Marshall's Summer 2023 Schedule

April 1, 2023

Marshall's Vacation Schedule

This blog is to help others plan visits to the lake house in Michigan or to Chicago. For updates on treatment, see Marshall's Health Updates

During this time while I'm undergoing radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy for stage 4 lung cancer, we'll mostly be staying at the lake house in Branch, Michigan and open to visitors to keep me company and/or help out, or just to visit. There's a medium sized airport in Grand Rapids and a small airport in Manistee with daily flights to O'Hare. The drive is also not difficult.

The first few days following each treatment will likely be spent mostly sleeping, but not necessarily. During those times when I'm weak and sleepy, I'm sure that Corrine could use a hand as caregiver. Other times, I will be well enough to be lively and entertaining for guests and will be eager for company whether for a short day visit or a weeklong stay. The Ludington area is beautiful, especially in summer.

We have a few trips planned over the summer if I am well enough to travel, and a week or two planned to spend in Chicago. There is a Google calendar with tentative dates. We'll try to schedule treatment sessions for Mondays or Tuesdays in hopes that I will be feeling better by the weekend for anyone who might like to visit during those times.

Anyone is welcome to come visit for as long or short as they'd like. Coordinate with either me (mwkitch@gmail.com) or Corrine (corrine.calice@gmail.com). We have a couple extra bedrooms and bathrooms and there are a number of "up-north" hunting/fishing motels nearby such as the Emerson Lake Resort, Walhalla Resort, and the Alpine Motel. And it's fine if there are overlapping visitors, and even just short visits to say hi. 

I've been lucky to be largely symptom free until recently. I'm on hydrocodone/acetaminophen for pain and ativan for anxiety, which make me a bit groggy and forgetful, supplemented occasionally with THC edibles which make me happy and easily amused. I'm happy to share, and there's a dispensary within a short drive in Pleasant Ridge. I'm easily fatigued and short of breath and have limited mobility in my right arm. Otherwise, though, I'm doing fairly well and open to visitors. Corrine could certainly use a break now and then. Luckily, I'm on sabbatical this semester and not teaching in the summer. Corrine is able to take FMLA as needed for doctor's appointments and such and largely works remotely from the lake house, with a few excursions into Chicago for team meetings. We have a big-ass TV with all the requisite apps and Corrine is in the process of ordering a portable hot tub. The lake house is a lovely place to come visit. 

Feel free to get in touch over email, text message, or social media, and to share my contact information with others. There's no big secret here.

For what it's worth, here are some tentative dates:

• April: Will probably start radiation (5 consecutive days) at the end of the month at the facility in Reed City. Otherwise, pretty flexible. Sessions will be early morning with afternoons free at home. Drivers, sitters, and visitors are welcome. Few side effects expected.
  
  
• May: Will probably start the Chemo/immunotherapy sessions in early May -- once every three weeks for 12 weeks. The first few weeks will be relatively free of side effects, and then will accumulate more intensely later in June. Drivers, sitters, and visitors are welcome.
  
  
• June: Probably the most intense sessions and most intense side effects, but still plenty of moments of clarity and ease. Drivers and sitters welcome. May not be lively entertainment, but visitors are still welcome.
  
  
• July: Should wrap up chemotherapy at this time and shift to solely immunotherapy, which will continue through April of 2024 most likely.

Currently, we have the following trips planned:

• May 7 -20: Chicago. Visitors are welcome in Chicago, though we will be in Wisconsin from the 11th through the 13th.
  
  
• Jun 2 - 4: Corrine's BD celebration in Three Oaks, MI.
  
  
• June (Week 3): Chicago. 

• August: Tentatively planning a trip to Atlanta during the first week of August; a quick, small-circle trip to Louisiana the 2nd week; and Italy during weeks 3-4. All of that is dependent on health, of course.