Update Sept 12/2008

Good morning 3am!

Well I've managed over the past few nights to actually get more than 3 or 4 hours sleep. The sad part of it is, is that it has either been on a Saturday night while I'm supposed to be entertaining friends that came over to watch a UFC PPV or during the middle of a telephone conversation! lol I knew I'd crash hard, it was just a matter of when. That being said, this morning it was 2:45am when I first crawled out of bed.

So my stitches came out this week without issue. The big horse-shoe shped incision seems to be healing well. I've had a constant headache ever since surgery. I finally gave in 2 days ago and called my surgeon's office to see if this was normal. My thoughts were that yes, this was normal due to swelling around the brain from such an intrusive surgery. The nurse agreed with me and we have decided to slow up on my weaning schelule of Dexamethazone. This is a steroid used to combat swelling around the brain due to tumour activity and/or surgery. So hopefully within a day or two my headaches will go away or at least become bearable.

I'm now having problems with my feet/ankles being extremely swollen. This has just started over the past couple of days so I think I'd better make another call to the doctor. Another side effect of the chemo and radiation I "think" I'm beginning to notice is failing kidneys. Without confirmation yet, and just my own gut feelings, I feel like I'm beginning to have issues in that department. I can no longer "hold it" like most of us males can, and unfortunately, have had a few "accidents" along the way. Its not even embarrassing now, its just such a letdown. I'll obviously be reviewing this with my Oncologist when I see him on the 19th.
When it rains, it pours I guess! (no pee pun intended) lol

Before I forget, I want to thank the following people for helping me get fat:

Cathy V.
Betty from work
Rob E. (former Cami employee)
My Mom
My sister Shirley

All these wonderful people have graciously brought me food on at least one occasion and I thank you and any others I may have neglected to mention from the bottom of my heart :) Now can someone just help me with my Jenny Craig sign-up sheet!!

Today, I am off to "Truppe" in Lambeth to hopefully start the fitting process for a custom AFO (ankle /foot orthotic) that will hopefully stop or at least lessen my ankle turning and reduce the amount of "drop foot" I have. With my left foot dragging the way it does, I can no longer sneak up on anyone. You can hear me coming from a mile away!

Yesterday, I recieved in the mail, a cheque in the amount of $2,900.00 to go toward the Disney Dream from the "Old Guard" of my former Military Regiment "Lord Strathconas Horse (Royal Canadian). This is the resutlt of alot of hard work by my former comrade turned cop, Brad Norman. Brad championed at least 2 fund-raising efforts on my behalf in Calgary, where I was stationed during my term in the Canadian Armed Forces. Love ya man!

Until next time.....

Cheers,

Ed