Define "A good day"

There are three words that can bring someone to her knees faster than anything else I think. No it isn't "I love you" nor is it "I hate you"...but rather "It is cancer". Nothing can shatter worlds, reign in perspective, and change perceptions faster. During the fall I watched a good friend get the dreaded news. I watched him look head on into the future...and now the outcome looks good. For my uncle, things aren't going so well.

First it was just a tumor on his pancreas. Then pancreatic cancer...now it is in the lymph nodes. And in my limited experience...with my limited knowledge...that is not good. It has been a rough few weeks. Some would say "he's just an uncle". But he has had such an influence on me. He made it ok to talk about being adopted...ok to talk about being scared, hurt, confused...and at the end of each conversation he made me feel less alone and truly loved. And I am facing the fact that in a short time...he may be gone.

The update on his status came over the wire today, "he had a really good day." And I began to wonder, as I sobbed silently, alone in my kitchen doing the dishes, what makes it a good day? In a hospital, surrounded by the constant concern and tests, eating jello, and not knowing what will happen...how can it be a good day? And try as I might I can't grasp it. The world may soon be robbed of a great man. His siblings, his grandchildren, his nieces and nephews will lose a friend and advisor...so how can it be a great day?