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

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.