7 down, 1 to go

Saw this little guy on the way to getting bloodwork this week. One person's tree damage is another chickadee's castle ... love those sweet birds.

When you arrive at the cancer centre for bloodwork, you first register to get your wristband (almost as cool as going to a rock concert). Then you head up to the bloodwork desk, show your wristband, and get your queue number. As I arrived at the desk this week, I stuck out my wrist and said "I'm Lynn Bergsma Friesen". The person at the desk said "you're WHAT?' I said "that's my name". She said "oh - thought you said you were freezing". Hmm - never heard that one before ...

It's starting to feel like the chemo phase in the journey is getting closer to the end. When you pick up your pre-chemo meds from the pharmacy and they actually say zero repeats remaining, its quite a thrill.














The thrill is tempered by the news of two new diagnoses of cancer in our circles of friends/colleagues. As they begin their own journey, trying to find their way in a world that seems turned upside down and inside out, they will remain in our thoughts and prayers.

My doctor has doubled my pain medication to deal with nerve pain from the taxol. I will be more than 50% of the 7 dwarfs all on my own: Sleepy, Dopey, Sneezy, and hopefully blissfully Happy.

The chemo suite was so crowded today that I got my own private room -  so great! Felt like I was living large. Can you count the number of drip bags hanging from the IV pole? As you can see from the giant tome in my hands, I'm actually readying. Yes, my reading skills are steadily improving.



 In addition to significantly less edifying things, I've begun reading the following by James Martin, SJ.

I invite any and all of you to read along with me. 

I remain grateful for the Wellfit program at UofW. It is humbling and inspiring to see people of all ages, shapes, sizes and abilities all focused on being as healthy as they can be. I was particularly moved this week by a senior citizen who needed a walker to move around the gym, but was still working on range of motion, balance, and pumping some iron! You go, girl. 

We continue to be so grateful for the thoughtful and concrete expressions of support you so graciously bestow on us. Thank you.