CHEMO SESSION 3 COMPLETE - YEAH!!

Thanks again for all of your calls, emails, cards and visits - you guys are simply the best! The Big Guy completed another round of chemo with flying colours today so we have a 3 week break from the cancer clinic until the next round. That's the other good news - the next round is scheduled so we're assuming that the cancer agency approved the rest of Dallas's treatments (of course I'm being very hopeful with my assumption - we know how tough cancer agency can be with their approvals and we have no "official" word yet). It would be big relief to not have to fight for the drugs that we need - and the difference they're making is truly amazing. The swelling and hardness in Dallas's face and neck has almost disappeared and his neck mobility has really improved (maybe I won't have to do all the driving anymore - yeah!!). So after his 6 hour day in the chemo chair he came home and started painting the trim on the house some more - some things never change!

On our family front, Jordan seems to be settling in back in Calgary and Marcus and Heather are in full swing with their wedding plans. I even got to go to a bridal show on the weekend - finally some girl stuff in my life after all these years! Dallas and I enjoyed time out on the Cinnamon Girl this week - no fish but it was a great day. He plans to spend more time out there next week. He usually has a few tougher days after chemo but then the good days start to out number the bad ones pretty quickly so it's time to fish! Life is good. More later...

Love,
Patty

DAY 8 POST CHEMO

Hi everyone...just a quick report today. Days 8 - 10 post chemo are the normal down days for most cancer patients - we were warned. Blood counts are at their lowest and the normal person feels very weak and spends most of the time resting. Of course you know that my husband is anything but normal! This morning he power walked 3 km. (first time in months - yeah!) and spent the rest of the day painting the house. He never ceases to amaze and inspire me. If you look up the word stubborn in the dictionary you will see his picture in the description.

Our lives continue to be busy and this week was no exception. It started off with a quick visit last weekend from friends Bruce and Assunta. Assunta was a bit jet lagged having just finished a seven week vacation in Italy (I'm so jealous!). They came over for lunch as foot passengers on the ferry and left the same day - a whirlwind tour. Dallas's parents arrived early in the week because our niece Tasha is getting married tomorrow. They'll be here for a few more days and then our B & B is vacant for awhile. Thanks again for all of your support! More later...

Love, Patty

ROUND TWO BEGINS

Cousins Jordan, Emmy and Connor

So we really enjoyed being surrounded by friends and family this week as Dallas began round two of chemo. My brother Ron, his wife Tina, niece Emmy and nephew Connor were there once again to support us and cheer us on. I can't tell you how wonderful it is for me to come home to a gourmet dinner and baked treats and desserts everyday. Tina you are amazing! The long days at the Cancer Clinic really start to wear me down (the Big Guy gets some nice drugs so he sleeps thru most of our time there!) so coming home to a clean house and such wonderful meals is a very special gift.

We also enjoyed a great visit with our friends Anne and Brian O'Leary from Calgary. Everyone did a stellar job of keeping our minds off the upcoming appointment at the clinic. I'm happy to report that Dallas is doing very well - he's out house painting as a write this! The nurses couldn't believe it when they saw the improvement in only three weeks time - things can only get better. He may crash later in the week as his blood counts decrease so he's trying to get his "honey do" list finished before that. After 32 years (today is our anniversary!) there's nothing that I can do to stop him or slow him down for a rest until he's ready... the man is a very stubborn machine!

Jordan is packing up and leaving for Calgary tomorrow morning so I'll be wearing a black arm band for awhile. I'm thankful every day that we have Marcus and Heather so close by - we're very, very lucky! More later...

Love, Patty