunch.  Our sons and their families help us keep it together.