Good morning:
Hmmm, good news or not so good news first?
Lets start with the good news: If remember right from my last blog, I was to go to Cami and draw some ticket winners for the fundraising draws that my Cami friends had going on for the "Disney Dream Fund" for my daughter Faith and I. Well I am totally amazed to report that these wonderful people raised over $8100.00 for us. To this day, I am still overwhelmed by the amount of generosity they have all shown. They have certainly made this trip a dream come true. The plan is to go in late September or early October now. I cannot say thank you enough to all those who have contributed.
Ok, on to the not so good news now: Ever since that one bad seizure on the 19th of this month, I have taken a turn for the worse.The "focal leg seizures" have become worse than before and I am having a harder time walking. My appetite has dwindled and on occasion, my fighting spirit has been tested. I also could not begin my chemotherapy session this time due to a low blood platelet level. We will try again this week.
Ed
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
June 25/2008
Hello again
Well I was not able to start my chemo as planned yesterday because my blood platelet levels were too low. (those are the cells that help to clot the blood and prevent bleeding) So, I will get more blood work done on Monday and then go back to the Cancer Clinic next Friday and try again. Having a low platelet count is a side effect of the chemotherapy.
So I made it to Cami last Friday and drew all the winning names for the prizes. Congratulations to all the winners and a huge thank you to all who participated and organized it all. Once again, I cannot thank my Cami family enough.
While I was there, someone slipped me a piece of paper that had a poem/verse written on it. In a nutshell, it was about what that person thought of me as a human being, father, boss and friend. I will keep that with me forever. I won't mention any names for fear of embarrassing his manhood but thank you Ken H. ;)
Friday, June 20, 2008
Friday June 20/2008
Well I don't really like to come on here to report bad news but I feel I should let you know that last night, while watching Faith's soccer game, I had my worst seizure by far since this all started. I pretty much lost control of the whole left side of my body. If I were to rate them out of ten, I'd say all my previous ones were about a three or four and this one was about a twelve. Unfortunately, I was sitting right next to my parents who had to witness it all. (Sorry mom and Dad) I wished I was alone when it happened because now the worrying starts again. (not that it ever really left) Fortunately, Faith was on the soccer field at that time and didn't have to witness anything. I'm sure I got a few odd looks from the other soccer parents there.
I can certainly empathize with those people who have full blown seizures now! I felt embarrassed, mad, upset and a whole myriad of emotions the rest of the night. I'll call my clinical nurse today to see what they think and I go to see my neurosurgeon next Tuesday anyways. My own personal thoughts are that this was a result of the tumor re-growth. I'm not a doctor by a long shot but if it was the size of 2 grapes over a month ago, I'm sure it has almost doubled. (the books say it can double its size in 6 weeks) If that's the case, I imagine its beginning to put pressure on my brain again.
Ok enough about that. Today at 3pm, I have to be at Cami to draw a winning ticket as part of the amazing fund-raising efforts my Cami friends have put forth since my diagnosis. If any of you you read this before 3pm, please realize that I will be nervous has hell walking through those doors today. It will be the first time since January 14th I believe. So go easy on me ya hear!! lol
Until next time.....
Ed
I can certainly empathize with those people who have full blown seizures now! I felt embarrassed, mad, upset and a whole myriad of emotions the rest of the night. I'll call my clinical nurse today to see what they think and I go to see my neurosurgeon next Tuesday anyways. My own personal thoughts are that this was a result of the tumor re-growth. I'm not a doctor by a long shot but if it was the size of 2 grapes over a month ago, I'm sure it has almost doubled. (the books say it can double its size in 6 weeks) If that's the case, I imagine its beginning to put pressure on my brain again.
Ok enough about that. Today at 3pm, I have to be at Cami to draw a winning ticket as part of the amazing fund-raising efforts my Cami friends have put forth since my diagnosis. If any of you you read this before 3pm, please realize that I will be nervous has hell walking through those doors today. It will be the first time since January 14th I believe. So go easy on me ya hear!! lol
Until next time.....
Ed
Monday, June 16, 2008
June 16/2008
Hello my friends:
Well its been just over 2 weeks I think since my last blog. During that time I have been quite busy. Probably too busy for my own good but thats just the way I am. I received an e-mail from work last week informing me that there was MORE fund-raising going on within the Plant on my behalf for the Disney trip. Needless to say, I was once again amazed at the outpouring of kindness and generosity of my work family. From what I was told, it is going on until the end of the month so I'm sure in my next blog I'll have more surprises to report on.
This past Saturday, Brad Norman organized a silent auction and wing night at a local pub in Calgary Alberta on my behalf. From the e-mail I received yesterday, they had, at last count raised close to $2500 for Disney. Unbelievable isn't it!!? Brad and Darren Fieldsend are probably my 2 closest ex-military friends. I don't know where to begin with thanks to everyone who was involved with both my work and military family's efforts to get Faith and I to Disney this year. You are ALL amazing people with huge hearts.
Father's Day weekend was quite amazing this year. I was blessed with having my whole family here over the course of the weekend. Thank you all for making it such a memorable one :)
I must apologize for not answering phone calls etc over the past while too. Its great to hear from you all but over the past while, I've just felt a little overwhelmed by it all. I am normally a person who lives a pretty quiet and believe it or not, dull life! lol So bear with me please ;)
This coming weekend, myself, Faith, one of her friends and Faith's mother are going to Wheels Inn for the weekend. Its time to start making those little "memory cushions" to make the fall a little less painful. Jason and Shawn, consider this your notice that we will be in Chatham on Saturday and Sunday nights!! Hopefully we can visit for a bit. For those of you who may have raised an eyebrow or two.........no, Faith's mom and I are not back together after being apart for 6 years. Its just the right thing to do at this point and I would never think of NOT including her in the making of the memory cushion events.
I go for my next chemo session on June 24th. Three down, three to go! These sessions have certainly been very tiring. I'd imagine its everything to do with the higher dosage. My next MRI is July 13th.....not sure if I told you that in my last blog or not?? Damned brain!! heh heh
Well, thats all I can think of writing for now. I'm sure as soon as I post this, I'll remember something I should have written about!!
With heartfelt gratitude,
Ed
Well its been just over 2 weeks I think since my last blog. During that time I have been quite busy. Probably too busy for my own good but thats just the way I am. I received an e-mail from work last week informing me that there was MORE fund-raising going on within the Plant on my behalf for the Disney trip. Needless to say, I was once again amazed at the outpouring of kindness and generosity of my work family. From what I was told, it is going on until the end of the month so I'm sure in my next blog I'll have more surprises to report on.
This past Saturday, Brad Norman organized a silent auction and wing night at a local pub in Calgary Alberta on my behalf. From the e-mail I received yesterday, they had, at last count raised close to $2500 for Disney. Unbelievable isn't it!!? Brad and Darren Fieldsend are probably my 2 closest ex-military friends. I don't know where to begin with thanks to everyone who was involved with both my work and military family's efforts to get Faith and I to Disney this year. You are ALL amazing people with huge hearts.
Father's Day weekend was quite amazing this year. I was blessed with having my whole family here over the course of the weekend. Thank you all for making it such a memorable one :)
I must apologize for not answering phone calls etc over the past while too. Its great to hear from you all but over the past while, I've just felt a little overwhelmed by it all. I am normally a person who lives a pretty quiet and believe it or not, dull life! lol So bear with me please ;)
This coming weekend, myself, Faith, one of her friends and Faith's mother are going to Wheels Inn for the weekend. Its time to start making those little "memory cushions" to make the fall a little less painful. Jason and Shawn, consider this your notice that we will be in Chatham on Saturday and Sunday nights!! Hopefully we can visit for a bit. For those of you who may have raised an eyebrow or two.........no, Faith's mom and I are not back together after being apart for 6 years. Its just the right thing to do at this point and I would never think of NOT including her in the making of the memory cushion events.
I go for my next chemo session on June 24th. Three down, three to go! These sessions have certainly been very tiring. I'd imagine its everything to do with the higher dosage. My next MRI is July 13th.....not sure if I told you that in my last blog or not?? Damned brain!! heh heh
Well, thats all I can think of writing for now. I'm sure as soon as I post this, I'll remember something I should have written about!!
With heartfelt gratitude,
Ed
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)