Two years have flown by, 4th Wedding, a visit with Samantha, Terry Fox Run, and Chemo again

It is hard to believe that it has been two years since we got the horrible news that my cancer had returned with a vengeance. Lots happened – lost my hair – and didn’t really care and still don’t. Tried multiple drugs through my original oncologist but to no avail. In March, was told nothing more they could do for me – well, I wasn’t having any of that. I changed doctors and it has changed my life! One lung is behaving itself and well the other one isn’t – but in time with the drugs this doctor has me on, I believe there will be a change. There is the possibility of another surgery to drain the right chest cavity and to add more of the talc which was put in in 2008, seems the stuff can dry up – how it does that with all the fluid is beyond me! That is fine with me, means Hopefully I will get Dr. James Bond again, and what woman wouldn’t want that! Will have more on this in the next blog. I have my appointment for the CT scan of my lower spine for the 3rd of September. This is just to check that there are no slipped or crushed discs and just the sciatic nerve acting up. It is still bothering me quite a bit but with the meds and the hot tub, it calms down.

Our fourth wedding of the year was held in Harrison Mills on the 14th of August. Leah and Colin had a beautiful wedding on the hottest day of the year. It was 38c! Yikes! But the venue made up for the heat – it was stunning for sure. I managed to get soaked – and not by falling in the pool or going into the river. No – I had a full glass of champagne dumped accidentally by the waiter down my dress – right from the top to the bottom. Poor guy had the look of I am going to be so fired! He stayed away from me the rest of the evening! It was a good thing it was not red wine – that would have just ruined the day and also good thing it was a light coloured dress! But it was sticky. So I wandered down to the pool and got my legs cleaned off – and the water felt so good too. My ex-husband picked on me off and on throughout the evening – asking if I had dried off yet!! Leah was such a beautiful bride and Colin a handsome groom.

Tuesday, Meghan and I went to visit Samantha and her Mom, Cathy! What a lovely home they have and the food was great and the wine was pretty good too. We didn’t know how Ryan would react to Sam only having one leg, but he didn’t care – she actually has three if you count the crutches!!! Cathy brought out some bubbles and that made Ryan such a happy little boy - he had bubbles going everywhere! My directions got me lost but not too badly – I was only a block or two off. Samantha is going through a pretty rough time right now and we were giving her lots of love and support. She is an amazing young lady for sure. We got to meet her brother Jeremy and her Dad, Shawn. We would have stayed longer, but Samantha was winding down and was in need of a nap. Can't wait to have them over for lunch to give Cathy a break and for Samantha to have a visit here - when she is up to it!

Wednesday evening, it was the first meeting of the Coquitlam committee for the Terry Fox Run. Coquitlam is a little behind the rest of the cities that have been having the run. This is actually the 30th year for it. Amazing what that young man did for cancer research. There were 11 members and 5 of us were from the Relay for Life. Time for a change! I will be speaking briefly at the opening of the run on September 19, so looking forward to that. This means I need to get in gear and write my speech. This run will be small this year, with it being the first, but we know that once it gets going, other years will have more participants. Port Coquitlam, which was the home of Terry Fox, has the Home Town run, and thousands come out to that one.

And another chemo day!! Sandy came with me this time – she has come with me several times to the Surrey clinic. First time for Lions Gate. Got my blood work done fairly quickly and then off to lunch we went to White Spot up the street. Both decided to eat healthy – salads and they were both really good! Got back to the clinic and waited and waited for Mandy, my nurse, to come and hook up the drugs I needed. They were so busy this Friday; the nurses were flying all over the place. I went down an entire 4 ounces! But once we got hooked up it went fairly quickly. My red count went up to 113 from 104, so I didn’t have to take the injection of Eprex - long as it is over 110 I am ok. I have to go back this Friday and get my blood taken and numbers checked and if under 110, then I will give myself the injection. I still have the mark from the first injection of the drug!

Our weather for the most part has been great – though we did have a hot spell and our temperatures were in the high 30’s and when you are not used to those numbers, you melt! The poor flowers sure didn’t like it in the least! The province is going through another bad fire season, but thankfully no homes have been lost to date and that is the most important thing!

The PNE has started and it is the 100th Anniversary. I plan on going at least once or twice; gotta get those mini donuts and get in on some of the free shows. Terry Clark is on tonight. Loverboy is coming up soon too. And all part of your admission of $15. A friend of Meghan’s is playing on the 24th so will try and see if I can make it to see him play!

Well, that is about all there is to tell. Looking forward to lots of comments. I really do like getting them. Hope you enjoyed the blog and the pictures!

Love
Roni