Maintaining a blog is sometimes a large weight to carry around. I have to feel slightly inspired to create a post and right now I am definitely faking it!
Typically with me if you haven't heard from me in a while, you can assume that everything is going well. I am now halfway into my first round of chemo and I am worried about jinxing myself when I say that everything is going really well so far (please knock on wood right now). The list of "freakshow" side effects have not affected me yet, so I'm hopeful that they won't.
I tell people that I was really excited when my oncologist told me that although this chemo is more potent than my previous protocol, I wouldn't lose my hair and I would be able to continue to work throughout. So, I let all of the other weird side effects that he warned me about float right over my head. Once I got closer to starting the drugs though, I started laughing at the fact that all chemo seems to have some really ugly side effects!
Lots of other great things are happening in my life to keep me busy right now. Most importantly, Tricia now has a "tentative" date for her transplant. Although her paperwork is still not sent to Ottawa for final approval, everyone is very optimistic that it will all go through so they have booked her in for May 1. Although this is the great news that we've been talking about for more than 6 months, it also seems fairly daunting that this big day is approaching. She of course has a couple of great trips planned until then, as she reminds us all to live life every day!
I also attended an initial meeting to get Rethink Breast Cancer started up again in Calgary. It was very exciting to learn more about an organization that fits so well with my beliefs and desire for fun! The next couple of weeks should tell more about what my role will be with that.
As a family, the commute from the SE part of Calgary has been really tough. Although we rarely admit it, having both of us dealing with cancer at the same time is really stressful. So adding 1.5-2 hours in the car commuting each day really isn't helping. We are in the final stages of deciding what to do, but we will likely be moving to the inner city in the upcoming months and lising our house next week. We will really miss our beautiful flowering backyard and the pond that we back onto, but we need to start to simplify things piece by piece.
The past few weeks have been really good for getting one big thing checked off of my life list - finding a way that fits with me to give back to the cancer community. I found that it was a little bit too easy to just go back to my old life after my first fight with cancer, but that isn't happening again! Learn from me and take the time to work towards getting something checked off of your life list...what are you waiting for?
Dear Tasha,
ReplyDeleteThank you for this latest posting. We were counting on the fact that "no news" is often "good news" but it is a relief to hear you say so in person.
Your apprehensions about "jinxing" yourself by talking too soon, make us realize that ongoing chemo must have cumulative effects that can mount up and strike at any time. At least it is a good sign that things are going relatively well so far. We will hope, right along with you, for more of the same as your treatments continue. (As you requested, we also gave a good, firm knock on our wooden desk, right now).
We like the way that you and Tricia comment on your common and separate experiences. You end up keeping us posted on one another by updating the progress that each of you is making in your journey. Tricia's latest news is definitely a mix of the wonderful and the worrisome. But NYC awaits you both!
Your follow-up comments about your meeting with Rethink Breast Cancer show how serious you are about playing an active role in "giving back" to the cancer community. Once again, we're amazed that you are already taking steps to become involved while you are still in the thick of your own battle.
The commuting time that cancer has added to your lives is a total surprise to us. Come to think of it, there probably isn't any area of your daily living that cancer hasn't altered. Now that you have made the decision to sell your home and move to the inner city, we wish you a smooth and easy transition.
Be assured, Tasha, there is nothing "fake" about the inspiration behind your latest blog posting. What you wrote is both inspired AND inspiring. You are probably so used to having to act as if you are strong and okay that you have become the upbeat, determined survivor we know today.
By the way, don't let maintaining your blog weigh you down. Your visitors will continue to drop in and out, knowing all the while that "NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS".
Sincere best wishes,
Louise and David
(Compiling and living our life's list in Scotland)
Hi Tasha,
ReplyDeleteIt's great to hear that things are going well so far! Thanks for keeping people posted about Tricia as well, we apprectiate that!
About the move....I sold my house in December to 'simplify', obviously your reasons to do so are different, but it will be a good move for all of you.
A house is a house, a home is what you have with your family, no matter where you are living!
Cheers!
Sonia