We visited UCLA last week for Susan’s scheduled MRI and oncology visit with Dr Nghiemphu. The results were good, with continued tumor stability and evidence that the blood clot from January’s hemorrhage is breaking up. Susan has rebounded well from her most recent bout with infection, so the doctor is pleased with her overall improvement and has extended Susan’s scheduled MRIs to six-week intervals instead of monthly. Meanwhile, Susan will continue her physical therapy at home with her caregiver. I’ve noticed Susan’s alertness has improved a great deal since her infection cleared, although she still needs full-time assistance for daily living due to weakness and cognitive limits. We’re certainly grateful for the good scans this week and her continued respite from chemo treatments. We don’t know how long this quiet phase will last or how much function she’ll regain; but Susan is as committed as ever to getting well. As I lay her down to rest the other day, she apologized about needing so much help, but then she said she didn’t choose to be this way. I assured her it’s all okay. We’re partners, we’re in it together, and we’ll get through it together.
After Susan’s appointments were done on Wednesday, we walked to a little place for lunch called Café Synapse that serves delicious, fresh food and always is populated with medical students. As we approached the entrance across the street from the hospital, we noticed 3-4 police officers standing near each of several building entrances. I said we were there to eat at the café and asked if we could enter, and noticed some riot gear stashed inside the doors as we were allowed inside. I thought there might be a VIP visiting the building, but learned the police were there because of an animal rights protest happening a block down Westwood Blvd. I’ve read about previous protests against medical research on animals at UCLA and I knew about some violent attacks on researchers’ homes. While we ate, I noticed several small groups of protesters carrying signs as they marched on the street below, each tailed by a motorcycle officer. While searching a hallway for a restroom after lunch, we came into the midst of the protesters’ passion – a group of the university’s research labs, including one headed by one of the very brain surgeons who has treated Susan. Someone taped a picture of a lab rat on a door in what didn’t seem to be an act of protest but a symbol of the work they do there.
When it comes to the sanctity of life for animals, we have a spectrum with the extremes. On one end, there are those who elevate animals to equal or even surpass humans, like the protester with the sign reading “Stop Animal Terror.” On the other end, there are those who diminish animals to be unimportant or even disposable, like the kid with the B-B gun picking off sparrows. Somewhere in between are those who recognize animals’ importance and the sober cost of using them to rid humans of disease, like the other protester with the sign reading “Animal Research Cured My Mom’s Cancer.” Wednesday’s protest at UCLA actually was organized by a research professor who grew tired of being attacked. By the time Sue and I strolled down the block to the protest area, the pro-research protesters had packed it up, leaving the anti-research protesters making noise near the satellite trucks. Susan’s comment was observant – “There sure aren’t very many of them for all the attention they’re getting.”
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