Dear Friends,
This picture was made by my friend 11-year old friend Felix Guenette. Thanks, Felix, for sending this to me...it's great.
I had a very good day today, and tonight, the pain is setting in. Catherine is monitoring me carefully and we are staying on top of the medications. Cath has been dreaming about babies lately, and it makes sense - the first weekend after chemo treatments we set the alarm for every four hours so that her little bald sweetie can "feed" on medications. She says I don't look sick but that I look like a little baby. I'm relieved and happy that that's how she sees me.
We had a good day at chemo yesterday. For the first time we had our own room, an isolation room for folks with compromised immune systems. That wasn't my situation, but it was available and we really enjoyed it. Catherine was very tired and overwhelmed and at one point crawled up on the bed with me and cried. A volunteer passing by gave us some warm blankets and we just snuggled in while the drip continued. Kathy, my friend from Ottawa came in on the train and she and Julie arrived at the room at about 1:30, just as I was finishing up. As I rang the bell, there were many tears of joy and the nurses "whooped" and applauded. God, that felt so good.
We drove home to the playlist which was fantastic, and people were guessing who suggested each of the songs. Thank you again for submitting those. I'll listen to that CD in the years to come and remember the support I had throughout my chemo.
We then returned home to a phone message from Julie Salverson who, with her partner Bill, was ringing her bell in McBurney Park in Kingston. Then I learned of all of the other bells - in the School of Music (Sheri posted that video on youtube, the link is in her post), in the music library, in the Department of Film and Media, in backyards, at dinner tables. Thank you all for loving me so beautifully. It has meant so much to me over the past few months.
Time for bed.
Love to all,
Kip
thanks a lot for posting my picture!
ReplyDeleteI'm very happy that your chemo is over! I'll be able to see you again!
Hi Kip,
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear that this chemo thing is over with!
You may enjoy a "random act of culture" involving Sean at his school Rosedale Heights School for the Arts yesterday in the cafeteria. Take note this is a very raw video but nontheless captures a very fun event! And you get to see Sean a bit too. HIs friend video taped it.
Here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF0xPWPoDq4
Enjoy!
Love Ruth
I love Felix's picture! He captures the relaxed air that you have about you in that photo--the one that you're already heading towards once again....
ReplyDeleteFelix, you have some really great insights through drawing. You communicate a lot.
ReplyDeleteKip, so sorry I was overwhelmed by the last week of term to get behind in keeping an eye on your blog. Sooooo Happy that chemo is over! Sooo happy that chemo is over! I hope that you are beginning to pick up from the down-side of the effects and feeling the peace of being finished and aiming towards good health.
With the end of term and the snow, I find myself humming, "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas," in the style of the grade 4-6 choir I led 30-years ago. Hope you are feeling the look of Christmas.
Love,
Roberta
Congratulations, Kip, on finishing the chemo--yippee! I ran into Sammi yesterday at a talk called "The Slow Professor" (inspired by the slow food movement), and we spoke of you. Soooo glad dreaded November is done. Blessings and love!
ReplyDelete