Sep 3: Bruce passed away peacefully during the night, with family close by. The best way to send your wishes is via e-mail at neilsons(at)dccnet(dot)com, or by regular mail. Information about a celebration of Bruce's life will be posted here in the next while. We are are surrounded by family, and taking care of ourselves for now. Please do not send flowers--information about how to make a donation to honour Bruce's memory will be available at the memorial celebration.
Sep 2: Bruce is gradually leaving us. He is not in any pain. The family is around him at the hospital.
Sep 1: Bruce had major pain in his abdomen this morning. We went to the hospital by ambulance and got a bed in the Palliative Care ward. He is not doing well, but he is comfortable but sleeping most of the time because of the pain medication. Jenn arrived from Texas in the evening and Heather, Chris, Jenn and I stayed overnight with him.
Aug 30: Margaret and Christine went to Jazzercize this morning, then Margaret came over for a visit. This afternoon, after naps, we watched movies. After a sushi dinner, we had delicious chocolate fudge dessert with ice cream.
Aug 29: We took things easy in the morning. Christine's Dad came over after lunch. Brad, David and Poppa came over to watch the Lions Football game. The Lions lost in the last second! Nanny and Nona made us a delicious dinner of ribs, corn and baked potatoes. Dessert was a special recipe "Grayce's Chocolate Torte" from Cape Breton!
Aug 28: We had a visit from the community health nurse in the morning and in the afternoon we went to Powertech for Shari's retirement party. It was nice to see everybody there. Christine's friend Jill brought dinner over for us.
Aug 27: I woke up this morning with my nephrostomy tube blocked, so it was off to emerg at 7am. It took until about 3pm to complete the tube replacement and we came home as good as new. I took a good nap while Christine went to Jazzercise. Lori had dinner with me and we watched Red Dwarf videos for the evening.
Aug 26: Today, Lori's friends and their children, Tia, Sawyer and Sienna came over for a back yard picnic lunch. After naps, Jeannie and Richard brought us dinner and stayed for a singsong. Barbara also joined the singing.
Aug 25: I had some back pain today and the home care nurse came by. She tried to insert a catheter but had no success so she booked an appointment with the urologist, who took a look inside my bladder. My bladder is full of tumours, but since the nephrostomy from my left kidney is working well, we're going to give up on the catheters. We were too late for the Writers' Group, so we just had a quiet evening at home.
Aug 24: Raining again! Margaret came over for a visit after Camp Artaban. Heather and Tim visited in the afternoon and Heather stayed for dinner.
Aug 23: Nanny and Poppa came for a nice visit and for lunch. We watched the Olympics and took it easy for the afternoon.
Aug 22: We had visits from the physio and the community nurse and doctor this morning that were quite helpful. We're going to taper off some of the meds to coordinate them better. Heather came over for the evening and did a bit more work on the kayak.
Aug 21: A quiet day and a nap in the afternoon..doing OK. Got a new anti-biotic to try.
Aug 20: It was a rainy sleepy day, but I did get out for a walk and Christine went out to Jazzercize, otherwise we had a quiet day.
Aug 19: A bunch of the family came over for a breakfast visit. I had a nurse's visit and a nap in the afternoon. After dinner, Carol and Terry came over for the Tuesday singsong which was great as usual.
Aug 18: We had a quiet morning. Avaral and Gouri from Powertech visited after work. Bruce went to his Writing Group (in Lori's car) and Christine went to watch a movie with 8 girlfriends from Guiding. Many thanks to Lori and her dog, Angel,for all their help!
Aug 17: It was a hot muggy day and we didn't feel like doing much. Lori came back to stay with us and Heather came over and did a little work on the kayak.
Aug 16: We had a quiet day in the heat today, watched the Olympics and had a visit from Heather.
Aug 15: The physiotherapist came over this morning to help me work on some exercises to build up my strength and flexibility and I took a nap in the afternoon. Christine made delicious steak and kidney pie and rice pudding for dessert. Lori went back to her place for a break this evening. Heather and Chris came over for a nice visit and we watched a video.
Aug 14: We took it easy in the morning because Poppa's big birthay party was this evening. The family came over around five o'clock for a great dinner, a campfire and singsong, and shared memories of good times with Poppa. Many thanks to Nona and Nanny for preparing the dinner.
Aug 13: We got up early today to meet with the Physiotherapist. She is helping me work on my leg muscles and regain some strength. After lunch we played bridge with Nanny and Poppa and I took it easy while Christine went to Jazzercize.
Aug 12: Christine made a delicious blueberry scone for breakfast. We were a little concerned about bladder drainage so Lori put in a temporary catheter to get things flowing. It will probably take a few days before things get back to normal. In the afternoon we had nice visits from Chris and Geof, and in the evening Terry, Carol, Margaret and Heather joined us for a great singsong. We hope more people will come by for next Tuesday's singsong. Please phone ahead to check if the singing is on.
Aug 11: Bruce took it easy and wrote for the day, and after a baked chicken dinner, went to his Writing group downtown and read his work. It was so nice to see the group!
Aug 10: Adam, Erin and baby Olivia came over for lunch today, then we watched some of the Olympics. It was a quiet day.
Aug 09: We had Margaret, Ailsa and Gord over for lunch- it was nice to see Ailsa again. We took it easy in the afternoon, and then went for an awesome lobster dinner at the Keg with the Neilson family. I used my walker to come home, but a wheelbarrow would have been another good option!
Aug 08: Bruce was pretty comfortable, and enjoyed a Neilson family breakfast picnic in our back yard this morning, a small nap this afternoon, and an evening trip to see the Lions Football game with Brad, David and Poppa. I had a fun evening with Margaret, my sister.
Aug 07: I woke up in some discomfort this morning with an over-full bladder, so I took some extra pain relief and we went in to see the urologist, who reassured us that it's okay to just wait it out and see if things start flowing again. In the afternoon I felt a lot better, so we'll just wait and see if things improve. Lori is staying over for a couple of days so she'll be able to help out too. It's nice to have one less tube anyway, and with time I'm hoping things move back to normal.
Aug 06: We had a quiet day with lots of time in the back yard and a visit to my GP. In the evening we had our first visit from our home support worker who cooked me a stir-fry while Christine went to Jazzercise. I think this should work out pretty well as a regular weekly event.
Aug 05: We had a great visit from the community health nurse and doctor, who will be providing ongoing support for my continuing treatment at home. I'm slowly regaining strength with walks every day and working on my mobility, and I can feel the improvement. This afternoon I had my catheter removed, so I have one less tube now (yay!). In the evening we had a little sing-song, which we hope to make a weekly event.
Aug 04: It was another beautiful day today and we spent it mostly in the backyard. Our friends Karen and Ken visited from Kelowna and Anne from the writers' group dropped in.
Aug 03: I'm working on building up my strength. We went for a medium stroll with the walker and then had a nice visit with Mum and Dad in the afternoon and a lovely brought-in roast beef dinner with lemon maringue pie. Tomorrow we'll try a longer walk.
Aug 02: Had a morning challenge with a broken nephrostomy tube, a mechanical problem, not involving the inside of Bruce. So, with Lori's help, we had an efficient visit to emergency, no waits, had the tube replaced, and were home for lunch. Bruce had a big nap in the afternoon and is back to normal...cheerful and keen to be training his muscles for more walking.
Aug 01: Took it easy today. Nice to be home. Chris Morton came over to visit. Lori, Heather, and Chris joined us for sushi dinner.
July 31: Bruce got home fine! Hurray! Watched football game with Poppa, Brad and David.
July 30: Bruce's bladder "rinse-cycle" is not quite completed...a couple clots are not cleared out yet. So he is staying for another night of irrigation. By tomorrow, we still hope to have him home. He is feeling OK and eating and resting. No noisy roommates this time!
July 29: Bruce recovered fine from surgery today, and ate beef soup and a boston cream doughnut with milk. However, he still has some bleeding so they are keeping him safe at the hospital overnight. Hemoglobin count is still above 100, which is OK for him.
July 28: I was supposed to go in to hospital for the afternoon, but they were over-booked so we'll wait for tomorrow. We went in for a blood test at least and stopped at DQ for ice cream. We'll try for surgery again tomorrow and see if they can fit us in. David and Brad are coming over this evening for Wii while Christine goes to Jazzercise.
July 27: A resting day. Tim came to play Scrabble, Jeannie visited and stayed for dinner, and Nona, Brad and David came in the evening. Heather and Chris got home safely, and Jenn met challenges in Austin, trying to get James home to see his family. Tomorrow is a hospital procedure to solve a urinary problem.
July 26: We rested in the morning. Heather and Chris went backpacking for one overnight.Bruce and I drove to Elm St, for an afternoon and dinner..special ham and scalloped potatoes. Home to bed early..by 8pm. Tiring, but worth it!!!
July 25: We took it easy at home, and Sears delivered the new double recliner so Christine and I can watch tV side by side. Heather and Chris came over with a curry delivery from Elm Street and we watched a movie and then watched the BC Lions sneak by Montreal in the last minute. Christine and Margaret went out to the Jazzercise pot luck dinner and had a great time. Tomorrow we will try for a field trip to Elm Street and a visit with Mum and Dad. Heather and Chris are planning a camping trip - I hope the showers hold off.
July 24: Bruce had his last IV, Lori came over this morning, and Christine went to her Art Club and Art Lunch. Bruce and Lori played Scrabble, and enjoyed the sun in the back yard. Lori did a grocery shop for easy to prepare foods. Heather and Lori stayed for dinner, then Heather and Christine worked on the kayak. Bruce is a bit tired, we think from the radiation.
July 23: We rested this morning, 2nd last of the IV at home, then went to Powertech, Bruce's work,for the afternoon coffee break, and saw lots of friends. Bruce waltzed in with his walker! Dinner in the back yard, thanks to Lysanne, and there was singing in the early evening with Margaret and her grandson, Gabe, and friends, Barbara and Clark. Hopefully it is the start of many singing evenings.
July 22: Right hand is working better still! Nanny and Poppa over for the afternoon, a bridge game, and out for lobster dinner, including Heather and Chris. Bruce went using his walker...didn't want the wheelchair! Returned to do a bit of kayak work before bed.
July 21: We met with the infectious disease doctor, and will finish up the IV at home by Friday. We had a "date lunch" with Heather at the Dairy Queen. Writer's group came over for a potluck dinner. It was a lovely visit.
July 20:Bruce is once again coming back stronger. Grumpy because he was stuck with the walker out of reach, and ready to try lots on his own. He worked on the kayak a bit with Chris and Heather, and started trying to type on his computer. His hand is still improving. We took it quieter today. No campfire and singsong tonight.
July 19: All in all a good day. Firstly, Bruce's Right hand is improving significantly. He can hold a pen and write, and touch his nose again! Heather, Chris, Lori, Ted, Imalka and Justin set in the first complete fibrecloth and resin layer inside the kayak hull. It was a huge job. Bruce oversaw the first half! Thanks to Nanny and Poppa for the mini-fridge for the basement. We enjoyed an evening singsong, and Lori, Cindy and their families camped over in the back yard. Lots of fun, surrounded by Love and Energy.!
July 18:Lots happening here..Home IV set-up to learn, new fancy wheelchair arriving to try, Heather over working on the kayak, Anna cleaning, last day of radiation, Dr. visits, thanks to Milan and Jana for bringing us dinner and for helping to hook up the cablevision to the TV downstairs. It's really feeling more like home downstairs.
July 17: Radiation again, a quiet mid-day, resting and dozing for both of us, then Jim and Darlene brought us a BBQ dinner, and Bruce ate 2 servings of pie and ice cream. We got the DVD set up downstairs, and Bruce decided less morphine and more Tylenol is better. He is more lively, and wanting to be involved in fixing the place up.
July 16:Radiation first thing, then home for the Occupational Therapist, lunch with Heather, reading in the recliner,and afternoon and dinner visits from Nanny, Poppa, Nona, David and Brad. Feeling weak, but eating well, and feeling more comfortable with the set up.
July 15: A good but tiring day. Bruce made it using the walker out of bed, up the 2 steps to the back patio and to the lounge chair. First time walking that far in a while. He also had the 2nd day of radiation, and will be finished that by Friday. We expect to see the results about 2 weeks after. No bad side effects, except fatigue. Anna cleaned the house, Lori did the grocery shopping, and Heather and Chris visited in the evening. It's so nice to be home.
July 14: Who would believe it? After such a quiet day yesterday, Bruce was so keen to get home that he made it happen!! So now he is resting in the downstairs bedroom, in his own house. We'll have to gradually get it more familiar...Hurray! Thanks to Tom, Cindy and Lori for helping move furniture and build ramps to get inside easily and into the back yard! First radiation was also today, and it will be completed by this Friday. Let's hope for great results.
July 13:It was a quiet day for Bruce. Lots of sleeping, and not too much moving around.
July 12:Bruce had Cindy and Tom visiting in the morning, Heather visiting in the afternoon...with a scrabble game and a ride to the veranda in the wheelchair, and a visit from Lori in the evening. Just another couple of days of IV anti-biotics to go. I hear he is eating well, and resting alot. I(Christine) took a day off from visiting hospitals, and I bought a double recliner/loveseat for better snuggling! (Being delivered July 22nd)
July 11:Another better day. Bruce ate more of his meals, got out of bed a couple of times, including a day trip,by wheelchair and car, out to Nona's place to watch the BC Lions beat Winnipeg complete with pizza and beer. He was back in hospital by 9pm, and tired. Radiation is now scheduled for setting the target on Tues, and hopefully radiation for 5 days to follow.
July 10:A better day. Bruce is eating more, and the "pain" specialist came to give Bruce a plan of action. There are ways to make him more comfortable, using drugs under his skin, without using his digestive system. The urologist found a blockage,and plans to clear it out , after the radiation. Two weeks after the radiation, we plan for Bruce's hand to be back in action. So, here's hoping our plans all work out!
July 9:Bruce wants me to be clear, and let you know the facts. He now has a tumour in his brain. This is affecting the use of his right hand. He is getting radiation for this next week. This is a small round tumour which should react well to radiation. He may lose a little hair around his ears, but not his beard!! Bruce said "This is only the progression of the cancer, and we knew that was coming." We still expect him to be around for a good while yet!
July 8: Bruce's liquids are going out fine, and finally he is getting some liquid foods in. They took the CT scan today, but we have to talk to the experts to get the results. Perhaps tomorrow. When I left the hospital, there was a Scrabble game planned with Bruce and Heather.
July 7: Darn it! Back in hospital, getting liquids to drain out properly from all the right places. Trying to solve new challenges. A CT scan is planned for tomorrow to find answers. Bruce is using his "zen-like calm" to relax through it all.
July 6: A tough day. It is difficult for Bruce to get around on his own, although he can. He rested all morning, then got up to go to the hospital, using a wheelchair for distance, for the IV for 2 hours, then got to ride in our new little car (a Honda Fit) to Cindy and Tom's family backyard birthday party. He relaxed there in a good lounge chair, but isn't eating much since the IV makes him feel ill. Back to bed when he got home for stories. We'll talk to more Doctors tomorrow.
July 5:Football game went fine, except the Lions lost. Working on kayak a bit today with Heather. Taking it easy. Went back to the Outpatient IV at the hospital for the meds at 7pm, but the hospital lost the orders..had to wait until 8pm for them to sort it out...finished by 10pm...straight to bed.
July 4:Bruce got released from the slammer today, in time for an hour rest in his lounge chair in the back yard. Then he set off for the Football Game with Brad, David, and his Dad. He did take a wheelchair for getting around...but he did get there! He'll rest tomorrow!
July 3: Heather's Birthday! Bruce got another unit of blood, which delayed his day pass exit a bit. He got to Nona's house to play Wii around 4:30 and stayed until 9:30pm..with a birthday dinner for Heather brought to Nona's by Christine. Balance while walking is getting tougher. He was tired, but happy.
July 2: Things are looking up. We are just checking to make sure the medicine Bruce is on will take care of the Candida, then he should be able to come home. He has talked to an Occupational Therapist about aides to walking, since he is a bit unsteady on his feet. He has got permission to go out on day passes for Heather's birthday Thursday and the Football Game on Friday.
July 1: Canada Day was quiet in the hospital, but we have progress. Bruce got 1 unit of blood, so that will help his energy. His IV anti-fungal drugs should be available in pill form from the pharmacy at some point, and his ostomy and tubes are back in great working order. So, we have hope to get out in a couple of days....again....
June 30: I'm still in hospital with not much change. We're waiting to see if I'll need a transfusion for my low hemoglobin (went up from yesterday). We got the bone scan results back and as expected they showed extensive tumours in the right pelvis, but nothing to explain my back pain. I'm feeling weak and wobbly, but otherwise OK. I think after a transfusion I should be a lot stronger.
June 29: Bruce has chosen to rest in the hospital today. His hemoglobin is still low.Waiting for bone scan info....so I guess we may find out more tomorrow. He did do 3 laps around the unit, but he's a little unsteady. He is so patient.
June 28: Bruce did not get the signout papers from the hospital, but he did get a day pass and came to sit in the backyard for the afternoon and dinner.He went back after, and hopes to come home Sunday. His hemoglobin is quite low, appetite is low, and has a bit of pain.
June 27: Bruce got his nephrostomy tube changed easily around 2pm, but didn't get the papers signed to release him. Guess it will be tomorrow. He is on the anti-fungal pills now.
June 26: Bruce had a challenge with his IV tube getting disconnected spontaneously...which took most of the day to sort out. It should be straightened out by this evening. Tomorrow it is planned for him to have his nephrostomy tube replaced, and then be sent home. Good thing he is a patient man.
June 25: Another routine day in the hospital. After a noisy night when I didn't get much sleep,Christine came over early for snuggles. John Spouge came over in the afternoon for a nice visit. I napped in the morning and afternoon to catch up on my sleep. Christine came over in the evening to tuck me in. We are still waiting for the bone scan results- my hip is still fairly painful and radiation may be an option. The oncologist has suggested we might take a break from chemo for a while. This time my fever was due to a fungal infection, so I expect they will put me on an anti-fungal pill and turn me loose tomorrow.
June 24: They found a room for me (well, a corner of a room that was already fully stocked, but I've got a real hospital bed at least). I'm feeling pretty good; my fever is down, although I still have some back pain and they're going to do a bone scan today. My chemo has been postponed for another week, and they'll probably keep me here a few more days to finish the IV antibiotics. I can catch up on my reading, and I have my computer to keep me occupied.
June 23: Bruce is doing pretty well in emergency, waiting for a room. His right lower back hurts when he moves too much...so he is resting, and it doesn't hurt. He says it is gradually feeling a bit better. He is on IV antibiotics and they are doing tests. He is reading books, and taking life easy. We are glad we had such a wonderful weekend camping!
June 22: We had a great camping trip at Alouette Lake, and it only dropped a few drops of rain on us. We sang, and laughed and told stories and paddled! After we arrived safely home, Bruce came up with a fever, so we went over to the hospital again. We are not sure if it is a return of the same infection, but he is staying the night anyway.
June 20: We are busy packing for the camping trip to Alouette Lake, planning to leave around 1:00. The weather is looking pretty good, mixed sun and cloud with possible showers, and warming up to the low 20's. We'll be away for a couple of days so there won't be any more blog entries until Sunday. I am so looking forward to this trip!
June 19: In the morning we went to see a counselor at the Cancer Clinic. Christine has been a few times, but it was the first time for me. It was good to meet the counselor and we had some helpful discussion. Right now, what is bothering me most is the activities I've had to give up - cycling to work, lunch hour soccer, swimming and hot tubbing, and it helped to talk about that. After lunch we put another coat of varnish on the canoe gunwales, then Christine went shopping for the camping trip while I had a nap. In the evening we drove into town and had dinner at Vera's Burgers and then went to King Lear at Bard on the Beach with a big gang of family. They did some weird things with Lear, with present day costumes and quite a lot of singing, but it was still enjoyable.
June 18: I'm feeling great these days except for a bit of fatigue and a right hip that's a little sore. Today we sorted camping gear and Christine went to borrow a canoe and some other items from her brother Gord for the trip. Meanwhile I replaced the left gunwale strip of our canoe - I did the right one last year since it was cracked, but never got around to the left one. It looks great and we put one coat of varnish on it, planning a second coat for tomorrow. We're just about ready for the trip now. The sun came out and I had a little time for basking in the back yard in my reclining lawn chair in the afternoon. We went out for Vietnamese food with Jenn and James for dinner and then had a quiet evening at home.
June 17: We did some work on the kayak and I did some computer work, and then we went to Christine's Dad's place for the Bullen side birthday party, since Chuck and I share the same birthday. We had a very nice salmon dinner and it was a good chance for Jenn to visit with the Bullen side of the family. The party broke up fairly early, and we came home and played a little Wii before bed.
June 16: First thing in the morning we went in to see the radiation oncologist for a follow-up on the radiation I had for my hip. He was pleased with progress and discharged me from his care. I turned 55 today, and had a nice birthday with both kids at home. We had a big family birthday party, and I was given a back yard fire pit on which we roasted hot dogs and marshmallows for the birthday dinner. We're going to enjoy it this summer, I'm sure.
June 15: I'm feeling just fine now, recovered from chemo and antibiotics, and I had a nice Father's Day. We went over to Elm Street for brunch with the bunch, and Jenn arrived back from England at around 3:00. It's good to have both girls at home again. We came home to relax and eat dinner, and do a little sanding on the kayak. We have the deck all glued up, and the next step is reinforcing the inside of deck and hull with fibreglass. We're getting there!
June 14: I did some programming in the morning then Heather came over for the afternoon and we made great progress on the kayak. I'm done with the IV antibiotics and feeling better. All I'm taking now is some low dose oral antibiotics to try to shake the chronic infections I seem to have.
June 13: I worked a long day today since I had job interviews to do, but I felt pretty good. After work I had a good nap and then dinner. Heather joined us for dinner and a little work on the kayak, and then we went in for the last dose of IV antibiotic. With the anti-nausea pills and waiting until after dinner the last two doses were no problem. When we got home we sang some old folk songs with Heather and Chris.
June 12: Once again I felt better in the morning, but still not terrific. Today was our date day, but it was low key. We slept late, then went for lunch at IHOP and did a little shopping (on the advice of a cheap friend, this time we went to the Dollar Store and Mark's Workwear World). In the afternoon Mom and Dad came over for a game of bridge, and then my sister Lori arrived for a nice visit (she helped cut the grass too while I had my nap). I had a good discussion with my doctor about the problems with the antibiotic (ertapenam)- I wanted to drop the last two doses but she persuaded me to complete the cycle. Today I had dinner first, then took an anti-nausea drug, then went in for my IV session at 9:00 pm. When I asked, the IV nurse said, "oh yes, lots of people have nausea with this drug." Nice to know, even if after the fact.
June 11: I was feeling much better this morning, and I went to a morning meeting for work, then Christine made me come home and rest. At 4:00 I went in to the hospital for my IV antibiotics, which went fine, but left me feeling nauseous afterward, so I didn't eat much dinner. Heather came over, and we checked out the new kayak parts and did a bit of work on the deck, but didn't make a lot of progress.
June 10: Bruce got home today, and will go in for 30 min of IV antibiotics each afternoon. He is sleeping alot and very glad to be home.
June 9: I'm still in hospital. Got a room in the cancer ward at 8pm, after waiting in the isolation room in emergency, since there were no rooms available. I'm feeling quite a bit better, my fever is down and my appetite is up, and I had enough energy to stay awake and read a book. We're still hoping to get home tomorrow.
June 8: Bruce got IV antibiotics, and his fever is gone. We're not sure if it was the cold, likely a virus, or some infection in a kidney....but he is resting and healing up. He ate half his dinner, and plans to be coming home tomorrow with IV anti-biotics to be given at home. Good thing we had a party last weekend, not this weekend!
June 7: Bruce slept most of the day, resting up from his cold and a slowly increasing fever. We finally gave in around 4pm and went to the hospital to check it out. Bruce is in pretty good shape, but the ER doctor wanted to consult with the oncologist, who did not phone back, so Bruce rested there for the night. It's faster than starting at ER again tomorrow. I slept well at home.
June 6: Picked up a bit of a cold, sneezing and coughing. I went to work anyway. Came home at 3pm for a nap. After dinner, watched TV and went to bed early.
June 5: Today was date day. In the morning Christine disconnected my chemo pump, then Gord and Guin and Amber stopped over for a quick visit to see the progress on the kayak. For our date, we drove into town and went shopping at MEC for kayak accessories, and spent lots of money on paddles and spray skirts. On the way back we stopped for lunch with Nanny and Poppa. We came home for a nice nap, then went out for Japanese dinner and finished up with a quiet evening at home.
June 4: Aside from a little fatigue and some sneezing, I'm not feeling too bad from the chemo. I worked a little extra today and then had a nap before dinner. Heather came over for dinner and then we put the deck of the kayak on the hull (temporarily to adjust the shape while we glue it). We have a little sanding and shaping to do before we start gluing the deck together, but we're making good progress.
June 3: I went in for chemo at 8:30, and we finished about 12:30, then went home for lunch and a long nap. After my nap I played some Wii and ate homemade quiche and relaxed for the evening. I have funny tingly sensations in my fingertips (chemo side effect), and my jaw muscles are sore (who knows why), and I'm sleepy, but otherwise I'm feeling okay.
June 2: I stopped in at the lab for a blood test this morning on the way to work in preparation for chemo tomorrow. After work I had a short nap and then spent a few minutes on the kayak. We also ordered the seats and rudder from Pygmy, so they should be here when we finish construction. Meanwhile, Christine put a deposit on a new car - a blue Honda Fit that will be delivered in July. After dinner I went to writing, and Christine went to Jazzercise.
June 1: Heather and I started building the deck of the kayak - it's really looking like a boat now. Otherwise we had a quiet day around the house, cleaned up after the party, and started on the leftovers.
May 31: Heather is visiting for the weekend and we made lots of progress on the kayak in the morning and afternoon, then we had the gang from work over for a barbeque in the back yard. It was a great success, and it was nice to see some of my retired colleagues and introduce them to the new people. My home brewed beer was a great hit, and so was the chocolate fountain. Lots of great food showed up, and we'll be eating leftovers for a week.
May 30: I went to work, where we had a big farewell lunch for Rick, who is retiring after 32 years at Powertech. I also had a checkup at the cancer clinic in preparation for chemo next week. I got the all clear from the doctor to continue, subject to my blood tests on Monday. After work I came home and spent some time relaxing in the sun in the back yard in my new lounge chair. We also did a little work putting support wires on the grapevine, then Christine made a nice chicken dinner to try out the new barbeque. After dinner we did a little gluing on the kayak, then watched a movie and went to bed.
May 29: This was our date day, and we went for a very nice walk with the White Rock Hiking Club. We walked for two hours in Derby Reach Park in Fort Langley, then had lunch at the Fort Langley Pub. This was our first trip since joining the club, and everyone was very welcoming. I enjoyed the walk, but it took a lot out of me, and I needed my nap when we got home. After dinner we did a little more epoxy work on the kayak.
May 28: Today I was feeling quite a bit better, and went in to work for a normal day. While I had my afternoon nap, Christine went to Jazzercise and then brought home takeout sushi. We watched some tv and then put a layer of fibreglass on the keel of the kayak - it's really coming along.
May 27: I was feeling very run down, and stayed in bed snoozing for the morning and early afternoon. Later on I felt a bit stronger, so I got up and Christine and I put together our new barbeque in the back yard. It was a beautiful warm sunny day, and it did me good to be outside. After dinner we watched some tv and then painted another coat of epoxy on the kayak before bedtime.
May 26: I went to work as usual from 10 to 3, then came home for a nap. After dinner Christine drove me to my writing group in Richmond. I'm still feeling the effects of the chemo, and don't have much energy these days.
May 25: We put another coat of epoxy on the hull, and I had another sleepy day. We took it easy around the house in the morning, then our friend Jeannie and her son Richard came over for a visit. In the afternoon we went over to visit Nanny and Poppa for dinner and to watch the Phoenix landing on Mars.
May 24: Heather came over today and we did lots of work on the kayak. In the morning we painted a coat of epoxy on the hull, and then after dinner we laid on the glass and coated it. Other than that, I had a sleepy day - it was lovely and sunny, and with the warm weather and the after-effects of the chemo I dozed quite a bit.
May 23: After a full day at work I had a nap, then Heather came over for dinner and we did the final sanding on the kayak hull, then played a fun game of Scrabble. Despite the chemo this week I'm feeling good and not too sleepy.
May 22: I worked today from 9 to 2, then came home for a good nap. Christine disconnected my chemo pump, so I get two weeks off before the next session. After dinner Christine did a little sanding on the kayak, then I did some final filling. We're planning to coat the outside with resin tomorrow, then fibreglass on Saturday. I'm feeling a bit run down from the chemo, but otherwise pretty good.
May 21: I'm wearing the chemo pump today and tomorrow, and it wears me down a bit, but not too much. I was supposed to go to Burnaby to witness a test, but it was delayed until tomorrow, so I took the day off. We went for lunch at a nearby restaurant with Jim and Darlene, and I did some seam filling on the kayak. We're planning to fibreglass the outside of the hull this weekend. Today I finished my antibiotics, and one of the anti-nausea pills, so I'm down from 5 pills at a time to only two.
May 20: I had blood tests at 8 am and then chemo at 9:30 this morning. The blood tests looked good, so we went ahead with the chemo, finishing up at 1:00. I stopped by work briefly then went home and took it easy for the rest of the day. I'm feeling a bit tired, and my fingers are tingling when they get cold - a common side effect of the new drug - but I'm otherwise doing fine. I'll wear the portable pump for a couple of days and then I'll be done for the next two weeks.
May 19: We had a wonderful weekend sailing in the Gulf Islands, with no health problems at all. The weather was perfect Friday night through Sunday night and we ate and drank and read books and played Scrabble and sang songs and basked in the sun. Monday was cool and rainy, but we didn't mind - we played Scrabble in the morning and then motored back to the moorage in the afternoon to finish off a great trip. We stopped for dinner with my parents on the way back, and now we've settled in for an evening at home.
May 16: I was feeling much better this morning, but still a bit weak. Christine persuaded me not to go in to work, and it was probably just as well, as I didn't have much energy. After some deliberation we decided to go ahead with our sailing trip planned for the weekend, on our friend Tim's big sailboat. The weather looks great, and I'm looking forward to some great lying about in the sun. Heather and my sister Lori are coming along with us as well. Don't expect any blog entries until we get back from the trip.
May 15: I spent the day in bed with a fever, mostly sleeping. Finally in the middle of the night my fever went down. I guess the antibiotics plus my own immune system eventually knocked out whatever bug I've been fighting.
May 14: I went to work as usual, and took a nap when I got home, but I had some chills and found I was running a fever. We waited a while, then called the Cancer Clinic, since my white cell count may be low from the chemo. They suggested we go to emerg and get checked out, so Christine had a bite to eat then we headed in about 7:00. By 11:00 pm they finished blood tests and determined that I'm not at particular risk for infection, so they gave me some oral antibiotics and said I could go home. I'm still feeling very washed out and feverish, but at least I'm at home. Heather came over for the afternoon, but we didn't have much of a visit - she worked on the kayak and watched the dogs while we waited it out in emerg.
May 13: I'm still feeling a bit worn down by the chemo, but not too bad. I went to work today, then came home for a nap in the afternoon while Christine went shopping. We've decided to call the dog 'Buddy', and he's getting a lot of attention as he settles into the house. To complicate things we have my sister Nona's dog Lizzie staying with us for a few days too, so the house is rather full of dogs this week.
May 12: Today we acquired a new family member, a 10 year old golden retriever - we don't know his name yet. We are delighted with our new companion and looking forward to happy times together. I went to work this morning, then had a good nap in the afternoon and went to writing group, and Christine picked him up while I was at writing.
May 11: Happy Mothers' Day! Heather spent the day at our house and made breakfast and dinner for us. We also did some great work on the kayak. Heather and Christine went for a nice bike ride in the sunshine in the afternoon (I took a nap instead). After dinner Christine and I bottled our latest batch of beer. I'm still feeling a bit worn out from the chemo, but not too bad overall.
May 10: The chemo has me feeling a bit worn out, but not too bad. Heather came over and we did some work filling seams on the kayak, and I napped quite a bit during the day. In the evening we went for a big treat - out for dinner at Lumiere, one of Vancouver's classiest restaurants, to celebrate our anniversary and Mother's day - we took Nanny and Poppa and Heather and Chris and had a really deluxe six course dinner. Once in a while it's fun to just splurge and go for the gusto. I didn't have a huge appetite, but I really enjoyed the dinner, as did everyone else.
May 9: After a regular day at work I came home and had a good two hour nap. As usual I'm feeling a bit run down a couple of days after chemotherapy, but the naps help. In the evening we drove out to White Rock for the dinner dance at the Legion, where we also signed up for associate membership. We've had some good times there - their dinner dances are fun events. Tonight we made up a small party with Carol and Terry and Barbara and Clark and had a very enjoyable evening. Despite a little fatigue I made it to 9:00 and we danced our share of dances.
May 8: Day 2 of chemo and I'm still feeling pretty good. I went in to work, and then to the hospital for a 3:00 training session. We were taught how to remove the chemo pump, so we won't have to go in to hospital at the end of the chemo, but can disconnect the pump at home. That way they can schedule my chemo later in the week and spread out the load on the clinic. The training went well, and Christine disconnected me at the hospital. Then we came home for a quiet evening on our own.
May 7: I'm wearing my little pump for chemo, and taking the anti-nausea pills, but feeling fine so far. Today was our date day, so I booked off work to spend the day with Christine. She had a checkup, so for a change I went to the doctor's office as an observer, and then we drove to White Rock and had a nice lunch at the Iguana Cafe, then a long walk on the boardwalk and the beach. My leg is feeling much better, and with some exercise I think it will come back to full strength. We came home and had a good two hour nap, then I spent an hour filling joints on the kayak. Tonight was our night for the Gateway theatre, so we had a quick dinner (I spent too much time on the kayak) and drove to the theatre, where we met Mom and Dad to watch 'I Claudia', a new Canadian one-woman play. The actress was great, and the play was pretty good, but we had trouble hearing some parts of it. We got home just in time to update the blog and head for bed after a busy day.
May 6: I've been passing some blood clots when I urinate, and this morning I found myself plugged up. Off we went to emergency, where they hooked me up to a catheter and gave me a thorough flushing out. We finished in time to go for chemo at 1:45, which went well - no side effects or problems, and we were done about 5:30. We spent the evening at home taking it easy.
May 5: All is well. I went to work in the morning, then in the afternoon went in to the hospital for blood tests and a checkup in preparation for starting chemotherapy again tomorrow. After dinner we hosted this week's Writers' group meeting, which as usual was the highlight of my day.
May 4: (Sunday) I did some writing and a bit of work on the kayak in the morning, and Christine went for a nice walk and cut the back lawn. In the afternoon Lori and Tim came over for a visit and some Scrabble, and Heather was here and did some work on the kayak. Lori stayed for dinner and then after she left I did a little more writing and some computer work and then we made an early night of it.
May 3: I'm doing great these days - the leg is still a little weak, but otherwise back to normal, and I don't have any other symptoms worth mentioning. Heather came over today and we did lots of work on the kayak, so we're nearly done gluing the hull now and almost ready for fiberglassing. In the evening we had a good time having dinner with our friends from high school, Campbell and Nel and Harry and Cecelia.
May 2: After a good night's sleep I was feeling better, and Heather and I did a little bit of work on the kayak before I went to work. I worked a little late (catching up for the last few days) and then we went out for sushi dinner (turns out our sushi place didn't shut down after all - they're just closed Sundays now). After that we drove to Elm Street where we wiped and reloaded Mom and Dad's computer - it was alive with creepy crawly internet viruses, and nothing was working. We played some bridge while we waited for Windows, but they got all the good cards. There may be a few things to finalize, but by the end of the evening they were back on line for internet and email, and most importantly their solitaire was working again.
May 1: Happy Anniversary to us! On April 30 my nephrostomy tube plugged up around dinner time. After a while the pressure built up in my kidney and it became quite painful by midnight. I knew I'd have to go in and wait for a urologist, so we tried to wait until early morning, but by 1:30 am we gave up on sleep and headed in to emergency. I took as much morphine as I'm allowed, and it helped with the pain. Triage was quiet, but the treatment area was as busy as it always is. After an hour and a half in the waiting room they found me a small examination room where I could stretch out on a padded examination table and get some sleep. Christine had a thermarest so she could nap on the floor, and fortunately we had a pillow and blanket and coats, because they were all out of blankets and pillows. A couple of hours later they moved me into a new examination room with a gurney to sleep on (with blankets), which was quite comfy. Around 7 am the urologist came to see me and backflushed my tube, which allowed the pressure to vent, so at that point the pain really went away. They signed me up for admission (no rooms available though) and a nephrostogram/tube replacement under the fluoroscope, and Christine went home while I settled in to nap in my little room. They found a breakfast for me, which was nice, and then at about lunchtime they sent me down to radiology, where I got really lucky - they had a complicated case that was delayed, so they squeezed me in at the top of the lineup. The specialist found that my tube was badly clogged, but he did a great job swapping it out for a new one - quick and almost painless. He recommended replacement every 10 weeks to avoid future complications, and we'll go with that routine in the future. I arrived back at the examination room around 2:00, and Christine arrived shortly after. At that point I was feeling great (except for sleep deprivation) and all my problems were resolved, but we had to wait around until 5:00 before they could be persuaded to let me go home. I never did get a room! In the evening Heather came over. Christine crashed about 8:30, but I managed to stay awake long enough to do another round of kayak gluing with Heather. We're really making great progress.
Apr 30: Today was our first big date! It turned out nice and sunny, so Christine and I went for a great two hour paddle on the Serpentine River. It was so nice to get out in the canoe, even if it was only to the wilds of Surrey. I survived two hours of paddling just fine, although a nap was welcome afterward. ( see map ). The weekly date is a great idea, and we're looking forward to some really good times together. Heather was around too for most of the day, and we glued seams on the kayak in the morning and then took some tie wires out in the evening. Little by little, the kayak is coming together.
Apr 29: I was feeling much better today and went to work. Christine came in and we had a meeting with someone from human resources to help explain all the ins and outs of the pension system and retirement benefits. It was good to get some clarification on what to expect. In the afternoon Heather came over and we did some great work on the kayak - got the hull lined up and glued the first few seams. It was good to finally get to the gluing! After dinner Christine and I watched 'Borat' and cut each others' hair.
Apr 28: I had a fever all day today, and I spent the day resting in bed. We checked with the doctor and she gave me an antibiotic prescription in case I have developed an infection. We'll get some lab tests done tomorrow to look for signs of infection. The fever went away overnight - either I fought it off or the first dose of antibiotics knocked it down, but either way I was feeling much better Tuesday morning.
Apr 27: We got up early to watch the Powertech Lab Rats hockey team play in the Hydro tournament this morning, and then went back to watch them in the final, which they lost in a shootout. Great effort, guys! Then Darlene and Jim came over for dinner - we planned to get take-out sushi, but our neighbourhood sushi place went out of business while we weren't looking, so we had to settle for pizza instead. In the evening I started feeling under the weather, and developed a fever, but I think it was just a sore throat virus that's going around. I went to bed early, and was feeling a little better by morning.
Apr 26: Yay Rock Lobsters Heather's team won their final today, and Heather scored a terrific breakaway goal - way to go! We had a lovely full day. In the morning Heather came by for a visit and we all went down to the sailing club, where we enjoyed the beautiful sunshine, saw bunches of friends, and checked that our boat is still okay. We came home and wired the last panel on the kayak hull - we're making great progress. In the afternoon we went to watch the Rock Lobsters game, and then went on to Elm Street for dinner and a game of bridge with Nanny and Poppa. I'm feeling great, and Christine complains she's having trouble keeping up with me again.
Apr 25: I went to work as usual, and on the way home did some shopping for a mess of fruit. Axel and Frankie brought pizza over for dinner, and Margaret joined us, and we ate pizza and beer and then feasted on fruit salad and watched old videos of us hiking the Olympic Coast of Washington three and a half decades ago when the world was young.
Apr 24: A normal day today - no treatments, no crises, no hospitals. It was kind of nice, really. I went to work from 10:00 to 3:00, and then came home for a little quiet reading in the afternoon. Our friends Jana and Milan came over after dinner, and we had a nice visit in the evening. Christine has been on the internet booking campsites for us for July 18-19 at Hicks Lake Provincial Park, so if anyone is interested in joining us for a group camping trip, set aside that weekend and give us a call to let us know you're in - you might also want to reserve a campsite soon before they all disappear.
Apr 23: Today I had my last radiation session at 8:00 - hurray! It's done my leg a whack of good, and I'm feeling great, and expect to see continued improvement, since the treatment continues to work afterward. I went to work, and had a good day, but then Christine called and asked me to come home for a hug. We had a good cuddle and worked some things out - the big one is that Christine is looking into the future and wanting very much to spend real time with me while I'm doing well, instead of just supporting me and holding our life together. I was blissfully unaware, but it's obvious when she points it out, and so we're going to make it happen. From now on, one day a week is our day together to share - no work, just us. Next week we'll take the canoe down to the bird sanctuary if it's nice, or maybe go to the aquarium if the weather doesn't cooperate. We should have started this long ago.
Apr 22: I went to work and had a radiation session and a checkup with the radiation oncologist today - he was pleased to see how well I'm doing, and I congratulated him on the great work getting my leg back in commission. I also stopped in for a slug of heparin in my portacath to keep the blood from thickening there because it's been a month since my last chemo. I came home a little early, and Heather and I put another panel on the kayak. Our friends Janet and Dom came over for a lovely Mexican dinner, and then we sang some songs and played guitars. My voice is a bit froggy, but I do enjoy the singing anyway.
Apr 21: I went to work, and for my radiation treatment, and then after dinner I drove myself to my writers' group while Christine went to an art group meeting. I'm feeling stronger every day, and even gaining some weight with all the great food Christine is fixing for me - delicious curried beef tonight.
Apr 20: I think perhaps I'm feeling better partly because it's been 6 weeks since I had any chemotherapy. I'm definitely feeling stronger and more like my old self. The radiation is helping my leg too - I'm walking better and feeling more comfortable. I woke up early this morning and made coffee and a scone for Christine in bed, and in the afternoon we did a bit of work on the grape arbour in the sunny back yard. After dinner we went to watch Heather's hockey team again - they lost, but played well against a better team.
Apr 19: Today was a good day - I'm feeling strong and well these days. We stayed around home, but our friend Tim dropped over for a game of Scrabble, and then Nona and Brad and David came over for pickup dinner and some Wii play. I'm tapering off my steroids, and the radiation treatment is doing good things for my leg pain; life is good.
Apr 18: I had a fairly busy day at work, and my regular radiation treatment, and we enjoyed a quiet evening at home for a change. Heather came over and went for a mother and daughter spa treatment in the afternoon, staying for dinner and to do some work on her thesis. I'm still limping, but my energy level is great and I'm looking forward to feeling even better as we finish the treatments.
Apr 17: I had radiation in the morning and went to work, then we drove to Elm Street for a nice visit with Nanny and Poppa and a bridge game (we lost, but it was fun). Their cat Percy is neurotic and attacks water glasses, and nailed my glass of water as soon as I put it down. I'm feeling energetic, and as you can tell, we're keeping as busy as ever.
Apr 16: I went for work and had a radiation treatment, and then came home and had a terrific nap for 2 sound hours while Christine and Lori put two new posts up in the grape arbour in the back yard. They did a great job without my supervision (although I did help with the master plan). Afterwards we went to Metrotown for dinner at Red Robin and then the big event - a playoff game for Heather's Rock Lobster Hockey Team at the Burnaby 8 rinks. In the end there were about a dozen fans in orange shirts, and we even made posters and signs ('Rock Lobsters' - 'Lobsters Rock!'). It was a hoot, and Heather's team came out ahead 6-1. Go Lobsters!
Apr 15: The pills and radiation are still working, and as my leg improves it's making me feel stronger and better overall. I'm a little tired, perhaps from the radiation, but enjoying life. I went in for my halfway checkup with the radiation oncologist today, and he was pleased to see the progress. After work, our friend Geof dropped in for dinner and we had a lovely visit. I've really enjoyed catching up with old friends in recent months.
Apr 14: I had an early morning radiation session, and went to work from there. Heather was still visiting, so we put another panel on they kayak (moving right along these days), then I went to writers' group - a busy day today, but I'm feeling strong and my leg is slowly improving.
Apr 13: Heather came over for a visit today, and we did some good work on the kayak. I finished the chocolate eclairs, too, and we took them to Amber's birthday party in the evening. I'm still feeling pretty well, and hoping the radiation will help even more. My voice is a little funny from the steroids, but otherwise I'm feeling better than I have for a while.
Apr 12: We enjoyed a quiet Saturday morning - Christine went to Jazzercise and did some gardening, while I worked on the computer and watched curling. In the afternoon I started making chocolate eclairs for a birthday party tomorrow, and then we went for a nice restaurant dinner with our friends Barbara and Clark. My leg continues to improve, and I tried cutting back on my pain pills, but it's a bit early, so I'm going back to the full dose.
Apr 11: I'm doing very well these days - I think the steroids are helping quite a bit, and my leg is more flexible and less painful. I went in to work as usual, and Christine and Heather met me there at 3:00 and had a chance to say hi to my friends at work. We went together to the hospital for my radiation treatment at 3:30, so Heather was able to look around there. We came home and after a short nap we had a quiet dinner and evening at home.
Apr 10: I went to work today and quit a bit early for my first radiation treatment at 2:00. The radiation is no big deal - lie on my back on a motorized table for ten minutes or so, and I don't feel anything from the radiation. It's like a big x-ray machine with a movable head. They line me up exactly on the table, then the table and head move to align the beam, and they give me 20 seconds from the back and 20 seconds from the front, and I'm all done. Tomorrow I go in at 3:30, and I'll have 10 days in all. My leg is feeling a tiny bit better - not much, but it's better, not worse. I came home after radiation for a nice nap, and now Christine is out gardening in the twilight. The house seems quiet with Jenn gone back to England. We'll probably watch a little tv now, or a video, and then go to bed.
Apr 9: We had an early appointment (7:45) at the cancer clinic for radiation targeting. The radiologist was very happy with the outcome - they can hit all the target areas with one beam, so things are looking good. I get my first dose tomorrow afternoon. My leg is feeling a tiny bit better today, perhaps thanks to the steroid pills reducing the inflammation, and apparently that is a good sign. I went to work in the morning, but came home early to visit with Jenn before she leaves tonight to go back to Oxford. After she leaves we have tickets for a play in Richmond, so we'll go to that.
Apr 8: We went in to see the oncologist early this morning and got some information from the MRI and CT scan. They confirmed that the tumours have continued to grow and spread despite the chemo, so we'll try a different chemo regime. The cancer has spread to my hipbone and liver, and there are tumours pressing on the nerves to my right leg. The good news is that they can give me steroids and radiation treatment that may help with the nerve pressure and get my leg working again. I'll start the radiation tomorrow, and I've already started on the steroids. The radiation will run for two weeks, and then we'll wait a week or two before starting the new chemotherapy. We're hoping this will ease the pain and get me back on my bicycle again. We'll just take it a day at a time.
Apr 7: I went to work, but came home early so I could spend some time with Jenn, and then in the evening I went to my writers' group. My leg is still bothering me a lot, but tomorrow we will get some results from the MRI, so maybe we'll be able to do something about it.
Apr 6: I worked on the computer and did some reading in the morning, and then we had the extended family (Bullens and Neilsons) over for dinner to visit with Jenn. It was a great chance for Jenn (and us) to see everyone, and a good time was had by all, although we're getting old and the party wrapped up by 8:00.
Apr 5: Heather came over this morning to study here, so I had all my girls at home. Jenn helped me with some work on the Miata, and she and Christine did a little yard work. We lounged about for the rest of the day and watched some curling and some Harry Potter on TV. My leg is about the same, and otherwise I'm feeling pretty good.
Apr 4: I went to work in the morning, but came home after lunch to spend time with Jenn. We spent the afternoon at home and had a nap, and then we went to Surrey Place for nephew David's regional science fair. Good news - he won a gold medal and a trip to the national fair in Ottawa!
Apr 3: It was a fine sunny day today. I went to work and came home with the top down on the Miata. We had some lovely visiting time catching up with Jenn in the afternoon and evening.
Apr 2: I felt fine today, aside from my sore leg, so I went in to work as usual, and then came home for a good nap. Jenn arrived at the airport around 7 pm, but she came from Heathrow Terminal 5 and they lost all her bags, so there was some delay while she reported her lost bags. Christine picked her up at the airport and brought her home. We had a lovely chat and hugs in the evening.
Apr 1: I had a CT scan this morning. I woke up feeling a bit crummy with a headache and upset stomach, so I didn't go to work, but I felt much better after a nap in the afternoon. I have to wait until next Tuesday for results from the MRI and CT scan.
Mar 31: We're back from Bella Bella after a lovely visit. My leg is still a bit sore, but otherwise I'm in great shape. We had dinner at Elm Street and then I went to writers' group.
Mar 30: Another beautiful sunny day in Bella Bella. We went for a kayak ride - I doubled with Christine, while Tom and Angelica paddled together and Heather and Jackie had singles. The water was flat, and we cruised the coastline and small islands for 2 hours - fabulous! When we got back we watched Canada win the women's curling championship on tape delay, and then we went out for dinner to the town's only restaurant, which only had pizza on the menu today.
Mar 29: Relaxed and enjoyed the family. Cindy is a great cook, with 8 in the house! We explored Bella Bella a bit and drove up to the Ferry Terminal for a look around. There are eagles everywhere.
Mar 28: Flew up to Bella Bella, a great flight! So great to see Cindy, Tom, Angelica, Sawyer and Jackie!
Mar 27: I woke up with a headache, not feeling well this morning, but I went back to bed for a while and it went away. The rest of the day I felt pretty good - the leg is a bit sore, but not as bad as it has been. I went in for my MRI, which was no problem, but I won't get results for a week or so. I skipped work, but did some work from home, and spent the evening at home with Christine. Tomorrow we're off to Bella Bella to visit my sister Cindy, so I may not be able to update the web page for a few days - we'll see how their connection is.
Mar 26: Another regular day. My leg continues to be stiff and sore, and I'm taking a lot of pain pills for it. I'm hoping the MRI will help us find a solution, since the pain is wearing me down. I went to work and then had a nap, and Christine spent most of the day shopping for stuff to take up to Cindy's place in Bella Bella on the weekend. In the evening we had a lovely dinner visit from our friends Rob and Karen Zwick and their boys.
Mar 25: I went to work and Christine had a cleaner in to help with some housecleaning. Today my leg was sore, but my back wasn't bothering me much. I came home and had a nap, and then we watched Canada edge out the US in women's curling. We now have an MRI scheduled for Thursday so we can try to get to the bottom of this leg and back pain problem.
Mar 24: We had a quiet holiday Monday. Auntie Bev came by for a waffle brunch and we watched some curling on tv. It was sunny in the early afternoon and Christine cut the grass of the back lawn. We went to Elm Street for Easter Dinner with the family and had a nice visit.
Mar 23: On Easter Sunday we had no Easter egg hunt! We did have a nice quiet morning, then we went to watch Heather play hockey, and then for dinner at Elm Street, where cousin Blake was visiting from Whitehorse. My leg isn't bothering me much, but my back was quite sore today.
Mar 22: Heather helped me replace the radiator in the Miata today. It went pretty well, but we didn't have any time left over for working on the Kayak. Our friends Campbell and Nel came over for dinner. Christine made delicious lamb chops, and we lived over some old times and looked at old pictures. It was fun. I didn't need any pain killers today, so things are going well.
Mar 21: Heather came over today and we made some great progress on the kayak - wired on two additional hull panels. In the evening we went to a dual birthday party for our friends Geof and Cheryl, and stayed up way past our usual bedtime. I wasn't feeling any pain, perhaps because of all the wine I drank.
Mar 20: Today my back was fine, but my leg was a little sore again. I went to work, and in the evening our friends Karen and Eric invited us over for a nice lasagna dinner and a quiet evening visiting. We're looking forward to the four day weekend, with lots of social events in the evenings and quiet time at home during the day.
Mar 19: I woke up this morning with my leg feeling much better - no pain, less weakness. The bad news is that my lower back was pretty sore instead. Go figure! I worked for a few hours then came home for a nap and a quiet evening.
Mar 18: I went in to work in the morning, then for chemo in the afternoon. My blood tests were fine, but when I complained about my bad leg the oncologist took a close look at it and agreed that there is probably some damage to or pressure on a nerve that is causing the muscle problem. They are booking an MRI exam to look at the area and try to determine the problem, and in the mean time we have postponed the chemo for two weeks. It also seems that the chemo isn't working too well, so we will likely change to a slightly different set of drugs for the next chemo session.
Mar 17: I went to work and then stopped at our family doctor to check out my leg. She told me my right leg is a little wasted, and there may be some nerve pressure that is causing the soreness and weakness. She is trying to set up some tests to try to see what the problem is. In the evening Christine drove me downtown to my writing group.
Mar 16: I did some writing in the morning, then we went out for a bike ride, first time since the fall. It was nice to get out, but my leg was a bit sore afterward. We went to Nanny and Poppa's for bridge and dinner in the afternoon, and beat the old folks soundly.
Mar 15: Heather came by for a nice Saturday visit, and we did lots of work on the kayak. It's starting to look like a kayak! We went out for dinner at our friends Lynn and Booth's place, and then we went for a little dancing at the Kennedy Hall Old Time Country Dance. There were too many polkas for my taste, but it was nice to get out dancing.
Mar 14: I went to work and then had a nap and then my cousin David Harvie from Ottawa and his son Taylor dropped in for a surprise visit. Then Christine and I went out for dinner at our local Vietnamese place, and afterwards Margaret dropped by and we watched a video - 'Shall We Dance' - which we all really enjoyed.
Mar 13: Christine did some gardening while I went to work, and then in the evening Christine's Dad took us out for an excellent Thai dinner in White Rock in honour of Christine's birthday.
Mar 12: The home care nurse came by this morning to see how I'm doing and give us some supplies. I went in to work and then had a good nap, and in the evening we went to a play at the Richmond Gateway Theatre - 'My Chernobyl', an interesting locally written and produced play about a Canadian visiting Byelorussia. I'm feeling pretty good aside from a few aches and pains.
Mar 11: Christine was invited to help out on our niece Amber's school ski day, so she went for a slightly wet day at Cypress, while I went to work as usual. In the evening our friend Geoff came over for dinner.
Mar 10: Back to work again for a half day, then home for a nap, then I went to writing group. I'm feeling strong, but my leg is still a little sore.
Mar 9: For Christine's birthday we had a family day at home. Heather spent the day with us and we made some great progress on the kayak - started putting the pieces together. We had waffles for lunch, and went out for a delicious Japanese dinner in the evening.
Mar 8: I was feeling fairly worn out from chemo, but I took it easy during the day, and in the evening we went to Nona's for a great Hawaiian party to celebrate multiple family birthdays. I enjoyed the party a lot, and lasted until 10:00.
Mar 7: Christine went to her art club and I went in for a short but busy day at work. After work I came home for a long nap, then our friends Barbara and Clark came over for a nice dinner and a quiet evening visit. As usual, I'm feeling a bit run down a few days after chemo, but I feel a bit better than last time.
Mar 6: I went in to work early and left around 2:00, stopping at the clinic to have my portable chemo disconnected. All done for another two weeks, and I'm feeling pretty good, but not as strong as yesterday. My back feels good, but my leg muscle is bothering me a little bit this evening. We went to see nephew David's school play from 7:00 to 9:00 - it was fun.
Mar 5: I'm feeling great today. I went to work and stayed much too long, but came home still feeling good. Whatever was causing my lower back pain has gone away - yay! I helped Christine start building some more canvases in the evening.
Mar 4: I went in for chemo today at 8:15, and it went very well. I was done by noon and came home and had a good nap in the afternoon, then I felt good enough to get up for dinner and play Wii for a while. I got a prescription for time release morphine yesterday, which takes away most of the abdominal pain so I'm feeling much more comfortable now, although still hurting a bit when I move around.
Mar 3: I had lab tests and a checkup in preparation for chemo tomorrow. The latest scans show no great improvement from the chemo, which might mean it just needs a bit more time, so we'll carry on for another month or so. I'm in some discomfort from abdominal pressure and cramps, which may just be constipation, so I didn't go in to work after my checkup this morning.
Mar 2: We took it easy this morning, went to watch Heather play hockey, then we went to Elm Street for dinner and bridge with Mom and Dad. Tomorrow I have lab tests and a checkup in preparation for chemo on Tuesday.
Mar 1: We had a resting day after the trip to Ottawa. We slept in a bit, then Heather came over and we did some work on the kayak while Christine did some yard work. Margaret came over in the evening and we sang some songs. My leg is feeling okay, but my back is sore now.
In August 2004, I went to the family doctor because there was blood in my stool. I didn't have any other symptoms, and the doctor didn't seem very worried. I had a barium enema, which didn't show anything unusual, so we went on the three month waiting list for a sigmoidoscopy (partial colonoscopy). In October I had some severe bouts of constipation, and the bleeding continued. November 12 I had my colonoscopy, and the specialist told me I had colon cancer. I had X-rays, ultrasound, blood tests, MRI and CT Scans, and because the initial biopsy was inconclusive I went in for another biopsy on December 3. Starting December 21 I had pre-operative radiation treatments to shrink the tumour, and on December 30 I had a colon resection, which removed about 6 inches of colon and the surrounding tissue. The biopsy showed cancer in one lymph node as well as the original golf-ball sized growth.
I spent a week in hospital and then a month at home recovering from surgery. On February 7 I returned to work part time, and on the 14th I had my first chemotherapy session, a couple of hours in the cancer clinic. This was repeated for 5 days, then they gave me three weeks to recover before the next chemo series. I had six months of chemo - several times they delayed the session because my white blood cell count was too low. In August 2005 I finished with the chemo and went back to normal life, hoping I was cured.
I went in for regular checkups, and everything looked good for a year or so. Then in February 2007 I noticed blood in my urine, and went to see the urologist. He was unsure what the problem was, and we did some tests and a CT scan and a 'scope exam that showed some blockage of the urethra. Examination of the CT scan showed some shadows in the lungs, so we scheduled a full CT scan and chest xrays. In August 2007 the oncologist told us that there were numerous spots on my lungs that almost certainly indicated that the cancer had metastasized. There is no cure, but chemotherapy improves the outlook. It's hard to predict the evolution of the disease in any individual, but the median survival time is about 2 years with the best chemotherapy.
We decided to make the most of my healthy time, so we did a lot of hiking and camping and took a trip to the Grand Canyon. I was passing a lot of blood in my urine and suffering from constipation, and on our return from the trip in the beginning of October I went in for a checkup and was put into hospital for a blood transfusion. A few days later I suffered from a blocked urethra, so I went back into hospital where they found an abdominal tumor that was blocking much of my bowels and urinary tract. They put a tube in my left kidney (nephrostomy) to drain it and gave me a colostomy to resolve the bowel blockage. After 10 days in hospital they sent me home, but two weeks later I developed septicemia (blood poisoning) and spent another ten days in hospital on intravenous antibiotics.
In November I went in for 12 doses of radiation aimed at shrinking the abdominal tumor, and had another transfusion to get my haemoglobin count into the acceptable range. The radiation was very effective and stopped the bleeding without any other ill effects. On December 7 I finished the radiation treatments, and then on December 11 I went back to work part time (4 hours a day).
On December 18 I had my first chemo session on the new regime. They give me three or four drugs at the clinic in an afternoon, then I take home a pump that trickles in the remaining dose over two days. I go in again two days later and they disconnect the pump. I get two weeks off and then repeat the process - it's a lot less bother than the old system.
I had chemo sessions January 2 and 15, but I came down with a bladder infection so they postponed the January 29 chemo. I developed a fever and spent the first week of February in hospital, then had another chemo session February 12-14. We postponed the next session by a week so we could go to a standards committee meeting in Ottawa at the end of February.