Hi Friends,It's day seven, so I'm just starting my low three days, but I'm doing alright. I still have quite a bit of joint and muscle pain which seems to worsen at night, but I'm slowly getting myself back. Now it's a waiting game...I sooo want to go out into the world, but I'm not yet up to it and still too vulnerable. Hence, the yoyo, which Shannon Lord sent to me early in the chemo process. I'm relearning how to "walk the dog." I suck at it.
I'd like to give you all an update on other folks and their treatment: Shannon (Susan Lord's sister for those of you at Queen's) had her second mastectomy last week and it went well (she went through breast cancer last year and had a single mastectomy at that time). Dorit's brother Michael, who lives in Tel Aviv, had his first chemo treatment for lymphoma and it went very well. He has three months of treatment to go. My cousin Ellen had her first round of chemo since her surgery for ovarian cancer and she's having a rough go. We will learn tomorrow more about how many more rounds she will have. Karen Frederickson's next chemo is on Friday. I'm letting you all know so you can keep them and their support networks in your thoughts.
On a very happy note, Catherine's cousin, Elaine Kellogg, a United Church minister in Yarker, recently finished 8 rounds of chemo for stage 4 lymphoma and is now cancer free. She will be stopping by to see us tomorrow afternoon and we will celebrate her good health.
I am overwhelmed by the resilience and strength of these people fighting cancer.
I am in amazing company.
Love,
Kip
I'm shocked at the number of people in your circle who are also fighting cancer. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of them too. You are an amazing person, Kip, so it's only fitting that you are in amazing company.
ReplyDeleteJ.
There is an awful lot of cancer in this area. Each of us in the Kingston area has our own circle with some overlap and within our individual circles many different people experiencing cancer, some who are far away and others near. I am no longer shocked by the numbers, but so deeply saddened. Meditation is the only thing that helps me.
ReplyDeleteI am seeing resilience and strength among everyone. There is fear, too, and that is, again, where meditation and prayer make the difference.
There is so much to learn from each other about how to be human and how to live. Sometimes our attempts are less successful and sometimes more successful. But my prayer is that we all learn, that our kindness and love increase. I see this in our department at the university. We are, each of us, more gentle and loving to each other than we have every been. This has come about as both Kip and Karen go through their treatments.
Yes, Kip, you are in amazing company and you are one of the amazing.
BTW I want to see photographic evidence of the first snow angel posted on this blog.
Much love to you,
Roberta