Day 62 and 63. The Weekend

Best weekend so far of all the day 6 and 7's . Was even able to go to church today.  Thank you Pastor Ken for a great sermon that I am so glad I got to experience live.  Started the neupogen shots again today...boo.  I know, I know, need the white blood cells-  Nurse June had to come out of retirement to stick me with the needle.  Oh well, 6 more shots and 2 chemo treatments and that is it.  I slept pretty much all day on Sat.  Wonder if that is making the difference.  Fatigue definitely a bigger factor this round but the nausea still under control.

Reminder to everyone Easter Service at Tenth Avenue Alliance Church (11 West 10th avenue)  
April 24th- 9:30, 11:30, 7:00pm

We will be at the 11:30 service.

Now back to the canucks game!  As Rhys would say, Go Canucks GO!

Day 61

FRIDAY.  This week flew by and I'm feeling pretty good.  Started reading about chemotherapy recovery. That may not have been a good idea.  A lot of the literature suggested that it is often a difficult time for patients once they stopped getting treatment and waiting for results.  I never even thought about that.  I was just waiting for treatment to be over.  But they say that people often sit in limbo and without the hospital visits, they get depressed and scared. Hmm.  Well, that's not me.  I turned to my devotion this morning and I think I'm going to share the whole thing with you guys.  It definitely spoke to the chemo literature I had read just a few minutes ago.  This is strictly cut and paste from Our Daily Bread:

In April 2010, clouds of ash spewed by a volcano in Iceland closed airports across the UK and Europe for 5 days. Nearly 100,000 flights were canceled and millions of passengers around the world found themselves in an enormous holding pattern on the ground. People missed important events, businesses lost money, and no one knew when it would end.

When our plans fall apart and there is no remedy, how do we deal with frustration and delay? Isaiah 26:3-4 is an anchor for our souls in every storm of life: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in [Jehovah], the Lord, is everlasting strength.” Whether we’re facing annoying inconvenience or heartbreaking loss, this rock-solid promise is worth memorizing and repeating every night when we close our eyes to sleep.

Today, when plans are shattered, do our minds dwell on the circumstances or on the Lord? During frustrating delay, can we still trust the loving heart of God? In the hymn “Like a River Glorious,” Frances Havergal so beautifully expressed what we long for.

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,
Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.
Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest,
Finding as He promised, perfect peace and rest. —Havergal

When we put our problems in God’s hands,
He puts His peace in our hearts.

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You. —Isaiah 26:3

Four Rounds of Chemo

Tons of Drugs

Nausea

Fatigue

How did I handle it?  Pretty good.  Why?  This pic was all the motivation I needed to get through.

Day 60

Blogging from the chair. The beauty of technology. So cancer patients aren't suppose to be complainers. At least I try not to be. But two days in a row I'm in the room with no bathroom and I am so pumped with fluids that I usually have to go pee 8 times during my treatment. It also doesn't help that the everytime I go wheel my IV down to the communal bathroom to pee, it's always after someone has poo'd. Haha. Guess I am complaining. Well. One more day this week TGIF. I don't know what it is about a big Canuck win that seems to be helping me with nausea. Kick save off the post Luongo-are you serious? Sic.

Day 58 and 59

Tuesday and Wednesday done!  Two more sessions this week.  Brought Rhys down today to chemo for the first time.  I figured it was my last round.  She should see where daddy goes to get his owwee fixed.

Then June and Rhys tagged out and left to go home and nap and Chris came in for relief duty and stayed and then drove me home.











Doing a little advertising for Vera's Burgers on Denman.  First place I'm gonna go eat after doc gives me the ok.  Go see my boy Charles- best burgers in town!

Go Canucks Go!

Chemo Countdown- 4 more sessions!

Day 57

I walked into my chemo room with my nurse Sue chanting, "last round, last round, last round!"  It's amazing how in tune they are with our treatments- how we are doing and how much left to go.  They are genuinely happy for us when we near the end of our stay there.  The doctors I see once every 2-3 weeks.  They chart my progress via all the blood tests so it's probably better that I don't see them often.  It means nothing is wrong and everything is going to plan.  The nurses however, I see everyday.  I  don't if it's the chemo drugs that have given me a heightened sense of observation. (or maybe it's because I just saw Bradley Cooper in Limitless)  I notice the same thing about every single nurse that has treated me.  They treat every single patient the same.  Always with a smile on their face and always going the extra mile.  No matter how  grumpy and rude some of these patients are and believe me, not everyone is Mr Sunshine like me.  Makes me think about how I treat people.  I meet not so nice people everyday- I do drive in Richmond for one thing.  I know it takes a special person to work in the medical field.  I don't know if I could do it but I could try to have their attitude- where everyone they meet get their highest level of care regardless.   Wouldn't this also be an example of showing Christ love.  Lofty goals, perhaps...but I think that as I am beginning to round 3rd base and head for home, I am thinking about changes as a person.  Diet, lifestyle and attitude.  Although I whined and guilted June until she bought me a PREMIUM fish sandwich at Wendy's yesterday.  Small steps in the diet area, haha.  It's back to no carbs and veggies this week, yeah.

Day 55 and 56

I don't know who reads my blog.  I have an idea because people tell me that they do.  Seems some of you have alias' or I must have a lot of friends that are gangsta rappers.  Cbo, d-lo, 5speed, big mama, cabin23, upchuck, - you crazy kids with your crazy nicknames.

  I just wanted to extend an invitation to everyone out there in cyberspace to my church's Easter service.  If you don't already have a church service to go to, come out to our Easter Sunday celebration, April 24th.  It would be cool if you came out.  It's called Tenth Avenue Alliance on 11 West 10th Avenue (and Ontario).  We have 3 services- 9:30, 11:30 and 7pm.  June, Rhys and I will be at the 11:30 service.  We sit in the front, right side pews.  I know some of you haven't seen me in a while.  So you can come to church and also see me afterwards.  Coincidentally, Easter Monday, the 25th will be my last chemo treatment.  So celebration is in order and June and I would love to see you and chat.

Tomorrow is the start of day 1 round 4.  Last round is supposed to be the hardest.  I am thinking it's going to be my easiest round.  Attitude is everything.  Knowing it's my last round- I feel good.  Even my 32 hair follicles on my head have stopped falling out.  The words of Chris Tomlin's song, I Will Rise, keep ringing in my head.

There's a peace I've come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There's an anchor for my soul
I can say "It is well"


Jesus has overcome 
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead


And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise


There's a day that's drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyes

Round 4...FIGHT! (streetfighter reference)

Day 53 and 54

Rhys asked for a baby sister the other day.  Then had a meltdown when I told her that it's gonna have to wait til Daddy gets better.  She was also quite adamant that she wanted to have the baby and not June.  And she was going to eat all her vegetables and strawberries in order to have a baby.  I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.  Seeing as how another kid isn't in the works right now, we will have to be satisfied in having Rhys be a big sister to other people's kids.  Good thing we got lots of babies around.

Medical update:  Saw the oncologist today.  Looks like my body is recovering nicely and ready for round 4.  White blood cell count healthy.  Platelets healthy.  All major organs functioning well.  So I start round 4 on Monday.  Will have my last treatment April 25.  I will then get a CT scan and chest X-ray the week of May 24th.  That's when I find out the status of the lymph nodes and cancer cells in my body.  One thing at a time.  I am just going to concentrate on getting through next week and take it from there.  I want to thank everyone for their continued prayers and thoughts.  We will celebrate my good health soon.  Can't wait.


More than that, "we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."  Romans 5:3-5


I am getting restless, chomping at the bit.  Couldn't help myself.  Went to work today to attend a meeting.  I didn't have to be there- my team can handle it.  They did handle it.   I just wanted to be included, haha.  My partner in crime, D Kam is soon going to have my security pass revoked at the gate to keep me from coming in until I am healthy.  Ah well.  No more work til the doctor says ok.  Well, we'll see.