Since my last post, there is not much to report. I was quite tired and a bit "blue" for most of the week, unsure of why but likely related to the chemo I had started the week before, as well as returning to the real world.
Last Wednesday evening I made it to an information session for marathon runners in the Team In Training program of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I am NOT running if you're worried! As many of you know, I have been on the board of the Society for a number of years, and often speak at various events we have, about the mission and my experience with leukemia. I was feeling "less than inspiring" about going this week, but once I spoke to over 60 people who were signed up to raise funds and run a marathon, many for the first time, I was given a boost. My story was very fitting - I told them that a few months ago, I was bid-ridden, could not sit up, breathe without oxygen, swallow, or walk, but that two weeks ago, I walked into the ocean and snorkled. The body can do amazing things so they could easily run a marathon, even if they've never run. One woman, who attended a session I spoke at 3 years ago, had run 5 marathons since then. Truly amazing.
Mom and I had a visit with the twins (and mom and dad Dana and Brandon!) on Thursday night, which is always good for boosting spirits! They are growing so fast it is crazy. We took some photos so that Mom could show Grandma Gunn pictures of them when she went to Vancouver this weekend. The boys were very happy with the photo shoot!
The weekend was quiet but good. I was able to attend a meeting for the Society's Celebrity Waiters' Luncheon, which allowed me to see some wonderful people that I hadn't seen in a while. Tasha and I got in a little SingStar and I am more confident about my acting abilities than my singing. I also watched a bit of golf, now that I am addicted following attending Mercedes tournament in Hawaii.
Just after I posted last week, I found out that contrary to what I thought, I will not be going off blood thinners quite yet. I've decided to keep up the injections of the thinner, rather than the pill-form thinners, as you need less regular blood work to monitor the appropriate level. It just means a purple stomach for a little while longer, and an excuse to have a little roll of fat there! I also found out the doctors don't want to increase my one chemo drug quite yet either, until my liver recovers a bit more. It's the ususal roller coaster!
I noticed a very interesting posting in my guestbook and wanted to let everyone else know about it....you will see Oliver Bosch signed just the other day. Oliver was my bone marrow donor for my second transplant (brother Brandon was the first) and he lives in Germany with his family. Since I found out that he was my donor about 2 years ago, we have corresponded a few times by e-mail...his friend Claudia translates from German to English and vice-versa. It's a small world!
That's all for now....let me know what you've been up to!
Monday 29 January 2007
Friday 19 January 2007
Maui Energy
We sadly arrived back to reality this week from Maui. Our flight left around midnight Monday evening (3 am Calgary time) arriving around noon Tuesday, and I was at the hospital by 8:30 am Wednesday for "day one" chemo, so I am only today starting to feel a bit normal!
Since my last post in Hawaii, we did a lot of wonderful things...I seemed to have more energy in Maui than I ever could have hoped for, so we were able to take in most of the Mercedes Golf Tournament, a luau, take a full day trip to Hana (a beautiful town with 642 turns on the road to it!) a BlueWater rafting tour that included snorkeling by sea turtles and lava caves, seeing Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicholas and Gary Player at the Senior Skins game, snorkeling, beach lounging, and even a lomi lomi spa massage by the ocean. We also had some wonderful dinners and met up with some friends and relatives who happened to be on Maui at the same time as us. It was a magnificent holiday. It was hard to believe at times, when I'd be sitting on the beach, with my legs in front of me, looking at the ocean waves, palm trees and blue sky. I had been sitting in the same position for so many days in the hospital, just a few months earlier, with a very different view - no one could have convinced me I'd be looking at the ocean in a few months, and be able to swim and walk on my own.
Needless to say, it was hard to return. Jack and Davis have grown considerably since we left, and are now jumping in their "jolly jumpers" and eating regular food (pureed). While it has been great to connect with friends and family this week, I do feel a bit of the reality of being in a state of uncertainty again about the near future (or future period). Maui was a nice escape and a chance to recharge.
My "day 1" chemo was relatively uneventful (this is the 5th time I have done this cycle) and I picked up all my meds over the past few days. It looks like I may be able to go off the blood thinners I have been on for the past 5 months sometime soon, which would mean not having to do daily injections and/or reduce the number of pills I currently take. The doctors feel the risk of having another blood clot is slim, and that the one I had in my lungs in August was likely due to the length of time I spent in ICU and recovery with very little movement in bed. Also good news was that my liver function test seemed to be improving, so they may be able to increase the level of one chemo drug I receive weekly.
I hope your January has been going well...please let me know what you have been up to. Thanks again for all your support - Maui was just a wonderful gift.
Tricia
Since my last post in Hawaii, we did a lot of wonderful things...I seemed to have more energy in Maui than I ever could have hoped for, so we were able to take in most of the Mercedes Golf Tournament, a luau, take a full day trip to Hana (a beautiful town with 642 turns on the road to it!) a BlueWater rafting tour that included snorkeling by sea turtles and lava caves, seeing Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicholas and Gary Player at the Senior Skins game, snorkeling, beach lounging, and even a lomi lomi spa massage by the ocean. We also had some wonderful dinners and met up with some friends and relatives who happened to be on Maui at the same time as us. It was a magnificent holiday. It was hard to believe at times, when I'd be sitting on the beach, with my legs in front of me, looking at the ocean waves, palm trees and blue sky. I had been sitting in the same position for so many days in the hospital, just a few months earlier, with a very different view - no one could have convinced me I'd be looking at the ocean in a few months, and be able to swim and walk on my own.
Needless to say, it was hard to return. Jack and Davis have grown considerably since we left, and are now jumping in their "jolly jumpers" and eating regular food (pureed). While it has been great to connect with friends and family this week, I do feel a bit of the reality of being in a state of uncertainty again about the near future (or future period). Maui was a nice escape and a chance to recharge.
My "day 1" chemo was relatively uneventful (this is the 5th time I have done this cycle) and I picked up all my meds over the past few days. It looks like I may be able to go off the blood thinners I have been on for the past 5 months sometime soon, which would mean not having to do daily injections and/or reduce the number of pills I currently take. The doctors feel the risk of having another blood clot is slim, and that the one I had in my lungs in August was likely due to the length of time I spent in ICU and recovery with very little movement in bed. Also good news was that my liver function test seemed to be improving, so they may be able to increase the level of one chemo drug I receive weekly.
I hope your January has been going well...please let me know what you have been up to. Thanks again for all your support - Maui was just a wonderful gift.
Tricia
Thursday 4 January 2007
Sweet Island Winds
The smell of humid, orchid-filled air hasn't changed in 20 years. My last trip to Maui was Christmas 1987, when I was 13 years old and life was simple. I appreciate the sights, sounds and smells of Maui so much more now.
Since we arrived late Tuesday evening, after a "Amazing Race"-like connection in Vancouver (thank goodness Dad booked a wheelchair and Mom was a speed driver), we have enjoyed attending the PGA Mercedes golf tournament in Kapalua. Mom and I mostly flip between the 9th and 18th hole bleachers, while Dad hikes after Calgary's Stephen Ames, and it is just incredible scenery as well as golf. I even walked the 9th hole today that included some pretty nice inclines and declines, and laughed as I reached the peaks, not totally out of breath. 3 months ago today I was still hospitalized, walking only a few feet with a walker and still on a feeding tube. Today I walked amongst the gallery in Maui in Crocs and cargo pants...amazing how life can change so rapidly.
We have many plans for snorkeling, luaus, relaxing and sightseeing. It's marvelous here. I'm so glad I made it. Thanks to all of you who helped me experience this island again. Cheers.
Since we arrived late Tuesday evening, after a "Amazing Race"-like connection in Vancouver (thank goodness Dad booked a wheelchair and Mom was a speed driver), we have enjoyed attending the PGA Mercedes golf tournament in Kapalua. Mom and I mostly flip between the 9th and 18th hole bleachers, while Dad hikes after Calgary's Stephen Ames, and it is just incredible scenery as well as golf. I even walked the 9th hole today that included some pretty nice inclines and declines, and laughed as I reached the peaks, not totally out of breath. 3 months ago today I was still hospitalized, walking only a few feet with a walker and still on a feeding tube. Today I walked amongst the gallery in Maui in Crocs and cargo pants...amazing how life can change so rapidly.
We have many plans for snorkeling, luaus, relaxing and sightseeing. It's marvelous here. I'm so glad I made it. Thanks to all of you who helped me experience this island again. Cheers.
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