Day +138 A new book

It's hard to believe the end of October is almost here. I continue to feel better and better and have been able to move forward with the new story of my life. While my previous book had endless chapters and resembled one of the Lord of the Rings epics, the plan for my next book is one that will likely not sell thousands of copies but to me is very exciting - plain, simple, uneventful life. Brilliant.

My visit to the clinic a couple of weeks ago again indicated my numbers are rolling along nicely. The detailed results of the aspirate I had at Day +100 were normal. I have bloodwork tomorrow but don't have to see the doctor at the clinic for another 2 weeks.

As my health inched closer to the "normal" end of the range, I decided it was time to see my friend Dr. Aung in Edmonton for a tune up. Amazingly, he fit me in to his packed schedule and I drove up last Tuesday afternoon to see him, stayed overnight and then saw him again before heading back Wednesday morning. It was wonderful to see him as usual, and equally wonderful to stay with my cousin Amy and catch up on some visiting. I lived with Amy and her mom in Regina while finishing my degree after mom and dad had moved to Calgary, so she's like my little sister. She had just returned from spending a year in London with her husband Ryland so we had a lot to catch up on. It was a quick but very full and satisfying trip.

With the health front becoming less time-intensive, I managed to keep my schedule busy by assisting Tasha with her fundraiser for Rethinkbreastcancer - the Rethink Romp! I helped put together some of the donations her committee had received for the silent auction and then last Thursday volunteered at the event. It was a totally amazing event - they sold out before the event began, and the music and atmosphere was very funky. Some of my friends from the old LLS board were able to come out as well! Tasha's efforts with her small team of committee members resulted in huge success, raising nearly twice the funds they had expected as well as expanding awareness for young breast cancer patients. I was thrilled to witness such amazing energy!

After Thursday's social scene, I gathered enough energy to make it to the girls' poker night Friday and see some of my PwC friends. Saturday was an annual Halloween bash hosted by my PwC friend Shannon - I worked for Shannon over the years and she has endless energy. Her decorations and games are always extensive and the costumes by both adults and kids are always impressive. (L-R The witch and her dog, Sumo's pants are falling down, Shannon's husband "Beetlejuice" Jeff)

When it rains it pours! Last week while heading to and from Edmonton, volunteering at the Romp, playing poker and being witchy, mom and dad were babysitting Jack and Davis while their parents were in Mexico for 4 days. The boys are getting so big now and say so much - quite hilarious. I got to play, dance and hang out in between all of my events, with my favourite little men (Jack L Davis R)

After a couple of days of rest following my social flurry, I am ready to roll again. I have a few lunches planned this week in between a couple appointments and bloodwork and then Friday I'll fly to Vancouver. Jack and Davis are going with their parents to meet their great-grandma Gunn, and mom and I didn't want to miss the look on her face when they slide into her nursing home for the first time. While she won't be able to say anything, I imagine her expression will speak volumes. I'm also going to relive my childhood and go trick or treating with my cousins Joelle and Grady... I can't wait.

Cheers and Happy Halloween! Tricia

Day + 120 A New Chapter

As always, my friend NYC gave me the gift of renewed energy.


Mom and I hit the streets of Manhattan within an hour of arriving a week ago last Thursday and were not disappointed. We met up with several old friends at Elaine's, a restaurant that was like my second home when I lived in New York a few years ago. I call Elaine's "my portal to the world" for all the connections with people I have made there and the interesting paths that have emerged from there.


During our days in NYC, we met with a number of old friends from my Manhattan life - my Elaine's family, previous coworkers on the PwC project I worked on, and fellow actors from the theatre company I was in. It was energizing to see everyone, and all were amazed by how well I appeared. I was able to walk blocks and blocks of uneven pavement in Soho, the West Village, Greenwich Village, Midtown, Uptown and even Harlem (at Rao's restaurant!)without becoming short of breath. It was definitely as though no time had passed since my visit a year ago.

We treated ourselves to an amazing performance by John Lithgow, Diane Wiest and Katie Holmes in Arthur Miller's All My Sons on Broadway, as well as to an off-off-Broadway production featuring my prior theatre company member Lauren. We (window) shopped at Bloomindales, Saks Fifth Avenue and Barney's. And we rested often in our hotel!


Of course, the primary reason for heading to the Big Apple was to show the doctors at Sloan Kettering their "product". I met with Dr. Young last Monday and he was quite impressed with the results, as well as everything I was able to do while in New York. And while he realizes my results are exceptional, he wasn't terribly surprised with how I looked and felt - he even asked me if I was back to swimming yet. It was a humorous confirmation that he has confidence in my ability to be an exception to the statistics, and that in itself was worth the trip to NYC. While I had moments during the week of slight sadness for the New York life I once led and lost so suddenly, most of the time I celebrated the city that still manages to give me energy, and the city that led me to my most recent treatment option.

Returning late Wednesday, I was back to physio Thursday and in for Day +120 bloodwork yesterday. Later today I'll visit with some aunts, uncles and cousins and tomorrow have a Thanksgiving dinner. My list of things to be thankful for is very long and includes thousands of names. It is perfect timing to reflect on the past 11+ years, be so appreciative, and move on to a totally different chapter of life.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Cheers.