RIGHT NOW – May 29, 2013

此时此刻―――2013年5月29日

Dear, dear friends and family,

 亲爱的朋友和家人：

Right now, we are wanting you to pause for a moment, and consider the impact you have on the world around you, and the difference you make to the people in your life. 

此时，我们想要你们暂停一刻，考虑一下你对周围的世界的影响，思考你对生命中其它的人所创造的不同影响……

In these past several months we have been the recipients of loving care from you, that has buoyed us in difficult times and enveloped us in wisdom and support…day after day.  We have had you and your loving forefront on this journey, and still did not realize the full breadth, depth of support and healing our community of friends and family offers us…and in these past few days we have been given a window in…

 在过去的这几个月里，我们一直是来自你们的爱的关怀的接受者，这帮助我们度过我们的困难时期，同时一天又一天地带给我们智慧和支持。在这个旅程上，我们拥有你们，并且来自你们的爱就在最前沿，过去没有意识到充满宽度和深度的支持以及朋友和家人提供给我们的疗愈……在过去的这几天里，我们开启一扇窗户进入……

Last Thursday I went to the Nanaimo Hospital for my scheduled MRI, to get an update on the growth of my tumour, and the swelling it was causing in my brain.  I have been feeling better these past few weeks, and was aware that this would be the first review since we began using Avastin, and also reducing the steroid I had been taking to help with the swelling.  At best we were hoping the tumour growth would have slowed (at April 5 it had doubled in size since last September) and that the swelling would have reduced.

上周四我去NANAIMO的医院做预先计划好的MRI，为了进一步了解我的肿瘤的发展状况，以及它导致我的脑部的肿胀。在这过去的几周里我一直感觉好多了。并觉察到这是我们自从开始使用AVASTIN疗法以来的第一次回顾病情状况，也减少摄入生化药品类固醇，其曾经使用来帮助浮肿。顶多我们希望肿瘤将可以减慢生长速度（4月5日，自去年九月份以来，肿瘤长大了两倍）

When we entered the Medical Imaging Department, we were greeted by the technicians we have come to know over these past several months.  I was set into the table and brace that holds me still.  As in the past, the subject of music came up, which they often play through headphones while the imaging is happening.  It is usually the local soft-rock station, which I have avoided listening to (and have moaned about!).  This time the technician had gone out of his way to find some wonderful classical music, and my whole body beamed as the first strains of Mozart came through the headphones…yes!  He left the room, and I was again alone…just me, the music, and the whirling grind of the machine collecting images of my brain. 

 当我们进入医疗成像部门时，那位我们在过去几个月里认识的医疗技术人员向我们打招呼。我被安排在一个桌子上，并被系紧，让我保持静止。正如过去，音乐的主题升起，他们通常会通过耳机在成像的过程中播放这个音乐。通常是本地的柔和的摇滚乐，我已经逃避聆听（也曾经抱怨过）。这次医疗人员特地不厌其烦地找到一些美妙的经典音乐。当第一段莫扎特音乐进入我的耳机时，我的整个身体发热了。太好了。他离开屋子，我再一次一个人，就是我一个人，音乐还有机器整理我的脑部图像时的发出的摩擦声。

Usually, when the screening is complete, a member of the tech team comes in the room, takes out my IV, and we chat a bit while I sit up, put my shoes on and leave the room.  This time however, the lovely ‘music’ fellow came in with a smile on his face, looked me in the eyes and said “I have no idea what you’re doing, and whatever it is keep it up!  Your tumour has shrunk, and the swelling is down…that’s great!”  He cautioned that this was unofficial, and that we should wait for the full report.

通常，当屏幕完成时，有一个医疗人员进入房间，拿出我的IV，当我坐起来，穿上鞋子，他们就开始和我聊一会天。这一次，这个可爱的放音乐的员工带着微笑走进来，他看着我的眼睛说：“我不知道你正在做什么，不管是什么，继续下去。你的肿瘤缩小了，肿胀的部分也削弱了，这太棒了！”  他很谨慎地说这是非正式的，我们应该等待完整的报告。

Holding his caution close, I hurried out to share this news with Cathy.  It has been a few months since we heard anything that sounded like really good news, and I could hardly contain the joy in my body!  We agreed we would not say anything until we heard the report, (which we did get on Monday, see below for a summary of what we were told) and together we sat close…warm, a little teary, and drinking in the beauty of the moment.  Whatever was, or will be, right now we got this, it is here, and exquisite.

带着他的谨慎，我赶紧冲出去，将这个消息与凯西分享。象这样能听到的真正的好消息，几个月才发生。我的身体里几乎不能接受到欢乐。我们约定在听到报告前我们不能公布这个消息。（我们在周一获得报告，下面会有我们告知的简要总结）。我们亲近地坐在一起，很温暖，也有些哭泣，深深地感知这一刻的美丽。无论过去是怎样的，或者将来会怎样，这一刻我们获得这个，就在这里，是精致的。

We thought about his words, wondering, “…what you’re doing”…and for us, we are clear: the new chemo – yes, the reduced steroid – yes, our whole-food diet – yes, and we believe there is more than these.  The common ground, the link, is people: …relationships, …connection, …the immense strength of the human spirit.

我们在思索那个医疗人员的话，好奇“你正在做的” ……对我们来说，我们是清晰的。新的化疗，是的，减少摄入类固醇的药物，还有我们整体的饮食节制，我们相信还有比这个更多的部分。共通的根基，连接所有的一切是人，关系，连接，人类精神的巨大力量。

Together Cathy and I sat in appreciative celebration, knowing that whatever we have right now is better because of the people in our lives.  This uniquely human gift we all share, our ability to care for and love each other, has never been more alive for us.  This is not an easy road we’re on, and when we have found ourselves tiring, weary and teary, a hand is there. 

凯西和我坐在一起，带着感谢来庆祝，我们知道我们目前可以更好是因为我们生活中的人们。

我们都在分享这独特的人类的礼物，我们有能力去关爱彼此，我们有能力去爱彼此，这对我们来说从来没有更多的活生生的。我们所在的并不是一条容易的旅程。当我们发现自己疲惫了，厌倦了，哭泣了，那儿都有一双手。

We sat and thought of this amazing collage of helping hands …the compassionate souls at the Cancer Clinics in Victoria and Nanaimo, treating us with respect and regard; friends and family, many at great distance, who give freely of themselves, any way, any time; our neighbours, leaning in, a knock at the door offering a helping hand; the many who write, call, share…letting us know we are in their thoughts, prayers, and hearts; our growing friends-through-friends, many whom we have never met, giving with kindness asking nothing in return.

 我们坐着并想起了支持我们的这幅剪贴画……在维多利亚，纳莫多的癌症诊所那些慈悲灵魂，带着尊重和关心对待我们，还有家人和朋友，许多相隔千里之外，他们自由地给予，以任何的形式，任何的时间。我们的邻居也会顺便探访我们们，敲一下门，提供一些方便和支持。许多人会给我们写信，打电话，分享……让我们知道他们在关注我们，我们在他们的心中，在他们的祈祷里。我们的朋友通过朋友不断地增多，许多朋友从来没有见过面，带着仁慈给予，从未要求回报……。

If you are reading this, we believe you will find yourself several times in the paragraph above.  We are so clear how much we have in our lives thanks to you, and our greatest wish is that you too can celebrate.  As we said in our opening words, “we are wanting you to pause for a moment, and consider the impact you have on the world around you, and the difference you make to the people in your life.”  We are two of those people who can attest to the difference you make, simply by being who you are.

如果你正在阅读这里，我们相信你将会发现你自己好几次都包含在上面的描述中。我们是如此清晰，我们在生命中是多么地感谢你。我们最大的愿望就是你也可以来庆祝。正如我们在开头中所说的，“我们正想要你暂停下来一会儿，考虑你对周围世界的影响，你对你生命中其它的人的生活所带来的不同。” 我们就是那些人中的两个人，可以证明只是因为你成为你自己，所给我们带来的不同。

Thank you.  You may have heard this from us before, and you may well hear it again…more times than we can say.

感谢你们。也许你以前也从我们这里听到过这个部分，也许你可以再听一次。 我们可以说更多次。

And please, really take it in that we are not saying this simply to ‘be nice.’  Rather, we believe that too many of us underestimate our human strength and spirit, and the contribution this spirit can make to making our world a better place, if only we fully realize and act on who we are.

 请真的接收进来，我们不是简单的表现友好。事实上，我们相信我们中大多数的人低估了我们为人的力量和精神。这个贡献这个精神可以令到这个世界更加美好。如果我们真的就是完全实现我们是谁，并为之付之行动。

我们深深地爱着你

We love you, deeply,

Ernie, and Cathy

Medical brief note:  May 23 MRI showed tumour size 50% of that on April 5 MRI – YAY!  This smaller size is close to that of September 2012, when the new aggressive tumour was discovered.  We expect to have more details and discussion when we meet our GP Oncologist next week.  For once we are looking forward to this! ;-)

简要的医疗报告：5月23日MRI显示肿瘤是4月5日MRI结果的一半大小。这个更缩小的尺寸接近于我们2012年9月，当新的肿瘤发现时的检查结果。我们期待下周当我们现到GP 肿瘤专家时可以有更多的细节和探讨。只有一次，我们带着期待的心情去会面……