Moments Slammed Together

Many things have happened since my last post....small, big, wonderful, sad, remarkable. I've put off blogging because I find it difficult to group them together - to not disrespect the sad by lining up the good beside them, but not undercelebrate the wonderful because of the sad. I suppose this awkwardness of writing about these moments defines life itself - a series of moments wonderful and sad, slammed up against each other with not even a minute to grasp air and breathe let alone decide whether to cry or laugh.

My 1 year transplant date June 12th is fast approaching. I'll have another bone marrow aspirate as well as a number of other tests that I had prior to transplant as a measure of change. Dr. Brown had some good news for me when I saw him the week before last. Once the June 12th date has passed, I can stretch my next visit with him to 6 months, as long as there's no sign of Graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD). The plural form of "month" is something I haven't heard in a long time when it comes to my health and it is refreshing.

2 weeks ago tonight a true fighter passed away - my friend Heather, who I had first met in Austin, Texas with the Cancervive event in 2007. At that time she had breast cancer, and she and I met for coffee every once and a while while we did treatment, and took yoga together as 30-something professional women taking a detour to fight cancer. When her cancer moved to the brain, she never gave up, her attitude was always an inspiration to me. Even in her last weeks she managed to smile. She even kept blogging... http://www.onesimplegirl.wordpress.com/

My dad came up with a great idea for my mom for Mother's Day: brunch at her favourite brunch spot. Oh yeah, that's Balthazar, in NYC. He gave her a week and a half notice, and I of course agreed to accompany her (twist my rubber arm) for 4 days in my old island of Manhattan. We caught up with a few friends, took in a play, ate good food and did a "wine crawl" at some high-end hotel lobby bars in addition to brunch. I am pretty lucky to have an amazing friend who just happens to be my mother.

Even my NYC friends who have never met Tasha and Ryan asked about how they are doing, as do all of you. If you click on their blog links to the left, you can get a better picture (literally) of the latest turns in their roller coaster ride. The reduction in Ryan's tumour is nothing short of miraculous, and my only complaint is that Tasha has to even be hassled with any uncertainty over her health in the same morning as Ryan's incredible news. In a pure slam, a day later Talyn's 4th birthday party rocked the superhero world that even included a celebrity sighting as (a pretty buff) Spiderman made an appearance!

While I've managed pretty well going back to work these past couple of months, I realize my energy needs a little attention. I took advantage of a chance to boost my energy by attending Dr. Aung's Qi Gong workshop at the beginning of May. It was wonderful to connect with some very special people, take in Dr. Aung's healing as well as sharpen my Qi Gong skills.

As some of you know, I have a skin graft on my neck and chest left from the flesh-eating disease surgery in 2006. This past Tuesday my plastic surgeon did some minor surgery to "release" some of the skin graft, where it was pulling or restricting my range of motion. It took about an hour and I talked with the surgeon while he worked, and drove home afterward! Other than some slight discomfort, it went pretty smoothly. I even was able to drive up to Edmonton the next day and get a "tune up" from Dr. Aung, have a wonderful dinner with Amy and Ryland, visit an old childhood friend, and be back at work today.

On the drive back from Edmonton, I checked messages and became aware that a good friend who is expecting her 2nd child next week found out her mother passed away suddenly yesterday morning. She was a vibrant woman, wife, mother and grandmother and it is incredible to imagine she is gone. My prayers are with her family.

May 21st I turn 35 - 12 years older than the age I was when Tricia's Tides began to turn. It's been 12 years of wonderful and horrible moments slammed together at an insane pace - a phenomenon I have come to respect. My little nephews Jack and Davis turn 3 on June 4th with a Pirates and Princesses party. Auntie Tricia will attend (as a pirate princess perhaps) - sounds like a great start to year 13 - a Grand Slam don't you think?