Strength and weekends

With “day one” already back again tomorrow, I thought I’d post a bit of an update. As you know, Tasha had surgery a couple of weeks ago, and I was happy to be well enough to play the support role to her as she has done for me so many times. Her surgery went as the surgeons planned, and she dealt with the significant pain like a champion. As she continues her recovery, I am inspired by her strength and determination. Tomorrow, while I am getting chemo, Tasha will find out the pathology results from the surgery, which will determine the next course of action for her.

My physical health and strength continues to improve. The physio I have been doing for the last few months has paid off and I am now able to start strengthening muscles at a regular gym, as my range of motion is good enough. So last Wednesday, I put on goggles and swam some slow but wonderful laps at the YMCA. I could even do breast stroke pretty well, which is nothing short of incredible given the amount of neck muscle that was removed during the surgery last summer. The body is sure an amazing thing.

The past two weekends were quite interesting and tiring – both for very different reasons. On one I helped mom babysit Jack and Davis, while Brandon and Dana had a well-deserved two-night getaway in Canmore. It’s hard to imagine the twins are nearly one year old now – they are standing and nearly walking.

They are hilarious and so much fun…and exhausting! The second weekend was in Vancouver, where Mom and I were able to see Colleen, Allan, Grady, Joelle and their newest family member Chloe (golden-doodle). The kids are growing up so fast, and we saw Grady, run a stellar 800 meter race with a natural running form that made it hard to believe he is only 11. We visited Grandma Gunn both days that we were there, and luckily the weather cooperated and we were able to take her outside of the home both days. She wasn’t able to talk to us too much, though her eyes and expressions said a lot. It is so difficult to know she understands us and most everything around her, but cannot move freely or communicate. With everything I’ve been through, I cannot imagine the strength it takes her to remain positive given her circumstances.


In between the two weekends, I turned thirty-three. My birthday always lands around the long weekend, and when I was little (not young, as I still am!) I always seemed to have many celebrations – one for school friends, one for neighbourhood friends, one for family, etc. This year I seemed to have several celebrations – many dinners with family and friends spread over a week, strawberry shortcake, crème brulee and chocolate cake. No candles! Among many lovely gifts, I got a digital camera which makes its debut on this posting!

June should be an interesting month. It starts with the twins one-year birthday party, includes my return to New York for a week (with mom as a reluctant travel companion) to visit friends from my prior life there, and finishes with the wedding of my cousin (or little sister) Amy and her fiancé Ryland, in Regina. June also includes the 21st, which will mark 10 years from the day I was first diagnosed with leukemia. It’s kind of strange to think I have been doing this for 10 years – in some ways it seems a lot longer than that, and in some ways it seems like yesterday.

I hope to feel well and have continued improvement to enjoy June….with a good chance for nice weather and lots of plans, it looks like it should be a great month. What’s your June looking like?

A Post for Tasha

Most of you know my best friend Tasha, either personally or from my blog posts. Some of you that while she was visiting me in Intensive Care last summer, giving my parents breaks from their 24 hour circuit at the hospital, she found out she had breast cancer. In fact, the day she found out about her diagnosis, I found out I was in remission. Tasha and her husband Ryan, who has had surgery, radiation and chemo himself for a cancerous brain tumour, have a beautiful boy Talyn, who just turned 2 a week ago. Tasha is a beautiful person, an excellent mom, and a tremendous friend. After completing months of chemo like a pro, Tasha is scheduled for surgery tomorrow. You can read about Tasha's "adventure" at tashengel.blogspot.com.

So today's post is for Tasha. I am so fortunate to have zillions of people all over the world popping on to my blog for updates. I am great today. I ask all of you to send your wonderful support, energy, prayers - whatever it is that you have been sending me! - to Tasha Westerman, her two surgeons, and her family, for a successful surgery and speedy recovery.

Many thanks and Cheers, Tricia.

Sunshine dreams

This being my third trip this year to a tropical location, I have now confirmed that I recover faster in the humid sunshine. My cough and cold is nearly gone, I feel far more energy than when I left, and I even have some golden arms and legs. Miami was wonderful, and our hotel location simply dreamy.

I arrived back from the dream late Tuesday afternoon, sleeping most of the evening after an early morning to catch the flight. Wednesday morning I went to the clinic early for blood work, to meet with my doctor and see about starting chemo again. All counts were normal, even my liver function test that has been abnormal since the fall. It turns out a break from chemo, and some sleeping by the pool and beach had recharged everything! I started day 1 again, so I am back on track for now. Thursday morning I had another CT scan of my chest, which they are doing regularly ever since my pneumonia last fall. I should have those results next week sometime.

Miami was a unique place, just as it is depicted on the movies and TV shows. Everyone dressed in string bikinis (not just on the beach), flashy convertible cars, palm trees, turquoise waters and people spending $$ like nothing! We spent a lot of time at our hotel, which was like a movie set - our routine consisted of heading to the pool or beach, where someone would set up our lounge chairs, get us a sun umbrella and bring us drinks and lunch while we lounge

d, swam, and people watched all day. I was amazed I could relax like that for so many hours doing nothing! We felt like we were crashing Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Like a dream. Dinners at some great places and drinks at some surreal bars. The one we liked the most had a shallow large pool cast between towering palm trees and candles lit everywhere - you took your shoes off and stood in the pool while sipping your drink!

Here are a few pics of us enjoying the dreaminess....the view from our balcony, us out for dinner on Lincoln Road, lounging at the beach and our view of the pool from the shady cabana couch (after too much sun!). I may have some more pics in a few days...Cheers