WRITER * ARTIST * DOCTOR * PATIENT * MOTHER
Twelve years. That’s as far as the survival curve went. First it step-laddered down to about 75 percent at five years. That’s good, I thought, right? But then it steepened, plateauing at 40 percent. When you’re diagnosed, they warn you not to pay much attention to survival curves. One step at a time, they…
“Mary is sharp as a tack!,” my grandmother marveled, “And she’s excited to meet you.” We walked down the quiet carpeted hall of my grandmother’s retirement community toward Mary’s apartment. She opened the door, eyes bright and snow-white hair coiffed into a chignon. “Welcome! Always good to meet another doctor,” she exclaimed, “Though it’s…