Monday 23 April 2007
Miami a go-go
A quick post to say I'm off to Miami! My bloodcounts this morning were all back to normal - I still feel quite tired and have a bit of a cough left, but the docs felt a week relaxing by the pool might help that. I'll start chemo the day after I return next Tuesday. So I am doing some final packing and then off to the airport! I meet Shelley in the Toronto airport tomorrow morning. Thanks to everyone who did some "white count" wishes...it worked!
Wednesday 18 April 2007
Counting on Counts
I thought I'd do a quick post as my cousin Eddie specifically asked how I was doing! Honestly, I've been feeling pretty awful for the last week - mom and dad have also been feeling the same, so I'm sure that it's a viral infection and that it just needs to run it's course. The fact that I'm even posting on my blog is a sign that I am improving, as I have been doing nothing but sleeping for so long!
Yesterday I went into the clinic for bloodwork and another chest x-ray, so that the doctors could be sure about starting chemo "day 1" today (I was supposed to start last week, but they delayed it due to the infection). While some of my blood counts are fine, my white counts and neutriphils were lower than normal, so they have held off on the chemo again. Their best guess is that the counts are lower from the viral infection, so I'll repeat bloodwork Monday and if the counts have improved, I'll be able to continue with my trip to Miami and start chemo when I return. I'm planning on them improving, as I feel better today than the previous few days, so I'll just wait for Monday to confirm.
It's funny how quickly you get yourself back into life, and how quickly you can be thrown another unexpected turn. Regardless of what my counts will be Monday, I have once again realized that with a cold, a flu or an itch will always be a fear of something more. Trying to mentally prepare for that uncertainty is about the only action I can take, and accepting that is the best defense against the mental challenge.
It's grey outside today, but the Flames won last night and I also rescheduled New York for June! What's new with you?
Yesterday I went into the clinic for bloodwork and another chest x-ray, so that the doctors could be sure about starting chemo "day 1" today (I was supposed to start last week, but they delayed it due to the infection). While some of my blood counts are fine, my white counts and neutriphils were lower than normal, so they have held off on the chemo again. Their best guess is that the counts are lower from the viral infection, so I'll repeat bloodwork Monday and if the counts have improved, I'll be able to continue with my trip to Miami and start chemo when I return. I'm planning on them improving, as I feel better today than the previous few days, so I'll just wait for Monday to confirm.
It's funny how quickly you get yourself back into life, and how quickly you can be thrown another unexpected turn. Regardless of what my counts will be Monday, I have once again realized that with a cold, a flu or an itch will always be a fear of something more. Trying to mentally prepare for that uncertainty is about the only action I can take, and accepting that is the best defense against the mental challenge.
It's grey outside today, but the Flames won last night and I also rescheduled New York for June! What's new with you?
Wednesday 11 April 2007
New York Postponed
Unfortunately, Monday I developed an infection of some sort that has given me a fever and cough. I had tests Monday and Tuesday, but won't have any real certainty as to what is the cause until later in the week, and accordingly, the doctors advised to cancel my New York trip. Or postpone it. Disappointing, yes. However, I will reschedule it and just try to get better and avoid a trip to Unit 57 anytime soon. Life is so unpredictable! Tricia
Saturday 7 April 2007
Blues, Bloodcounts and Blogspotting
I realize I just posted a couple of days ago but had some updates!
First - pictures of Cayman that Dave sent to me. These show the beautiful blue waters, fish and snorkel gear! They show Dave and I hangin' with the stingrays, fish, on the beach and out for dinner. Awesome.
Second - bloodcounts. My previous results had showed a significant drop in platelets which was a bit of concern for the doctors (and me!) - Thursday's results were back to normal so that was exciting.
Third - blogspotting! While boarding the plane in Vegas to return to Calgary, I noticed a guy kind of looking at me. He asked if I was related to Holly and Jamie Gustafson - he explained he thought he recognized me from my blog! We only had a few moments to talk, so I think his name was Jim Hillier (Holly, Jamie correct me?!) and he had leukemia three years ago. He had read my blog, seen the pictures and thought it was me! Small world with bloggin...Aunt Mary Ellen will love that one!
Cheers
Third - blogspotting! While boarding the plane in Vegas to return to Calgary, I noticed a guy kind of looking at me. He asked if I was related to Holly and Jamie Gustafson - he explained he thought he recognized me from my blog! We only had a few moments to talk, so I think his name was Jim Hillier (Holly, Jamie correct me?!) and he had leukemia three years ago. He had read my blog, seen the pictures and thought it was me! Small world with bloggin...Aunt Mary Ellen will love that one!
Cheers
Thursday 5 April 2007
A little surreality
I don't think you ever recall just how surreal Las Vegas is. My first visit there, seven years ago, was to celebrate Grandma Gunn's 75th birthday, when Mom, Colleen and I accompanied her for an awesome girls weekend. The gigantic hotels, lights and craziness was overwhelming.
When Dad and I flew in Saturday, I was once again transported into the bizarre world of Vegas. We stayed at the MGM Grand, and the first thing I did (unlike 99% of everyone on the strip, except for the odd infant) was have a big nap in a fresh hotel bed. Perfect start.
Over the next few days, Dad and I people-watched, swam in the gorgeous hotel pools, ate at some fantastic restaurants, played 1 cent slot machines like video games, and rested in the comfy hotel beds. Oh yeah, and we saw some shows...!
Sunday was Cirque de Soleil's LOVE, with music by the Beatles. My first time seeing Cirque, I was totally amazed of course by the acrobatics and dance flying over top of us - but the stories behind the music of the Beatles, told through these amazing artists, was really what hit me.
Brandon had got tickets to David Copperfield for us for Monday night. I had never been to a magic show before - I still haven't been to one, as what we saw was not magic, it was a total imgination illusion experience. His show was UNBELIEVABLE. Like Stingray City, I never had this on my lifelist, but I would recommend everyone try to see Copperfield sometime in their life. It was an hour and a half of surreality - the good kind!
Of course the whole purpose of the Vegas trip was for Tuesday night, to see Elton John's Red Piano concert, and it was certainly worth it. I had made great efforts to ensure our tickets were perfectly positioned to watch his hands on the piano keys, and I succeeded - our view was spectacular. The show was fantastic...he LOVES to play and you can see it. His passion for the piano made me realize I have to work on another of my lifelist - get back to playing the piano again (first get a piano of course!). Brilliant.
Yesterday before flying out last night, I made one last trip to the pool area to hang out. A little less crowded than other days (it was only 80F) I decided to try swimming in the lap area...I managed to do several laps, pushing muscles that had not been pushed for many many months. When I stopped to rest, my heartbeat pumping fast for a very good reason, I looked up at the palm trees and sky above and laughed. Interestingly, I saw the top of the Chrysler Building, my favourite New York marker while I lived there. It was peeking over top of the MGM, from the New York New York hotel across the strip. Perhaps a reminder of all that had happened since I last saw the real Chrysler Building last July. Perhaps a reminder that New York will always be with me. Perhaps a reminder that I will be there a week from tomorrow. Whichever, it was a fitting moment of illusion to end a very wonderfully surreal trip.
Cheers
When Dad and I flew in Saturday, I was once again transported into the bizarre world of Vegas. We stayed at the MGM Grand, and the first thing I did (unlike 99% of everyone on the strip, except for the odd infant) was have a big nap in a fresh hotel bed. Perfect start.
Over the next few days, Dad and I people-watched, swam in the gorgeous hotel pools, ate at some fantastic restaurants, played 1 cent slot machines like video games, and rested in the comfy hotel beds. Oh yeah, and we saw some shows...!
Sunday was Cirque de Soleil's LOVE, with music by the Beatles. My first time seeing Cirque, I was totally amazed of course by the acrobatics and dance flying over top of us - but the stories behind the music of the Beatles, told through these amazing artists, was really what hit me.
Brandon had got tickets to David Copperfield for us for Monday night. I had never been to a magic show before - I still haven't been to one, as what we saw was not magic, it was a total imgination illusion experience. His show was UNBELIEVABLE. Like Stingray City, I never had this on my lifelist, but I would recommend everyone try to see Copperfield sometime in their life. It was an hour and a half of surreality - the good kind!
Of course the whole purpose of the Vegas trip was for Tuesday night, to see Elton John's Red Piano concert, and it was certainly worth it. I had made great efforts to ensure our tickets were perfectly positioned to watch his hands on the piano keys, and I succeeded - our view was spectacular. The show was fantastic...he LOVES to play and you can see it. His passion for the piano made me realize I have to work on another of my lifelist - get back to playing the piano again (first get a piano of course!). Brilliant.
Yesterday before flying out last night, I made one last trip to the pool area to hang out. A little less crowded than other days (it was only 80F) I decided to try swimming in the lap area...I managed to do several laps, pushing muscles that had not been pushed for many many months. When I stopped to rest, my heartbeat pumping fast for a very good reason, I looked up at the palm trees and sky above and laughed. Interestingly, I saw the top of the Chrysler Building, my favourite New York marker while I lived there. It was peeking over top of the MGM, from the New York New York hotel across the strip. Perhaps a reminder of all that had happened since I last saw the real Chrysler Building last July. Perhaps a reminder that New York will always be with me. Perhaps a reminder that I will be there a week from tomorrow. Whichever, it was a fitting moment of illusion to end a very wonderfully surreal trip.
Cheers
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