Just now I was listening to a radio program that was discussing the health benefits of kindness, both for the giver and the receiver of the kindness. Apparently, there's something called the rabbit effect, which was first noticed by the scientific community when a group of rabbits that were being fed an unhealthy diet managed to stay healthy because of the loving attention shown to them by a particular postdoc. Other rabbits fed the same diet but looked after by less attentive people suffered the expected poor health.
I was reminded that I have much kindness to be grateful for.
First, there's the readers of this blog. The supportive messages you leave in the comments make my day even if I don't respond to each one. Then there's the fact that, together with many others, you helped raise over $46,000 for the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation in the 48 hours surrounding Mesothelioma Awareness Day. That's almost a full year's worth of one of the research seed grants that they make. Surely a cure is coming!
Secondly, there's my great medical team. Yesterday I went in for my immunotherapy infusion, and I was reminded again of what a caring and kind bunch oncology nurses are. They are some of the bright jewels of our world.
My oncologist continues to be pleased with me, and he suggested some medication changes that may leave me feeling a bit less tired. That would be good! I have felt frustrated recently at my levels of fatigue.
