Manhattan Moments (Yes!)

Someone asked me earlier this week "what does time feel like" while I navigate life after being told I'm likely going to be around for "months not years".  Time is rather irrelevant - some days are so jammed (with good and bad) that they seem you lived a month in 12 hours.  And some months just evaporate in a blink.

Since the last post, I got Round 3 chemo in, and a week ago today got a modified round 4.  Round 3 went better than 1 & 2 as I'd hoped - we've got the mouth sore pattern figured out so continued to win on that front.  Chemo grey fatigue was no fun but more predictable, so I just embraced when the "wall" hit me and slept as often as needed.

A couple of miraculous things happened towards the end of week 2 post-chemo.  Back in February Dr. Young (NYC doc) had sent me the annual Sloan Kettering transplant survivor celebration event dates. I've attended almost every year since I was first invited post transplant #3.  The fares were cheap so we booked our flights and hotel and Colleen did the same.  Of course, as the weeks and months evolved, it looked less than likely NYC would happen again.  Dr. Nixon however was supportive of making it happen, and the timing was decent as the MSK event was Oct 24 which was in week 3 post chemo, when I'm my best.  Of course, we still had to consider what it would be like navigating Manhattan in a wheelchair and how exhausting it would be.  I also had to get bloodwork a day before we left to ensure there was no major issue brewing.  It was a challenge to decide if all the effort and risk would be worth it.  We all do this every day as you know - make choices and wonder if they are the right ones.

Wonderous view from a bench

You'll see my boarding pass below - I had to take a picture as it was so surreal.  We made it.  And after a good sleep and delicious brunch the morning after the flight, with the wheelchair as my vehicle (thanks Mom for the awesome driving) we made it to Central Park.  A warm, sunny day.  We found a bench and sat watching the hundreds of people enjoying the park energy.  The other incredible thing was I was watching all of this with both eyes...and seeing just one of everything.  My double vision had all but disappeared just as I was exploring NYC. I can't articulate how lovely it was to see my NYC - it was like a reward for taking the risk to go.  It certainly was worth it.

MMMM Coconut shrimp

Totally crazy.

MSK Survivor event

Watching ping-pong in Bryant Park

Watching people in Central Park (one, not double of them!)

My Chrysler building 

Dr. Young and I 

The rest of the trip did evaporate quickly - with lots of rest - but the MSK event was fantastic and my visit with Dr. Young was better than I could have hoped for.  We did a couple of meals out - Tommy Bahamas on 5th included (thanks Tim & Judy!) and a fair bit of "wheeling".  As it always does, NYC gave me "my fix" of Manhattan moments.

Since NYC, I've been battling a bit of a cold, getting rest, and responding to some calls and emails in preparation for the Tricia Antonini award that will be presented to the first recipient in front of a small group of people on November 22. I met with Dr. Nixon in her Wednesday clinic.  Bloodwork was a bit off so I only received 2 of the 3 drugs the next day Thursday and on Friday received a couple units of blood.  Before the transfusion I also got to attend the groundbreaking (inside, thank goodness!) of the new Calgary Cancer Centre that I had been a patient advisor for the design phase.  Time again is rather surreal.

In the midst of these wacky weeks, 3 teams of Tricia's Trotters in Vancouver, Calgary and Regina made it out in the dusk with lit lanterns to walk, raise awareness and thousands of dollars for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light the Night events.  I am always in awe at the dedication of the trotters and want to thank everyone involved in this year's events.

So November continues to be focused on Alberta Health and Alberta Cancer Foundation's event and getting to some of my "good list". My eye continues to hold on to seeing "one" almost all the time, although my ding-dong head still throws my balance off almost all the time.  Regardless, I plan to continue doing as much as I feel able, knowing that if I was able to get to NYC I can do almost anything. Cheers and love...Tricia