September, 2019

Patient update

Chemo treatment # 2 is behind us and the predictable 1st week of feeling like 'El-Toro-Poo-Poo' did not disappoint. Week two was somewhat better and got a serious morale boost when the new "Doo'' arrived after the normal hair loss from chemo. This upcoming week 3 is as good as it gets before getting hit again by the revolting poisonous cocktail of Chemo treatment # 3.

We are going to take advantage of the short window to take a little road trip for several days and get her off island for a much needed breather and change of scenery. 

When it rains, it pours.

For the past 5 months I have been working with a couple of old friends to organize a get together for about 60 people in Montreal. These were high school friends and acquaintances from 50 years ago who had one thing in common in our lives. 

A Catholic priest. 

Some of us had traveled to Europe with him as teenagers, others were simply touched by him in a way that would be impossible to describe except to say that his influence on us all was profound enough that 50 years later we wanted to gather to remember him.

I was tasked to be the MC for our gathering of about 60 people who had traveled from all over the continent to be there, and I had our friend Lyne come provide some adult supervision and babysit Janice while I was away overnight.

At 6 AM on the morning I left, we got a message that my mother was admitted to the hospital by ambulance for heart valve issues, so I made an emergency run to Montreal to deal with that. I then raced to our event and the next day when my mother was released, I drove her home with her new meds just on time to hear that Janice's mother had a stroke in California and went on her own ambulance ride. Janice's sister flew out to address the immediate issues.

All in all, a quiet relaxing week end.

The hospital was different than what I am used to, as the picture above shows the narrow hallways that everyone travels through to get from one wing of the hospital to another. Patients line the hallways as there are no available beds or rooms. I am not going to start an argument with anyone about socialized medicine or the state of health care in Canada, I am merely showing what I observed.  I report, you decide.

Mandy

Daughter Mandy flew in from Germany to spend 10 days with her mom and was a huge help. She cooked, cleaned and did all manner of chores to help out. It is great to have responsible adult children to help out at these times, and to be able to step out of their way to allow them to take over and be competent helpers. Meanwhile we had several friends cook and deliver many meals so that Janice was not subject to my very special hot dog recipes.

OK, just because I am lolly gagging around doesn't mean I am on vacation. Janice may have cancer and is not bouncing around, but with my self-imposed grounding from flying this summer, I have  had considerable time to get busy on the boss's great ideas for things for me to do. I started by finishing the raw Olive wood art piece seen below that we brought back from France.

Next, I was tasked with building a granite stone and slate lighthouse entry light fixture that incorporates a copper themed framed 'flame' lamp. In the dark (obviously) the light appears to be a torch with flames rising from it. Janice insisted it was necessary to keep ships from running aground on Honey Bee Island.

Last and perhaps least, I installed a canvas shade over our deck as the sap and needles from the pine trees was constantly falling on the fabric chairs.

Team Rubicon

Once again, Team Rubicon (that volunteer organization I  worked with last year) requested that I deploy with them to the Bahamas for disaster response the day after hurricane Dorian hit. I have put it off until we get to California and I get Janice settled. My two week commitment per year is about due.

Poor baby

We didn't get to play and you are now tucked in for the winter. 

We will make up for it in June when we go back to dancing with the angels