Since my last post a couple of weeks ago my 'good' days have been fewer because my hemoglobin and neutrophil levels have been so low, that I don't have a lot of energy to be up and about. Today I am going to be having a blood transfusion which I am actually looking forward to. I think it'll provide me with some much needed energy!
In the midst of a couple of "low" weeks, we have had some fantastic news. The CT scan that I had two weeks ago shows that all of my tumours are shrinking which means that the chemo I am taking is working! As much as I do believe in medicine and science, I do also believe in the power of prayer and positive thoughts, so I know that my success so far is owed in part to all the people around us who have been thinking about us and praying for us. This news gives us hope, and also makes all the side effects of chemo feel like they are worth it. We know we still have a long road ahead of us, but we are feeling more optimistic now than ever.
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| Daryl and I with our long time friends the Woronieckis, Herrings and Neumuellers celebrating our good news! |
The amazing news doesn't stop there. We have also had a couple of very generous donations to our family which just go to show how awesome the people in our lives are. The first comes from a team of paddle boarders who recently did a 24 hour paddle to raise money for families dealing with cancer. A good friend of mine, Marlee, suggested to her cousin Scott Burton, one of the paddle boarders, that our family would be a good candidate to receive some of the money they raised. Scott took her up on that suggestion and delivered their generous gift to us last week. After having met Scott, I have now added paddling with him and his group when they do the relay next year, to my list of goals!
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| My friend Marlee and I with her cousin, Scott, who raises money for families dealing with cancer. |
The second very generous donation has come from our BC Hydro and IBEW union family, whom Daryl has been lucky enough to work for and with for the past 13 years. So many of the people that Daryl has worked with over these years have raised money together for our family and then went to the union, who matched the donation. We can't even express how thankful we are for such an amazing gift. It is not only the money that we are thankful for but also the care, compassion and empathy that blows us away. We are forever indebted to you.
These donations will be put to good use. Though my treatments through the Cancer Agency are covered by our medical system, many of the alternative treatments that I am trying are not. Since both Daryl and I have been off work this summer it has not been easy to pay for all of the 'extras' that have gone along with treating this disease.
We are so thankful to our community of family, friends, co-workers, practitioners and those that we have met so far along this journey. You all continue to take part in my healing and we are forever grateful.
Love Jen
