Smashin' It

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T10:21:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas. All is peaceful here, and we hope the same is true for you.

M&M&H

check and check

2010-10-31T11:03:00.001-07:00

We just returned from a trip to Vancouver where an MRI and visit with some doctors confirmed Mark's good health. Cancer has stayed smashed. It was the news we were expecting since he has been feeling so strong physically, but there was certainly a calm relief that came with the confirmation.
We were able to visit with some cherished Vancouver folks and get in some good eating, so all in all it was a very good trip.
It feels like winter here now, not quite snow but it is cold and the toques and mitts have migrated from the basement to the front hall. It has been a very busy fall and these next few weeks will hopefully be a bit of a reprieve, then we are off on vacation and going to a friends wedding in the Dominican Republic. Should be amazing.
Hadley is doing great, she really is a happy not so little thing. Since it's been a while - here and here are the 'best of' photos from the past few months.
We hope all is well with all of you. We will pass on the news as it trickles in . . .

Happy Halloween! Hadley was a chicken, and greeting all the trick-or-treaters with enthusiastic waves.

Fall

2010-10-05T23:03:00.000-07:00

Here's a couple of quick shots to clear my conscience. We are bad bloggers. We are well, and happy and really enjoying the fall. It is busy, and sometimes too busy - but that seems to be the case for everyone we know. Hadley is continues to shine. Here's proof.

Hadley and I after the Terry Fox walk

The love is mutual that's for sure

On top of our wood pile

That about says it all

One year later

2010-08-22T11:19:00.001-07:00

The strawberry seems like so long ago, probably because it was. There have been many veggies since then, as well as trips and events and new Hadley skills. We never really planned to have a blog about our normal life and since that is what we mostly have now-a-days, updating seems sort of strange.
In short Mark is feeling terrific and is going on a mountain sheep hunt next week (that's really hard work and is quite an accomplishment since exactly one year ago he was recovering from brain surgery). Hadley is approaching crawling, is eating breakfast lunch and dinner from a spoon and is having a great summer. I had a great trip to visit family in Ontario and am really enjoying my day to day existence as a housewife and ma.
It has officially been one year since this whole deal-io began, which is unbelievable. Makes us shake our heads.

Another Birth Announcement

2010-06-17T11:30:00.000-07:00

Some very exciting news around these parts. Mark and I gave birth again . . . to a strawberry!!!

This is our first harvest and needless to say, we are more than excited. We celebrated by (gently) cutting the berry in four and sharing it with his folks who were up visiting. What a treat.

The rest of the gardening is going well, we have lots of tomatoes (they are green still but they are real live tomatoes growing at our house), and almost all of our veggies have sprouted (come on potatoes and carrots). We are certainly newbie gardeners, as was likely apparent to our neighbours when shrieks of joy followed by high fives and hugs could be heard and witnessed as we found our first seed had turned into a sprout. I guess you do appreciate all the small things post cancer. Here is Hadley helping her dad plant some beets.

We finally got out into the bush for a few days and it was amazing. Mostly because we took this

to here

where the view from our window was this.

We stayed at a cabin that is maintained by Mark's work and free for public use, what a place this Yukon is.

There was lots of this

and this happening.

And it turns out this one is a real camper.

(note to self, bring something to set your child on so that you will not have to turn a wood box into a chair)

A big thanks to the Callans for a great visit (and for not smuggling Hadley back in their luggage which they threatened they might) (there was a point when I was wondering if they were serious).

So, we continue to be well and happy and loving life. For those who want to see some more Hadley you can do so here. Also, a shout out to great friend, loyal reader and encourager of more posts - Mrs. Keri Jo (this one is for you).

No News is Good News.

2010-05-27T22:17:00.000-07:00

Not too sure where to go from here with this blog. We are happy to show off pictures of Hadley and tell you about the mundane details of our ordinary life. The truth is, it is very exciting to have an ordinary life these days. It is exactly what we were hoping for. However, it doesn't make for interesting or compelling reading. I suppose we will just keep doing periodic updates and you can check in as much or little as you like.
The cancer update is . . . We are going to Vancouver for our next check up in October. The docs liked what they saw last time and for our own sanity we have moved from three month check ups to six month check ups. The weeks and days leading up to those appointments are fairly tortuous, and we are happy to have a break from them for a while. Mark is feeling really well overall. He is back at work now which is very exciting and it really felt like a big deal when it happened. I was like a proud mama with his lunch made and camera ready the morning of. It really is an accomplishment. He is starting part time and is increasing his hours every week, it seems like it won't be too long before he is going full time. Fatigue is still an issue and finding balance with work, play and rest is something we discuss daily. What we notice most is that his recovery time is shorter and shorter. It seems now like a good night's sleep usually means a fresh start for energy. His hair is back, it is a darker, (as in black) more 'textured' (to put it kindly) version of the hair he once had. He is is a great papa and Hadley has most certainly become a 'daddy's girl'. It is pretty fun to watch her light up when he comes home.

My smile was equally big when I was taking this photo

I am doing well. We joke about how I am a 50's housewife, and I am. Fully. I spend my days cooking, cleaning, getting our supplies, sorting the baby, tending to our gigantic garden, meeting up with friends, and generally making house. It is very satisfying except when it isn't. My sister Brianna came for a visit with her baby and that was fantastic. I have started a campaign to have our families move to Whitehorse (so far no takers) but it really is the only missing piece to this beautiful place. Summer has arrived here and we are spending as much time as possible outside. Hadley had her first trip in a canoe (somewhat unsuccessful) and she and Carl get out on the trails as often as possible. We are having a real go at this gardening business. The learning curve is steep, but we have two wee green tomatoes on a plant in our greenhouse and we are hopeful the rest of our bounty will follow suit shortly.

Hadley and her Aunt Brianna

Hadley and her cousin Finley, 10 weeks and 10 sizes apart

Hadley continues to be a happy little creature. She is working on sitting on her own, not quite there yet. She loves to eat her toes and gum anything she can reach. She spends most of her days smiling and is still an amazing sleeper. We really like her.
So there you have it, an update on our regular ol' lives. Nothing noteworthy here!!!
To see the latest 'best of Hadley' pictures, click here.

Good News Round 2

2010-04-25T15:05:00.000-07:00

I know, I know. We've been slacking. A lot has happened since our last post, but maybe the most important thing (other than Hadley rolling over) is that we just returned from my first 3-month checkup in Vancouver. I have been having some symptoms recently that include headaches and a strange tingling down the back of my legs. Needless to say, this caused some anxiety about my appointments, and in the days leading up to them, Meghan and I were feeling the strain. The good news is that two MRIs later (one of my head and one of my spine), I've once again been given a clean bill of health. Apparently the headaches and tingling are common side effects of radiation that can surface even 6 months after treatment. As my friend Dan said: "Headaches, eh? They did shoot a laser at your brain you know".
It was a point well taken. It seems like in the days leading up to these checkups that every chapped lip and runny nose found some connection to cancer. But I don't have cancer anymore. We're happy that that's the case, and will wait another few months before anxiety skyrockets, and only doses of Hadley will suffice in quenching the fire of panic. But we will get by.
If you're in Whitehorse reading this, keep in mind that we're having an Open House/BBQ on Friday, May 7th at our place at 67 Pelly Rd. in Riverdale. Anybody and everybody are welcome to show up anytime after 4:00 pm. Bring something to cook on the grill, your favorite bevvy, and we'll have some stuff to go along with that, including some extra drinks. Most importantly, bring yourselves and whoever you think might have fun. I wish everyone from across the country could come. The amount of support we've received (and continue to receive) makes me think the world can be an amazingly good place sometimes.
I'm starting work on May 10th, and it feels like it will be a landmark day in my recovery. I hope to ease into it with some part-time hours, and, as usual, Environment Yukon has been incredibly accommodating. I'm doing some exercises to help rebuild my strength, and we're out walking every day. Meg is doing great. As usual, she's holding up her end of the deal and then some. Sometimes I wonder how she can be holding Hadley, making dinner, washing dishes, unpacking boxes and talking on the phone all at the same time, but she does it. I'm starting to hold up my end of things a little more too.

Hadley is the happiness of our everyday. Antidote to sadness, anxiety, fear, she's a little gem who's smile is too contagious to resist. If you want to see a bit more of her, you can do so here.

And this sums up our current 3 month cycle pretty well. (Click the "play" icon on the page to hear it).

All the best to all of you.
M&M

Home

2010-04-02T14:36:00.000-07:00

It's where I want to be. But I guess I'm already there.

Being back in Whitehorse has seen a swirl of activity, emotion, and a well-needed feeling of normalcy. It feels like we're almost there in terms of picking up the pieces of our life and re-assembling them into something that resembles what we've been striving towards. It looks different somehow than what we thought it once would be - things will always be different after this experience (which is ongoing, and will be forever) - but it's something that still has beauty and drives us forward.
Looking at photos from September, I realize that things have changed. Some forever, and some just for a little while. Six months ago, I was still glowing with the vitality and life that a summer in the Yukon nourishes in anybody, and now, I'm a paler, skinnier version of that person, with a little less shine around the eyes and a little more on his mind (albeit less on his brain!). But these things can come back. A few push ups and lunges, a jog a few times a week, getting back to work, a few days out on a Yukon lake, a few minutes making Hadley laugh or Meg smile; all good medicine for getting back to life. Some things are changed forever, and no exercise or experience will revive them. They are gone. But such is life. What these things are is less easy to describe, but there's a hole somewhere in the both of us that will never be filled again.
This became ardently clear yesterday when we sat in the same sort of sterile, cold office that we've grown used to over the past several months, and watched as a vet injected our sedated cat with an overdose of anaesthetic. Her heart stopped soon after, and she passed over the line of life and death, whatever that looks like. For the past week, she had been suffering from Feline Fatty Liver Disease, and despite the vet's and our efforts, she wasn't getting any better. As a hunter, I've shot and killed animals and watched them die before, and it's sad, but our experience yesterday was something very different. It belonged in those holes that will never be filled again. It sounds more dramatic than losing a pet cat. But that's what's changed.
It's been a dramatic few months, with family weddings, a couple of moves, a new house new jobs, new lives, losing loved ones, creating and gaining new loved ones, and all of the stresses, joy, grief, and other emotions that go along with all of those things. And yet somehow, we're back where we started almost five years ago. Home. It's where we want to be.

Kitty. She was a cat. A good one.

For grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other interested parties, Hadley's continued growth can be witnessed here.

For those of you that knew and loved Kitty (if you knew her, you loved her), you can go here.

And now, David Byrne and friends:

Whitehorse

2010-03-20T09:03:00.001-07:00

We're home... kind of. We landed back in Whitehorse just under two weeks ago and it feels fantastic to be breathing the air up here. Somehow, the two backpacks of stuff we brought down with us in August turned into a car load (driven up in our car by my brother in law Mr. Craig Adkins - kudos), 500 lbs of boxes (shipped up after being packed by dearest Becky/life organizer extraordinaire), and five suitcases (flown up with Mark, Hadley in I in what can only be described as a complete gong show at the airport). We spent a couple of days in our house before moving to a house-sit while some amazing folks (team Ontario, headed by brother-in-law Graham, with Mark Delaney and Derek Nussey) who had very generously offered to help reno our place from a house to a home got down to business. We are admittedly disheveled, we have not unpacked anything so the three of us are temporarily getting by in one of two outfits and little else. It is very much worth it though because each day when I visit the house, I am pumped at how it is being transformed. I can barely wait to move back in at the end of the week, unpack three and a half years worth of our life, get rid of everything we don't need but have hauled all over the country and start fresh. I am excited just typing the words.
Mark is doing really well. He is gaining strength every day, has almost eliminated the afternoon nap and is even able to do some physical labour. He is starting a bit of a rehab routine this week to get him back in tip top shape and put the physical detriments of all things cancer behind him. Also, his hair is starting to grow back. It is a little chia pet like yet, but the growing parts are definitely spreading.
Hadley continues to be a rock star, still sleeping through the night and spending most parts of the day smiling and charming those around her. Right now the best thing about her is her talking voice that is developing and her laugh that both she and I are figuring out how to unleash. Her worst quality... her loath of mittens - and her ears are still hairy, how long does that last?
The reunion with Carl was great. In the end he didn't reject us and was more that happy to see us. There was some crying and some leaking (those who know Carl know what that means). He and Hadley are alright with one another, not lovers not fighters. The cat is still staying with our friends Deb and Pete until our house is finished. That's likely best for everyone - when she is unsettled, everyone around her pays the price.
There have been some other noteworthy events for us. It seems it wouldn't be a blog posting without announcing that Hadley has a new cousin. My brother Seamus and his wife Hye Kyoung had a super cute little girl on March 2nd. Please meet Hannah McGuire. It's awesome. Some other not so awesome news is that on March 18, my Grandma, Beth Smith, passed away. It was peaceful and she was with all of her children and her lovely husband. My Grandma was an amazing woman, I feel lucky to have had her in my life for as long as I did. She has had a huge impact on both Mark and I and we hope to raise our daughter up to be the same sort of citizen she is.
I will leave you with a few photos, none too recent since the camera cord is somewhere buried in an unpacked box. Goodbye!

Our niece Hannah McGuire - a serious competitor for cutest baby

Hadley - all business.
My Grandma crocheted that blanket for our wedding, we bring it everywhere

Grandpa Jack and Grandma Beth

An update

2010-03-02T09:12:00.001-08:00

It has been a while and now I keep putting off an update because I need a chunk of time to do it. Well, that hasn't happened and I don't have a chunk right now so this wee post will have to do until there is a bit more time.
We have our lives back now that the Olympics are over. Made it to some events and missed very few on t.v. Our free time before heading home was interrupted when Mark became quite sick and needed to go back into hospital for a bit. His white blood cell count became very low (like 0 low), and he got a brutal cold as a result. After some new medication, serious anti-biotics, hydration and a med change he is on the road to recovery and was released from hospital on Saturday. He is still far from 100% but is moving in the right direction at least.
We are planning to return to Whitehorse on March 8th and are mostly looking forward to it. The packing and planning that we need to think of for March (we have a home reno team arriving mid-March to help us get the house fixed up) is daunting and at times overwhelming, but there is sunshine on the other side and we are more than excited to be leaving the city for home. My friend Becky has landed in here to offer support and help with packing, it was amazing to have her here while Mark was in hospital and now that he is home and she is getting lots done it is even better.
That's the short and skinny, I will try to provide more details when I have more time. Here's a quickie of how cute Hadley is these days, sorry to the parents who were (previously) pretty sure they had the cutest baby in the world. Hope you are all well.

We're Back

2010-02-16T17:45:00.000-08:00

So we are back in busy Vancouver after the retreat. The retreat was... deep. It ended up being a retreat from retreating from dealing with the emotional impact of all that has happened in the last six months. We were both hit pretty hard but it was an important and healthy week. We met some amazing people and were so well cared for by the facilitators. It really was a five star experience.

Here is the main lodge.
Here is the view from our cottage.

Here is what one of the meals looked like (the food was out of this world).

Here is our nanny for the week who was amazing to have with us. Sarah is the best for those of you who don't already know it.

Hadley was a super star the whole week and continues to be now that we are at home. Pardon me for braging... Hadley has slept between 5 and 7.5 hours every night for the past three weeks (or almost half her life - which ever sounds more impressive). Here is a link to some more photos for those interested.

Here is Hadley reminding us that everything is going to be "O.K."

Mark is doing alright. His fatigue that we thought was getting better came back with a vengeance, and so he has been laying low since we returned. We are starting to think about returning to Whitehorse which is both exciting and overwhelming. We have been living in a bit of a bubble - or a lot of a bubble since this whole adventure began. It is going to be an interesting time as we begin to reemerge. If you are expecting anything from us this next while, please be patient... and understanding.

We have some pretty excellent things planned for our remaining time in Vancouver. Mark and I are headed to some short track speed skating this afternoon (if you are looking for us, we will be the ones with an obstructed view in the cheap seats... having a blast). On Thursday we are going to some Neil Young tribute (yes, I love Mark that much). On Friday, Shannon (my sister who tagged off with Sarah as our next helper) and I are going to see ski jumping and cross country skiing. We are also hoping to catch a live taping to Stephen Colbert and have tickets to curling next week. It has been great to be in Vancouver during the Olympics. Shannon and I were wandering around downtown today in a sea of red and white and I am filled with national pride. For every minute we are not out at an event or doctors appointment we will be sitting on our couch watching the Olympics. Go Canada.

In other mega newsworthy events, Mark and I have a new nephew! Mr Hunter Hamilton D'Arcy Callan was born yesterday morning. A giant congratulations to Shawn and Karla. This means a trip to Ontario is certainly in our near future. Hadley now has six cousins to rumble with and a seventh will be coming within a month.

My Parents... and other stuff

2010-02-04T20:46:00.000-08:00

I want to do a quick post of gratitude to my mom and dad extraordinaire. They returned to Ontario yesterday after almost two months of being our cooks, cleaners, errand runners, babysitters, planners and all around support people. It feels like an incredible privilege to have two people ready and willing to give up two months of their lives to help us an any way they could think of. And help us they did. I am not sure how or if we would have been able to make it through the difficult parts of the past while without them. Yet again, thank you is not enough - but thank you. We love you, and so does Hadley.

Grandparenting - a job they do well.

After 'the last supper' on Tuesday night.

We are doing well, letting our recent amazing news settle in. It can be difficult to believe at times, we are both so used to being tense and somewhat anxious, it turns out that doesn't stop overnight. The days leading up to Monday were some of the most difficult we have ever experienced, it will take a bit of time to transition out of that place - but we are getting there. One of the biggest differences I notice is how it used to be so unpleasant when we were doing something normal and we would suddenly remember that we are in Vancouver because Mark has brain cancer. Now, it is an incredible feeling to be carrying along with an everyday task and remember 'oh yeah, there's no tumors anymore'. It brings a happiness and calm that is difficult to describe. That said, it isn't over and while we can truly enjoy this time - I know we will enjoy drinking a bottle of Dom Perignon (thanks Biggar) on February 1, 2012 (our two years clear date) that much more.

Tomorrow Sarah is arriving again to join us on a young adult cancer retreat. She will be coming to give us a hand with Hadley so that Mark and I can participate together in the retreat. We are both really looking forward to getting out of town for a bit and to learn about how we deal with the uncertainty that awaits us in this next phase. Plus the food is supposed to be amazing. We leave on Saturday and get back on Friday, which is opening ceremonies day. We are going to take in some Olympic festivities, have some final doctor's appointments and hope to make our way home in the beginning of March. It will be nice to get a small taste of winter - there are flowers blooming here already.

Hadley continues to be awesome. She is a happy little creature and is easy to please with the exception of the hours of 10pm-12am. We spend an embarrassing amount of time staring at her and making ridiculous faces and sounds in an effort to see a wee smile. Luckily she is giving them out with less discretion these days - she is still stealthy enough that it is difficult to get one on camera. Here is a glimpse.

If you look closely enough, you can see two heads reflected in her eyes - thankfully for us there is no audio accompanying this photo.

A nice father daughter shot.

Finally, I really want to thank everyone for following along and giving us messages of support this past week. Your emails, comments and phone calls make us feel powerful and loved. It is amazing to have you all with us on this. Cheers!

SMASHED!!! for now. . .

2010-02-01T16:48:00.000-08:00

We just got back from our appointment with our oncologist and my MRI showed no remaining signs of disease! It's gone! The words now are still "cautious optimism" as we'll still need regular checkups to see if the cancer comes back for the next few years. But for now, we're all in the clear! We smashed that bugger with all of your help! I can't write much more right now, but thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you for all of your support. We'll keep you posted on any future plans, but for now, it looks like we'll be headed back up to Whitehorse at the end of the month sometime. More Hadley photos and other stories to come. . . . Again - thank you. We couldn't have gotten through this without you.

Much, much love . . .

M&M

T-Minus

2010-01-24T18:51:00.000-08:00

It's a big week for us. On Thursday, I have the MRI that will help the doctors assess how well the radiation treatments worked on the remaining disease. It will be a long weekend of waiting, and then we meet with my oncologist on Monday to get the results. It seems black and white most times, like next Monday they'll tell me either "Great, yer all done, get on with yer life" or "I'm sorry, but there's nothing more we can do". It's not really going to be like that. No matter what the MRI shows, we won't stop fighting this bugger. The best case scenario is that the MRI shows no remaining visible cancer cells, and I get periodic checkups to make sure that it hasn't come back. At one point, doctors told us that these checkups would likely be every three months, and that because of the aggressiveness of this type of lymphoma, that if it hadn't reappeared in two years, I would likely be in the clear. The worst case scenario is that the cancer has grown. We think that this is highly unlikely considering the way that I've been feeling. Even if this is the case, there are more treatment options (although no more major medical interventions that I know of right now) including alternative therapies, traditional medicine, and fly fishing in the Bahamas. My energy level is getting better every day, and Meg and I are doing our best to get more and more exercise. Hadley keeps us on our toes, but all in all, she's a pretty easy little girl. There's almost always a reason for her crying, and fixing that reason usually stops the wailing. Having Grandma and Grandpa McGuire out here for relief sure helps too.
Some days are better than others, but on the whole Meg and I are doing well. Dealing with uncertainty will be a skill we'll need to hone over the next little while, but we help each other out, and of course all of your support helps more than you can know. And then there's Hadley. . . I'll leave you with a couple of samples of how she makes every day brighter, and if you're really interested, you can see more here. Have a great week.
We'll let you know about our results when we do.

2 weeks old

2010-01-10T12:41:00.000-08:00

Hi there. Taking care of a brand new human being takes up a lot of time (somehow), especially if you're the person providing the food, and even more so when dad needs to sleep almost as much as baby. So that's been our story for the last couple of weeks. My family has all gone home, and we think and hope that they got enough quality time with Hadley while they were here. We certainly had some great times together, and it was definitely a Christmas that we'll never forget. Meghan's parents will be here for the next few weeks to help us get through this initial time where my energy levels are low, Hadley's needs are high, and the learning curve is fairly steep. We're thankful for that. We're also thankful to all of you who have sent your well wishes and thoughts and for all of the cute little baby things we've received. We've posted some photos of Hadley and her family online here so as not to overwhelm the blog with parental pride. Peruse at your leisure. Here are a couple of highlights for those of you who don't need to look at 50 photos and videos of someone else's baby:

So we're now in a waiting period in terms of my treatment. We're waiting for an MRI at the end of the month and the results that we'll get from our oncologist on February 1. We'll see what happens there. More on that maybe in the next post. We hope you are all having a great 2010 so far. We're really enjoying Hadley, and are taking her on her first road trip today as we escape the city for Whistler for a couple of days. Thanks again for all of the love sent our way.

M&M

Day 4

2009-12-31T15:59:00.000-08:00

Hadley, Meg and I are doing great. Here's a nice little video from the first hour of our little girl's sweet short life so far. Enjoy. And here's a link to a Whitehorse Star story about Hadley's birth. Happy New Year!

M&M

Holy Crap, We've Got a Baby!

2009-12-28T13:08:00.000-08:00

Be careful everyone, because this:

Can lead to this:

Hadley Beth Callan was born 7 lbs. 14 oz. at 12:50 pm on December 27th, 2009 after 42 hours of labour! Meg started getting contractions about 10 minutes apart just after Christmas dinner, and her water broke at 10:30 pm on Boxing Day. Labour was long, but Mom, Dad, and baby were all healthy and relatively happy throughout. There were no really tough decisions to make or stressful times. Our doula Jacquie Munro was a lifesaver, our nurses Sandra and Hazel were fantastic, and the delivering doctor Dr. Wilson was just perfect for us. We're getting discharged from the hospital today by our own doctor, Dr. Linekin, and will be heading back to our apartment to settle in. Hadley will be surrounded by love with mom and dad, all four grandparents, and Uncle Mike and Auntie Liz taking turns. We can't wait to introduce her to the rest of the family and all of you sometime soon. We picked "Hadley" mostly because we loved the sound of the name. Coincidentally, it was also the name of Ernest Hemingway's first wife. The middle name Beth comes from Meghan's Grandmother - a powerful woman who means a lot to the both of us. Hadley will be wearing a sweater that she knit for the McGuire kids almost 40 years ago home from the hospital. It was a lot of fun to fill Great-Grandpa Jack and Great-Grandma Beth in on the news yesterday - 62 years of marriage and still going strong! Thanks to all of you for all of the good energy sent our way this past little while. It worked! Here's some evidence:

Have a great New Year's, and we'll keep you posted with any news. . .

M&M

Still Got It

2009-12-24T10:46:00.000-08:00

This is what I saw when I woke up this morning.

No action yet, we have now put the requests to the baby on hold and will start back up again on boxing day. We are doing well otherwise, enjoying our time without appointments and with our families. Much Christmas love to you all!

Anticipation

2009-12-20T15:41:00.000-08:00

Sorry Mark and Meghan; could not resist after you posted "Waiting"
See you tomorrow.
All our love
Mom and Dad

Past Due, and Waiting

2009-12-20T11:35:00.000-08:00

No Baby yet, but Meg's doing great. Have a great week. We'll keep you posted. . .

M&M

A big day

2009-12-18T15:08:00.001-08:00

   First off: no baby yet. Today is our official due date, but there is not much sign of him/her wanting to make a move anytime soon. But it could happen in an hour. Or two weeks. Meg is doing great and finished two beautiful baby blankets (one knit and one crocheted) yesterday, so we expect that that might trigger some action. We'll see. All in all, she's a happy, healthy momma.
     We've now crossed back over in terms of energy levels as the radiation has finally caught up to me and fatigue has set in. If feeling tired is the worst of the side effects I'll suffer from these treatments, then I'll happily take it and get some rest. I have my final two treatments today and Monday. Hard to believe. Time has really flown by.
    John and Karen (Meg's parents) arrived a few days ago, and it's been great to see them. They've settled in nicely, and when my parents arrive on Monday, our 7 + 1 Vancouver Christmas family will be complete for a couple of weeks.
    Speaking of my parents, big congrats go out to my Dad today, who after more than 40 years in the Engineering and Transportation Industry, including positions with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, the Toronto Transit Commission, and most recently with McCormick Rankin Corporation, will RETIRE a happy and healthy man. My mom says he's like a little kid just let out of school for summer holidays, and he can't wait to meet his new grandchild. He worked his butt off for his family for all of these years, and somehow still managed to attend incessant hockey games, cottage weekends, and everything else his boys were doing. And kudos to my Mom for managing to work, raise the kids, AND put up with him all this time! He'll spend his retirement watching the blue herons on the dock at Sturgeon Lake, fishing, and visiting with his growing family.

Nice Fish Dad!

So we'll let you know when this thing gets borned. Until then, enjoy the holiday season, and the people you've gathered around you. We'll be doing the same.

Oi.

2009-12-13T22:04:00.000-08:00

My hair fell out all at once! So I shaved it all off. Now I look like an English soccer hooligan that has escaped from prison. It's kind of awesome. No baby yet.

Oi! Cancer! F*%# Off!

Sunday, December 13th

2009-12-13T06:17:00.000-08:00

Hello People
It's me, the less poetic writer Meghan. We are keeping well here. Mark is now 14/20ths through his treatments (or 7/10ths if any of my grade school teachers are reading). He is having some random side effects, likely more residual chemo stuff than from radiation but nothing big or significant enough to keep him down. He continues to keep his head down as he soldiers through this phase. I keep saying that in some strange way it is like Mark has been preparing for this for a long time. He is really good at living and dealing with all things cancer. This may be apparent when you read the blog but trust me, it is even better when you are sitting next to him. It plays to his strengths in a way that is difficult to describe and adds a huge amount of confidence for both of us and it sounds like it does for many of you too.

Mike (Mark's bro) is now here for the next month to fill in all gaps. It is a real comfort for both Mark and I having him here. He has been reading ferociously on how babies are born and what exactly 'uncle-ing' is. We have a doula and the way we have worked it out is that it is her job to know how to help with having a baby, Mark's job to support me and Mike's job to support Mark. What that job will look like is anyone's guess - certainly having a large box of kleenex on hand will be an important part. What a crazy time. My folks arrive on Monday and Mark's parents in a week following. The baby arrives sometime between today and three weeks from now. Get your guesses in (any dates that end in 2010 are not welcome, thanks).

Last weekend we had a date night out that was really amazing. We were treated like royalty at a really nice restaurant, made pigs of ourselves and headed to a Christmas concert in a beautiful theater downtown. Here is a snap from our last date as a unit of 2.

Yes, sadly, those cocktails are virgin

We are spending our days enjoying Vancouver, food, our apartment and one another. It has been a pretty nice time for us really. We joke about how we are living like retired folks, to bed early, up early, hot cereal for breakfast, catch the news before bed, try to get in a walk every day, knitting, reading, napping - it's not a bad life at all.

So, have a great Sunday everyone, we are doing our Christmas decorating, and then when that 10 minute activity is finished we will go for a long walk and then out to dinner tonight.

We had a nice visit with our friend Chris Higgins and while out for a walk we came across this eagle on top of a totem pole right in the city. It really felt like a powerful moment for both Mark and I. Couldn't help but feel we are being watched over, you know? Also, the zoom on our camera leaves a little (ahem, a lot) to be desired.

10,000 Thank Yous

2009-12-08T18:06:00.000-08:00

Meghan and I are still vibrating from the energy that was emanating from the Canadian Corps Legion Hall in Toronto on Saturday night. Unbelieveable. About 250 people showed up to show their support for us and our families and let cancer know in no uncertain terms that it's not welcome here, there, or anywhere else. While we weren't able to be there ourselves, we got some vivid descriptions and photos that have helped us picture it.

Some of the crowd

The 1970s style 2-floor venue was perfect, complete with QEII portraits, hooked rugs and some straggler legionnaires. Stu Henderson, Dave Marshall, and Ian and Simone of $100 thoroughly entertained the crowd with their mix of Neil Young covers, and Canadian rock, folk and country originals. The wood-paneled building was populated by people from every page of Meg and my histories as individuals and a couple, as well as by those who were there just to support the cause.

Dave and Stu setting up

Ian and Simone entertaining the crowd

A staggering amount of money was raised through donated silent auction items, t-shirt sales, and cover charges. These contributions will allow us to navigate this uncertain time with peace and security, and words can't express the overwhelming gratitude that we feel. It is earth-shakingly humbling. We feel so lucky to be able to focus almost exclusively on my healing and the development of our brand new family for the next little while. We also hope that stability comes soon, and look forward to the opportunity to reciprocate some of the compassionate kindess that has been shown to us back to the community at large. We're not sure what that will look like yet, but we will be sure to keep you all posted as it develops.

A sample of some of the generously donated auction items

    For now, all we can say is thank you, thank you, thank you. Over the past few months, the world seems to have revealed itself to us as a place of such beauty. People have truly shown their best, most altruistic sides to us, and it's been an absolutely cathartic experience. There are horrible, scary things that lurk in dark corners some days, but the light from those around us seems to keep them cowering there. And of course, any day now, a brand new brilliance will shine on our world and those dark things won't know what to do with themselves.

     They've been mentioned before, but many thanks need to go to the organizers of the SMASH IT! benefit. The amount of work and effort that people put into this event was truly unbelieveable. My brother Shawn and Brianna's sister Meghan helped with many of the logistics, and huge love goes out to them. The SMASH IT! Website should be updated at some point soon with some photos. There are too many silent auction donators to list here, but the items were unique, creative, and from my understanding, completely sold out by the end of the evening. Special mention should be made of Mitch Newbold, one of Meghan's father's business partners who really rose to the occasion and gathered an incredible bounty of valuable items.

     Of course, any part of this evening would not have been possible without the lovely Katie Ross and Claire Slocombe. Katie and Claire are both friends of ours from years back, and any communication we've had about the event has made it clear that these two poured their hearts and souls into making sure this party was going to be a success. They are two very special women in our lives, and I don't know if or how we'll ever be able to let them know how much this has meant to us.

The lovely Katie and Claire

We wish we could have been there. With all of those worlds colliding, it sounded like some pretty amazing energy was created, and we're still feeling it rippling across the country. Yesterday I had my tenth radiation treatment out of my scheduled twenty - halfway there! My hair started to fall out yesterday, so I think it's back to the closely cropped look for a while, but otherwise, I'm still feeling good. Meg is looking and feeling great, and my brother Mike arrives tomorrow, so we've got a second hand on deck just in case. . .

The next little while should be a buzzing time, and we're so excited for the birth and for our families to arrive. Now let's get through these next couple months, and get home, where the other morning it apparently looked like this:

Now that's motivation. . .

Thanks for your continued support, love, and communication. We'll be in touch again soon. xo Mark and Megs.

Sugar Mountain

2009-12-03T09:33:00.000-08:00

Where to begin? I suppose you won't allow me to apologize for the lag between posts, but I'll do it anyways.Truth be told, I've been feeling so good that we've been out and about enjoying Vancouver, getting ready for the new arrival, and just generally making hay while the sun shines (and the rain pours). Mind you, much of this energy and enthusiasm is a result of a steroid medication that I'm on and currently weaning off of, and side effects from my radiation treatments should start slowing me down a bit soon (more on that later).

At the Capilano Suspension Bridge

Meghan's Aunt Marg was just out here for a great visit, and she got to take advantage of my ravenous appetite and boundless energy by helping us enjoy some of Vancouver's most beautiful walks and most delicious food. She's a special person to us, and it was great to share this time and space with her. We're lucky to have people like her around, and to be going through this in a place where you can walk through gorgeous Old Growth Doug Fir forests in solitude in the afternoon and then enjoy one of the best meals of your life only a few kilometers away later that evening.

Marg and Meghan on the trails in the UBC Endowment lands

Tojo's Sushi. Unbelievable.

Our final night with Marg we got an invitation from the infamous Dr. Joseph Ragaz and his partner Fiona Robertson to attend a great night put on by the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival. It was really nice to spend some social time with these two people who have been such incredible supports for us out here. They've been like family to us, and we can't thank them enough.

Joseph and Fiona

My radiation treatments are going really well. I have appointments every day, but they last a total of six minutes. I get in the room, lie down on the table, and the technicians pin my head down onto the table using the mask, (not as bad as it sounds) making sure that I'm comfortable. They then direct the radiation beam at my head, aligning a series of custom cut lead plates designed to protect areas they don't want to radiate with marks on the mask and lasers in the room. They then leave the room, turn the radiation on for about 20 seconds, re-enter, switch the beam to the other side and switch the lead plates, leave the room again, and give me another 20 second shot of healing energy. That's it. See you tomorrow. The efficiency of the process continues to amaze me. So far, I've had no sign of side effects, and I'm feeling good. My hair should start to fall out sometime next week, and I may experience headaches, nausea, and fatigue, but the treatments affect different people in different ways. It's very likely that I'll experience a high degree of fatigue a few weeks from now (just in time for the baby!)

Meghan is doing great. She had her weekly checkup yesterday, and all is looking good. Our energy levels are on basically opposite trajectories, but it's nice for me to feel like I can take care of her for a little while. She needs rest more, and sometimes can't keep up with my steroid-fuelled, list-motivated pace these days, but we do our best to help eachother out. I can't say enough how she impresses me every day with her strength. We have our fears together and the clouds of uncertainty that are always overhead, and those always need to be recognized, but together, we're able to handle them with honesty, patience, and some degree of peace.

Meg in relax mode - knitting for the baby

Our next few weeks will likely be some of the most exciting, terrifying, busiest, and dramatic of our lives. My brother Mike arrives here in Vancouver on the 9th, Meghan's parents arrive on the 14th, the baby is due on the 18th, and my final radiation treatment coincides with my parents' arrival on the 21st. What a Christmas it will be.

Thanks to all of you for your ongoing kind words and thoughts of support and encouragement. They really mean a lot to us, and will continue to do so over the next little while. Thank you also for reading this blog. It gives us an outlet to talk about what we're going through, and it helps to know that people are listening. As I wean off of this steroid, side effects from my treatments likely settle in, and the end of this stage of active treatment comes to a close, positivity may be more difficult to maintain at such a high level. On the other hand, with the birth of our new baby, the energy around our families being with us at this incredible time, and the feelings that we feel directed at us from across this country, it's just somehow impossible to think that we can fail at this. I suppose I just want to offer reassurance that no matter what comes down the road, and regardless of possible changes in tone, that we'll be doing OK. This vortex of emotions is a complicated thing that doesn't really seem to make sense at any time, but really, it's all just part of going through something like this. And as I've written before, there have been some truly beautiful things that have emerged from this muck.

Like the SMASH IT! Benefit taking place this Saturday, December 5th at the Canadian Corps Legion in Toronto for example. So many people have put so much work into and contributed so much to this event, and it hasn't even taken place yet. Again, a huge thanks to all of the silent auction donators, musicians, and organizers. We will be there in spirit, (and briefly on video), but I wish we could be in that room. Much love to you all. If you're able to make it to Toronto on Saturday, here's a little something to get you primed, and that website again with more information: SMASH IT! Website

On a more technical note, our "recent comments" section seems to have stopped working - but we still always love to hear from you! Hopefully we'll get it fixed soon. . .

And Away We Go

2009-11-24T19:08:00.000-08:00

Radiation. Not baby.

After a series of informative appointments and meetings yesterday, we learned lots more about my upcoming radiation regime, and we're all ready to go. Yesterday I was fitted with a custom plastic mesh mould that will hold my head in precise placement for each treatment so that the radiation can be directed exactly where it needs to go. It looks like something out of Tron. After a CT scan to help plan the treatment, we met with our Radiation Oncologist Dr. Parsons in the afternoon. She explained that I'll be getting 3500 centigrays of Whole Brain Radiation treatments over 20 cycles. The treatments will take place once a day, Monday to Friday, and they were able to schedule me in for my first appointment today. The decision on this treatment plan was made by an entire team of specialists, based on the premise that we want to Smash this thing, that I'm young and healthy with a good brain, and that with all of you and a baby on our side, my system will be able to handle this treatment. So we're going for it.

Meg in the waiting room, handling the paperwork (as usual)

The treatment today was no sweat. The entire thing took about ten minutes, and the radiation was only directed at me for about two minutes (about a minute on each side). The treatment unit, (like just about everything at the BCCA) is very well run and designed, and the technicians and support staff, (like just about everyone at the BCCA) are incredibly courteous, efficient, and friendly. They allowed Meg in the room to watch the setup, explained the whole process, and generally made the whole thing very comfortable. In general, it was a bit of a sci-fi experience, with the air momentarily being filled with an electric blue light and an ozone smell. Maybe there was something in the room with me, and I'll develop some kind of Spidey powers.

"The mask"

"The machine"

I should feel OK for now, and then within a couple of weeks, I'll lose most of my hair, and likely experience nausea, headaches, fatigue etc for a while. The cost of a cure. So off we go. With the current schedule, I should have my final radiation treatment on Monday, December 21st, three days after the baby's due date, four days before Christmas, and the day that my parents arrive. We like things dramatic around here. As I write this, Meg's whipping up a batch of her famous Caribou spaghetti sauce, and all thus feels right with the world. We can't thank all of you enough for your continued thoughts and messages. Let's get this done.

The beautiful wife, the beautiful life, the beautiful strife

2009-11-21T13:53:00.000-08:00

Look at this picture:

This is what my life looks and feels like right now. Sure, there's some resemblance to a Korean movie poster (I made Meg hold the flowers), but I can't help but look at this picture and feel at peace. Meg and I are a month away from the birth of our first child, and we have had the past week or so to really focus on that fact, focus on each other, and soak up the love from across the country.

The recent shift in treatment direction came as a bit of a shock, but really what it is is the next step in the process of beating this disease, and something that we should have prepared ourselves a bit better for. My chemo did a good part of its job, and there is confidence that the radiation should continue the work. We're in very good hands under the care of Medical Oncologist Dr. Laurie Sehn, Neuro-Oncologist Dr. Brian Thiessen, Radiation Oncologist Dr. Christina Parsons, and a team of radiation therapists that is apparently one of the best in the country. I have my first appointment with the radiation team on Monday morning. I'll be fitted with a mask that will help keep my head in exactly the same place for each treatment, I'll have a series of scans to help plan exactly where and how the treatments will be directed, and we'll have any questions answered about the upcoming weeks. It was originally mentioned that I'd likely get anywhere from 10 - 15 treatments which involve one hour daily appointments and no overnight hospital stays. It sounds like my first actual radiation treatment will be on Thursday. I'll be undergoing what they call Whole Brain Radiation. With the diffuse nature if Primary CNS Lymphoma, this whole brain technique has the best chance of taking care of all of the nasty cells.

     Short term side effects should include some fatigue, nausea, headache, etc, but apparently most people handle it OK. Real fatigue should set in about 2-4 weeks from my first treatment, and should make caring for a newborn an interesting challenge. Long term side effects (10+ years from now) could include some detriment on concentration, etc, but we've been told that age and health are really on our side, and that maintaining good vascular health will help keep me sharp as a whip.

     We're ready for this. Like I said earlier, we've had the past week or so to really focus on each other, and it's been a nice time to realize what we have, and what we have coming to us. Really, it's made us realize that this is just what life is. People go through things every day all across the world, we're going through something now, and that's what life is. We're lucky enough to be surrounded by such a shell of love and support and to have this blossom of hope that squirms under my hand at night and reminds me that life is still beautiful.

We're now really preparing our lives for the arrival of the baby, and for visitors (and helpers) at Christmastime. Timing wise, it all works out quite well. Meg's amazing Aunt Marg arrives on Thursday and will be around until the 2nd which will be great while we adjust to treatment. We'll then have another week or so on our own, and my brother Mike plans on arriving in Vancouver sometime around the 11th. Meg's parents show up a few days later, the baby's due on the 18th, I should finish my radiation at almost exactly that time, and then my parents arrive on the 21st. The amount of positive energy in the air should be electric.

Furthermore to all of this, we've learned of a SMASH IT! fundraiser taking place at a Legion Hall in downtown Toronto on December 5. You can find more information about that here. I wish we could be there too. The music should be fantastic, it sounds like there are some great silent auction items, and who doesn't like a Legion Hall? Huge, huge thanks to all organizers of this event, particularly Claire Slocombe, Katie Ross, my brother Shawn, and Meg's sister Brianna. Additional thanks to musical talents Dave Marshall, Stu Henderson, and the One Hundred Dollars Duet, Ian Russell and Simone Schmidt. You can find links to all of their music on the fundraiser webpage.

Meg is doing amazingly well. She's the strongest, most amazing woman I've ever encountered. We both have low energy levels and limitations on our capacities to deal with the complexities of life in Vancouver sometimes, but usually all it takes is a quick glance at eachother to know that everything's going to be OK.

So that's it for now. We really appreciate the continued contact and support. We're constantly overwhelmed by the feeling that at all times, somewhere, people have our backs. We can't tell you how valuable that is. Take care of eachother, and know that we are doing the same.

Settling In

2009-11-15T16:26:00.000-08:00

It is a grey, wet, rainy Vancouver day today. I think this is just what November looks like here, people from Vancouver seem to carry on their way as per usual. I find the rain miserable and would take snow over this any day. We are doing alright. Taking this last step in stride, doing everything we can to make the news settle in a comfortable spot within us. It is coming. Certainly the last ten days have shaken us but we are still us and so we know we can deal with it and make the best of it. Speaking of making the best of it, one fantastic part about changing from chemo to radiation is no more time in the hospital. We have been eating out a lot, going for walks and checking out parts of Vancouver that we haven't seen yet. On the whole Mark is feeling really good, and his appetite has returned to heroic form (cheers steroids) which makes meal time much more enjoyable for everyone.

We are starting to realize that we are actually going to have a baby and we are getting more prepared for that. There's even a cradle in our room - how strange is that? We are pretty pumped about it, but there are times when all we can do is laugh about the amount of unknowns and question marks floating around in the very near future. It's funny, right? Laughing is the only thing to do, right?

There's room for a baby in there somewhere

We have made progress on getting what we need to comprehend and deal with the next step. We have a new oncologist whom Mark and I are both really excited about, our counsellor at the BCCA has remained a huge support and advocate for us, we are connected with a radiologist who is known to be very skilled and at the top of the game, and then of course there is Dr. Joseph who is like a guardian angel for us. Having an oncologist, with 30 years experience, call you at home at 10 in the evening just to make sure you are feeling o.k., and then inviting you to his house for tea and a meeting to make sure any questions or worries are settled sure makes us feel incredibly lucky and well looked after. Did I mention the furnished comfortable apartment we are renting belongs to Dr. Joseph and his lovely wife Fiona too? Amazing. We will be getting more details on the radiation and the schedule for the upcoming weeks on Monday or Tuesday this week. We will keep you posted.

My best bud Sarah has been here with us for the past week and while challenging for her I am sure, it has been a real treat for both Mark and I to have her with us. She is laid back, open and compassionate and is super easy for both of us to be around. Plus as I type right now, she is making us an apple pie.

If baking cures cancer (which I suspect it might) then we are miles ahead after Sarah's visit.

Finally, this week has been filled with many emails and posts of support and encouragement and it has boosted us in a way that can't be described. It is amazing to feel that web of support and it is growing to places we did not know. We have heard from old friends, friends of friends and friends of relatives and we are genuinely touched that people are following our story and let us know they are thinking of us. Thank you.

Yay friends (and family too).

A left turn. . .

2009-11-11T12:21:00.000-08:00

Well it's been quite a week. Our visit to Whitehorse wasn't quite as expected. We arrived home on Tuesday night, and on Wednesday morning, I had some symptoms that put me in the hospital until Friday afternoon. We flew back to Vancouver on Saturday. Since our arrival back here, our world has once again been turned upside down. I had a contrast dye MRI on Monday that doctors were hoping to use to monitor the progress of my treatment. We checked back into the BCCA for my sixth round of treatment yesterday (Tuesday), and after much waiting, miscommunications from doctors, and confusion, we learned that based on my latest MRI, the oncologists have decided to switch tacks and my treatment focus. The latest scan shows that the major tumour that was operated on in August has in fact now grown in size and is proving to be resistant to the Methotrexate Chemotherapy. As far as they can tell, the rest of my lesions/tumours have disappeared, and have most likely entirely succumbed to the chemo. That is not to say that there may not be a few lymphoma cells remaining scattered throughout my brain.
The next step, then, involves stopping my chemo regime entirely, and starting intensive low-dose radiation therapy focusing on my entire brain, with the goal of killing of the rest of the largest lesion and any other remaining cells. The best case scenario is that this treatment will start soon, last a short time (likely 5 short appointments a week for 2-3 weeks), cure the cancer forever, leave me feeling relatively OK, and include no long-term side-effects. There are probabilities of all of these good things happening, but again, based on my age, general health, and basic differences from most CNS lymphoma patients, it's hard to make any predictions on what those probabilities are. Lymphoma apparently generally reacts well to radiotherapy, but of course because of the nature and location of the disease in my body, there are also distinct possibilities that A) the disease could resurface within the next 2 years, and B) that radiating my brain could cause long-term side effects such as concentration/memory problems, etc (these would likely show up in the next 2 years also).
All this is not good news, but really, probably the reality that we've been avoiding mentally for some time. The fact is that this disease will be with us for some time, and we just need to keep our chins up and keep fighting. It's a bit tough for us right now because we don't really have a life to hold on to: our move back to Whitehorse was sort of a new beginning, but at the moment, we're in a bit of limbo. Our lives are scattered from the Yukon to BC to Ontario, and it sort of feels like we've got nowhere to really call home at the moment. The only place that does feel that way right now exists within all of you. It's been so great to keep hearing from all of you so continuously, and if I could make one request, it's that you take a brief minute to let us know that you're still helping us smash through this mess. It's amazing the power that we feel from a quick blog comment or email. All those hands around us sure make us feel strong. Another source of strength is the continued growth of the newest member of team Smash, and Meg and the baby are holding up really well. We're starting to make more concrete plans in terms of the baby's arrival, and we've got several appointments over the next few weeks to help us prepare for that exciting time.
Our next few days will help us set our sights on the next turn in this road. We've got a Young Adults Cancer Network group support meeting tonight, an appointment with our counsellor at the BCCA on Thursday, and a meeting with Dr. Joseph Ragaz, our oncologist/guardian angel on Friday. The planning for my radiation therapy should be complete by next week, and we should know a lot more about what that will look like soon. We'll keep you posted.
Finally, we've also recently learned about a benefit/fundraiser being put on in Toronto by family and old friends on December 5. If you're at all interested, you can check out the event website at http://www.moderncommunications.ca/smashatoa/. It should be a night of great music, good times, t-shirt sales, silent auction items, and plenty of smashy vibes. We hope everyone is doing well. We're still going to beat this thing. It's just going to take a couple of days to shift gears mentally and get ready for the next stage. We'll see you down the road.

Some sense of home: A walk by the Yukon River

Dearest Carl - we miss you buddy

'Horseward Bound

2009-11-03T09:20:00.000-08:00

Looks like both Meg and I were up in the night, but at different times. So you get a double post today:

A brief update - round five is now history as we were discharged yesterday afternoon. A tougher round than some, but we got through it alright. Vancouver apparently loves its fireworks on halloween, and we got a great view from the rooftop patio at night. We're headed to Whitehorse today for a last visit while doctors will still let Meg fly. We now have a cradle in our apartment, and it's mind-boggling to think that before the year is out, we'll have brand new person in our lives who will occupy that now-quiet, now-empty space. Meg is doing great, and her energy and strength amaze me every day. Our visit home will be brief, and we plan on laying low for most of it. We'd like to spend some time at our house, take the dog for a few walks, and recoup after this past week. Winter has apparently now hit Whitehorse with temperatures in the minus double digits and a good foot of snow already on the ground. It will be nice to get a bit of winter in before returning here to balmy, wet Vancouver.
Treatment goes on as treatments will. Our oncologist, who was due to have a baby about two weeks before Meg, decided to welcome her new son a little early, so we're now in a bit of limbo waiting to be reassigned to someone else. Again, my care is based on a team approach, so this bit of news shouldn't significantly affect how things proceed from here on in, but it's still a change that we'll have to get used to. I'm scheduled for another MRI in about a week, and that one should let us know quite clearly how things are going. My brother Shawn was here for all of last week, and like the rest of our visitors, was a big help fetching food, and keeping us entertained.
I've been trying to catch up on some emails over the past couple of days, and my apologies if I haven't gotten to you yet. Some days are easier than others. OK - thanks for keeping in touch, and for your continued support.

Round five - check

2009-11-03T07:46:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone
Just a quickie to let you know that round five is now complete. Not the best one, not the worst either. Fairly un-noteworthy which I'll take at this point. Mark started feeling better on Friday night and we spent the weekend reading, watching movies and waiting for the green light to head home on Monday. This morning we are headed to our real home (Whitehorse) where a fresh foot of snow awaits us. The plan is to have no plans and to do our best to rest as much as possible.
We will be 'off-line' up there, but will post a full update once we return on Saturday. ** For those wondering but too embarrassed to ask, the Yukon is certainly 'on-line', we just don't have internet at our house right now. So have a nice week and we promise to do the same!
Since I like blogs with pictures, I thought I would post these oldies but goodies.

One of Mark's favourites.

One of my favourites.

The Triple Threat

2009-10-29T09:41:00.000-07:00

For those thinking about it, Mark and I are all H1N1 juiced up. We have been told being pregnant, immuno compromized or living in Vancouver puts you at the highest risk. We score points in every category! I was half expecting someone to show up at our place on Monday morning to poke us. Never happened. In the end Mark had his shots on Monday and I had mine yesterday, as long as we avoid the germs for the next week to ten days we will be in the clear. Since this started, I've never washed my hands so much in my life so I am not too worried.
Mark is doing alright this round, tough start but he seems to be coming around. He has discovered that sleeping through the more miserable days is the best strategy, and he is very committed to that. He slept about 16-18 hours on Tuesday and Wednesday. I'm bored, but agree it is the best way to avoid the bad parts.
We are hoping to get home to Whitehorse next week. It will be great to have a taste of winter, see the animals and take part in some R&R Yukon style. Not too much news to report, just enjoyed our best week off from treatment and we're feeling good.
I am short of photos so will include this image Mark's brother Shawn (who is visiting right now) sent us.

That's me on the right!

More good news

2009-10-25T22:09:00.000-07:00

Where to begin? The past two weeks has seen us soaring back to great heights. Meg's last update filled you in on the new member of our team, Finley, and in addition to this great event, we also got a few other pieces of good news. Firstly, I've been feeling great since my last treatment. Our time in hospital was much easier for round four. Some anti-nausea medication helped me eat a lot better, and since getting out, my appetite has returned to pre-treatment levels. While still in hospital, I got a call from the coordinator of the Natural Resources Law Enforcement college program I took last year at Fleming College in Ontario. His name is Mark, and he let me know that this year's class had organized a fundraising "Smash It" pub in honour of Meg and I. I don't know if most of you remember what it was like to be in college or university, but I do, and the amount of money they raised was especially impressive considering the usually minor amount of wiggle room in the average student's budget. A silent auction and the sale of "Smash it" T-shirts helped raise the funds. Cheers.

NRLE Pub at Fleming College

Our doctor provided us with some information during the last treatment that we took with cautious optimism. My latest MRI shows that all of my smaller tumours are now "Unmeasurable". The chemo seems to be doing its job. The larger tumour that was operated on when this all began now measures at 1.2 cm. Without a comparable MRI to compare this latest one to, it's hard to say what exactly is happening to this tumour, but we're hoping that it's going the way of the others. My next MRI is scheduled for November 9th, and we'll be able to compare the images to my most recent scan. Keep your fingers crossed for us.

Another piece of great news that we received last week came from up North. I got a call from the Yukon Department of Environment offering me a Conservation Officer position based out of Whitehorse. I interviewed for this position when we were back home a few weeks ago. It's a term position that will last seven months, and they'd like me to start sometime in the new year, whenever my treatments are finished and I feel ready to go back to work. This is a job that I've been working towards for the last few years, and I feel extremely lucky and grateful that it's worked out the way it has. I'll need to see all of your fishing licenses please.

The past week has been a great balance of activity and rest. After getting out of hospital, we settled back into the apartment for a couple of days before picking up our friend Shawn from the airport and heading out to do some fishing on the beautiful Vedder River, about an hour from Vancouver. It felt amazingly good to walk on some uneven ground, get a little wet, and focus on something as simple as a foam float for the day. No salmon were to be had, and rain blew out the river making it unfishable on our second day, but getting out of town, good company, and our second dose of real fall made it a trip to remember. Meg and I said goodbye to Shawn on Friday, and I got the chance to watch the Leafs and Canucks play here in Vancouver with an old friend of my brother's on Saturday. Who knew that Vancouverites hated Toronto so much?

Shawn in pursuit of Coho

Meg's eye on her float

Nice legs, buddy. . .

Maybe it's the rain. Our day today was spent watching it teem down outside our apartment, catching up on some sleep, and getting back in touch with family and friends (we're doing our best!). My brother Shawn arrives on Monday and will be here to help us out during treatment number five. Thank goodness for family and friends. Our hope is to make one last visit to Whitehorse next week before Meg's pregnancy hits the magic 36-week-no-fly mark. Then it's the homestretch for both of us. Both Meg and the baby are doing great. The little one keeps kicking it's morse code messages of love. I'm halfway there folks - thanks for all of your continued support.

Add one more to the list of supporters

2009-10-21T10:06:00.001-07:00

It has been a great week around these parts. We have had a lot of cause for celebration which we sure like to do. Firstly my sister Brianna gave birth to the third in her brood - a 9 pound baby boy named Finley Markus (the Markus part comes from his two uncle Marks - one of which you are all acquainted with). Here he is . . .

Finley Markus Holt

I am hoping to best Brianna's time of 4 hours birth start to finish. Is that naive? Also, doesn't he look a bit like a Doozer from Fraggle Rock? Mark and I are pretty proud Aunts and Uncles and to prove this, we thought we might show you some photos of the four other nieces and nephews we have. I know this may not be what you come here for but please indulge me - some Mark news is to follow.

Callum Holt (on his first day of school this fall)

Maren Holt (she's 2.5 years old and full of spunk)

Avery Adkins (she's 3.75 years old, bright and fun)

McKinley Adkins (he's almost 2, he's fun and tough and will bite you if you are not careful)

The four of them

Now, back to life in Vancouver. We were discharged from hospital on Monday following the week in / week out routine. Round four of chemo was much, much better then the previous round which I was more than excited about. We were bracing ourselves for the cumulative effect of chemo because that seemed to be the track we were on, each round much worse than the last. This pattern changed drastically in round four where Mark had one bad day and the rest were alright. He even ate food! Seamus (our latest man-servant/guest) was great at cooking for us and bringing us any and everything we needed and wanted. We noticed Mark is tending towards the bland, beige foods, some of his favourites were Finnish pancakes (hi Lakehead folks), perogies, and chicken soup. We were able to do walks everyday and his nausea and fatigue while present were not non-stop. Since being out of the hospital we have been out and about in Vancouver - even going to a movie last night.

Our good friend Shawn is on his way here from Dawson City today to take Mark fishing this week to some 'secret BC fishing holes'. I may join in too, but it will be weather, fishing wader, and fishing rod dependent. Either way, a trip out of town will be fantastic and good for the mind and body. That's all I've got for now. Hope everyone is well, thanks for checking in and keeping in touch.

My brother Seamus and our friends' (Dave and Jenn) little girl Sadie

Round 4

2009-10-16T14:21:00.002-07:00

Seamus here, long time reader, first time blogger. I have flown in from the UK to give Mark and Meghan a hand during chemo round four. I arrived just in time for Thanksgiving and luckily Mark had turned a corner on the day of my arrival, feeling much better after a tough round three. We had a nice Thanksgiving dinner but I'm not too sure about "Thanksgiving", I could think of a few other terms but this is a family blog so I won't mention them.

After a couple of nice days together seeing some of the Vancouver sites round four started proper on this Tuesday. Mark got off to a slow start as he didn't feel too well on the second day but with the help of some anti-nauseous pills the last couple of days have been pretty good. I think the work on his jab and weave after round three has helped with round four as well. We're hoping Mark will be discharged on Sunday in good time for his friend Shawn's visit on Wednesday. Mark and Shawn plan on doing some fishing
near Vancouver between rounds and I wouldn't be surprised if Meghan joined them at some point as well.

It is relieving to see that Mark and Meg are well looked after here Vancouver. The facilities and care are excellent and they have a great apartment close to the cancer agency that is incredibly convenient. It is a lousy situation but at least they have an excellent setup at the BCCA and easy access to most everything they need.

Keep Smashing!

Seamus

Thanksgiving Dinner

Commence Smashing.
Biohazard Mark!

Things to be thankful for. . .

2009-10-11T11:10:00.000-07:00

#1 Our trip to Whitehorse.

Going home for a week was a well needed boost for mind, body, and soul. We managed to hit my favourite week of the year while we were there. Fall lasts about three weeks in the Yukon, and we were there for its very peak. Light seemed to shine from inside the aspen leaves and the air seemed full of health itself. It was a busy week, with a full day of job interviews, a three day trip into the bush and an overnighter in hospital for me, and a week full of house organization, visiting, and nursing for Meg. The job interviews were challenging, but a nice way to concentrate on the future. My hunting trip with friends Shawn, Pete, and Simon was a return to normalcy that was really the highlight of my last couple of months: we got to watch a young girzzly defending a gutpile, saw a trophy elk, and got to really breathe in the essence of a place that I was wondering when I would see next. The boys treated me (necessarily) like the old man at camp, basically putting a blanket and a rifle across my knees and fighting with eachother to help me out as much as they could. No moose was to be had, but was that really the point this time around? We spent three days at Mayo Lake in Northern Yukon at Shawn's trapping cabin, and I felt more at home than I have in months. My final night on the Lake, Shawn treated me to a "bush hot tub". With the waves pounding on the beach below, Shawn built a hot fire under an elevated cast iron tub that he keeps for the purpose. I spent a good hour sipping a "near beer" under a dark sky, soaking in the health of the previous days. Getting back to Whitehorse was a bit of a shock back to reality, since my Vancouver oncologist had contacted Meg asking us to get to the hospital for some intravenous hydration. My second round of chemo was for some reason pretty hard on my kidneys, and keeping well hydrated has become essential to my recovery from the treatments. After an overnight stay in hospital receiving saline solution, I got to spend our final day in Whitehorse at home, visiting briefly with some friends, and getting ready for our return to Vancouver. As our plane took off from the Whitehorse airport, and the sun hit the aspens one last time, it became clear that we weren't yet finished on the road that's been laid out before us. We hope to go back for another visit in early November, shortly before doctors won't allow Meg (at 8 months pregnant then) to fly.

Simon listening for the elusive beast. . .

Mayo Lake on a still day

The boys glassing a hillside

The cabin

The Yukon hot tub (the plywood protects yer butt from the heat!)

#2 The return of my appetite.

I'm not going to lie to you here. My last two rounds of chemo have been rough compared to my first one, and unfortunately, seem to be getting progressively so. We're hoping to prove that trend wrong this coming Tuesday. As Meg mentioned in her last post, eating and drinking became somewhat of a chore during round three, and it was hard for her and my parents to watch me turn my head away from bowl after plate after mug of food and drink. We got through it OK, and my appetite is now back. Today is my first day of feeling relatively OK since treatment, and although we were considering a trip to Victoria to visit friends for Thanksgiving, in the end, we decided a restful weekend here in Vancouver might be a better idea. My parents were here for about a week, and it was good for them to see what my treatments look like, despite the appetite struggles and some general malaise on my part.

#3 Our support system.

It seems we are never alone here on this road. My parents took over from Meg's last week, and were a great help to Meg and I while we stayed at the BCCA. It's always great to have people around who want to do whatever they can to make things easier. Our trip to Whitehorse also reminded us of the work that all of our friends and neighbours are doing up there for us, and we continue to receive love and support from our world in the form of emails, blog comments, cards, and packages every day. We also continue to feel your thoughts and prayers, good vibes, and of course, that kicking baby. Meg's brother Seamus is the latest supporter to make the journey here (all the way from the UK), and he'll be spending the week with us here while I undergo my fourth cycle of treatment.

My parents on a day out

#4 Shrinking tumours.

It looks like my treatments are working - it's difficult to say how well until we get the results from my most recent and detailed MRI which happened on Friday - but it looks like the Methotrexate is doing a good smashy job. Some tumours appear to have disappeared, others are getting smaller, and some look like they've stayed relatively stable. We'll get to those in the next few rounds (tell your friends, tumours. . .)

#5 A healthy, loving wife and baby.

The doctor says Meg's pregnancy is "textbook". All measurements and tests are about as normal as they can be, and Meg is feeling great. The baby is moving around like crazy, and I get to feel little kicks and punches and waves hello every day. For both of us, the realization came this week that Meg will at some point relatively soon become pretty uncomfortable. The focus has been so squarely on me for the past little while that sometimes we forget that we will soon become a pair of patients. Christmas should be interesting. Until then though, I can't say enough how well Meg has taken care of me. It can't be easy watching someone you love in this situation, but like with most things, Meg has handled this with grace, humour, and beautiful strength. She makes me meals, keeps track of my medications, stands up to my doctors, wrangles guests, takes care of "real world" business, schedules appointments, makes sure that I get out and exercise, and does it all with glowing love, uncharacertistic patience, and a crackling wit that still never lets me take myself too seriously. I'm a lucky man.

She treats me right. . .

All in all, we've settled into some kind of treatment routine: one week in, one week out, with some appointments scattered throughout. As I've said, I seem to be feeling a bit worse as time goes on, but here's hoping that that plateaus sometime soon. We hope everyone enjoys their Thanksgivings wherever they may be, and know that we'll be thinking of you here in (still balmy) Vancouver. Love the people you're with.

The Vicious Cycle

2009-10-04T10:33:00.000-07:00

Some of the deliciousness awaiting Mark, I only give them
to one at a time in hopes they will seem more appetizing.

So, when you feel so poorly, that eating and drinking is a big struggle and at times impossible... but you know that you need to eat and drink to feel better - what do you do? Also, when you are the wife of someone who has basically stopped consuming, and you know consuming is super important for healing - how do you push enough to encourage, but not so much that you are a nag?
These are the questions we are struggling with on round 3 of Chemo. Who would have ever thought that watching Mark eat 10 grapes would be cause for celebration? Since for 8.5 years before now he has finished the food off of my plate before heading to the kitchen for thirds, certainly not I.
So far we have tried water, carbonated water, water with lemon, a variety of teas, smoothies, ginger ale, and homemade energy drinks. For snacks: arrowroots, oats, applesauce, fruits, yogurt, soups, noodles, toast, crackers, and more I am sure. If anyone has any other magic suggestions - please send them my way.
This round has carried out much the same as the last as far as levels and kidney functioning goes. It has looked a bit different because Mark is sleeping a lot more and is struggling with food and beverage intake so much. This is all very reasonable and not too concerning to the doctors and nurses who have seen it so many times before. It sounds like his appetite will come back to him at some time between treatments - but it gets a bit tricky now that we are basically one week in hospital, one week out.
Mark had a CT scan and a MRI this week and both had good results. They were not able to use contrast dye for either test because of Mark's kidney levels, and the "before" tests they are comparing the results with did use dye, so it is a bit tricky. Our oncologist let us know the tumours are shrinking and she liked what she was seeing in the scans. She wants to do one more MRI when Mark is better able to take the dye (apologies to those of you who have had to wait 6 months to get your knees MRIed, 3 in a month hardly seems fair - also, thanks for paying your taxes everyone, I've never loved Canada so much).
Basically things are going as they should be and we haven't really had any unpleasant suprises. We have learned that this is what we are hoping for. Overall, it feels like things are going pretty well. We have a very thorough doctor (a self-described "obsessive compulsive"), Mark is not experiencing anything that is unreasonable under the circumstances, I am sleeping and eating well and am back to knitting, which means we have returned to some level of normalcy. Our moods are good, although there is admittedly a bit of a drop off of cheeriness towards the end of our time in hospital. We try to keep the "why don't you try this?", "why don't you back off?" dialogue light and that works (for the most part). The thing is, our good life is worth putting up with all of this bad stuff anyhow, and it is pretty easy to keep that perspective.

Since I am short of photos right now, I thought I would show what it is like where we are at.

Here's the view from the balcony and some of the rooms here. Vancouver is amazing.

This is the balcony that our room looks out on, it's large and handy to have.

Here is the family room which is also great to have access to. It has been all cleared out as part of preparations for H1N1, a bit of a sad reminder of the flu season ahead.

This is what freedom from fear looks like. . .

2009-09-30T19:41:00.000-07:00

We're Back

2009-09-29T18:34:00.000-07:00

After an all too brief side trip to Whitehorse, we are back at the BC Cancer Agency getting all chemoed up again. The blog laid dormant for a while (or benign as we refer to things nowadays) because we were without internet and too busy enjoying the fall to be typing anyhow. Mark was able to escape to the bush for a few days which was likely more healing than any of the tablets and liquids he is taking here. Sounds like a good time was had by Mark and his three male nurses/hunting partners, I will let him write his own update on that. (Fear not, the moose survived).

Medically, things have been plugging along. I think I mentioned that Mark's kidneys were having a difficult time last round and that continues to be a factor. He had his levels tested up in Whitehorse and they still hadn't dropped they way they were 'supposed to' - in fact they went up quite a bit. He stayed overnight at the Whitehorse hospital for one night to get some more hydration in him. When his levels were tested this morning they were still not as low as they were at the start of last treatment. This means they adjust the dose of the chemotherapy accordingly. Sounds like it is not too major a change - 10% if that means anything to any of you.
Also, Mark had a CT scan yesterday to check in on the progress of his tumours. Again, because of the kidneys they were not able to use the contrast dye which gives a much clearer picture. Our doctor said the scans showed one lesion was gone one had shrunk a bit and one looked about the same. There are more then three in there, so obviously this is not a full report. She said the images were not great and so she ordered an MRI to get a better idea of what is going on inside that pretty little head. In a flury of excitement, there was a time slot immediatley available this afternoon. Mark was in the hospital gown and ready to go in no time... and then the test was cancelled because it would interfere with his chemo schedule. Both fortunately and unfortunately, this news did not come before he had slipped the Ativan under his tounge to help him relax during the MRI (which was eloquently described by one of Mark's good friends - hi Neil - as being locked in a small chamber with a bunch of toddlers with pots and pans). So Mark is currently enjoying some mini impairment which has been missing in his life this past six weeks. Not quite as good as a few cold pints, but he takes what he can gets, and sure seems pretty happy right now.

I had a good time in Whitehorse. It was a bit tough emotionally to be back so temporarily, but worth it. The cat couldn't care less about my being there, she is normal like that. Carl on the other hand was more than excited. In a weird 'my dog is a human' kind of way, I kind of think he gets it. He was sweet and lovely and super excited every time we came home, and he didn't become his usual stressed self when were were packing to leave again. I think it helps that he is being very well taken care of at Deb and Pete's and that he has become pretty accustomed to big changes.

The Sandiford/Higgins gang in all their Smash It glory.

When we returned we were greeted at the airport by Mark's parents (sporting some fashionable SMASH IT t-shirts) and ... my dad. My folks ended up staying down in Vancouver until yesterday on a bit of a mini holiday/recovery from working so hard getting our life organized down here. Thought I would include a photo of our previously empty freezer, post 'mom was here'.

Not too sure if you can make this out - this is what Ma has stored in the freezer.

It's three layers deep - and I haven't even had the baby yet.

Mark's folks will be here for the next ten days which is great. How lucky we are to have such great family - and friends.
That's all I got for now, Mark had the camera with him, so I didn't get too many photos in Whitehorse. Thought I would throw in this picture I took when we were here last. We found it on Mark's bedside table after one of our exercise circuts and it made me laugh.

Have a great day everyone - stay tuned!

My First Attempt at blogging

2009-09-20T10:14:00.000-07:00

Hi Blog Readers - here is entry 1 from Meghan.
Things are progressing slowly but surely around here these days. Round two of chemo has proven to be a bit more challenging than round one. The doctors are working diligently to try to figure out what is going on - it seems Mark's kidneys are much less happy this go around than last. It sounds like it could be a one off, and that we 'should not necessarily expect this the next time'. Our oncologist is not taking any chances on anything and has been really great about sending in specialists and double and triple checking everything. There was even talk of a midnight email from her to the nursing staff. It needs to be said once again, that the care we are receiving has been amazing. It feels pretty lucky to have Mark's health be our main concern, not the competency or thoroughness of our medical team.

"the cocktail" choking all of these down several times a day can be challenging.

Mark is doing pretty well. His perspective and attitude impresses me everyday. He has been feeling a bit rough this week, it is actually the first time he has felt 'sick' since this adventure began. He is feeling better today, and is back to making fun of me which brings comfort and normalcy. Rest assured I continue to harass him every chance I get.
I have been doing my best at poking and prodding Mark to make sure he is eating and exercising a lot. We have a great work out program we have designed where I push his IV pole so we can get some pace going and walk in circles on the balcony like lunatics doing arm and leg exercises. We also stop to stretch regularly. Here's a photo courtesy of my mom.

We are going faster than it looks here - I swear

My folks have been here for the past week and have been a great help. They have been cooking and cleaning like mad. My dad even did a full english breakfast and brought it to Mark yesterday morning.

The Full English

Note the blood pudding, not recommended in every cancer cookbook one reads.
I am doing well, I have a great appetite and am sleeping like the baby growing inside of me. My belly is protruding nicely, it is a pleasant advancement to have strangers now comfortably commenting on my being pregnant, rather than looking with uncertainty as was the case a short two weeks ago. The "I don't think she is just fat" face is a very specific look I gratefully haven't encountered before this.

"Oh my - doesn't her hand look big"

In a perfect world, we would have left the hospital on Friday and headed up to Whitehorse on Sunday. Because Mark's levels are not dropping on the curve they need to be, we are staying in hospital until Monday and then (hopefully) heading up late Monday night. We are pumped to head up North, to reunite with our friends, see the fall, unpack and repack and mostly, to hang with 'the Carl' and Kitty. It's crazy how much we miss the animals - you should see us when we pass a dog on the street - what would be endearing and understandable to those who know us is creepy and uncomfortable to the poor owners trying to go for a walk. Mark is still planning to head out to the bush with his friends to look for some moose, and mostly just to be out there. Fingers crossed we will be out of here on Monday.

Here's Carl and Kitty, I tried to get a bit fancy with formatting and it has backfired. Mark (my tech advisor) is asleep so I am going to let this error slide. Apologies.

Mark wrote a nice letter to the editor that I thought some of you may be interested in reading so I will sign off with it. We will keep the updates coming. Much love and thanks to all of you checking in. The power of all your positive thoughts and well wishes is tangible out here... we love it and we know it is a vital ingredient of the smashing.

Dear Yukon. . . I'm not sure that a few words on paper can adequately express the gratitude, love, and humility that the past few weeks have drawn out in us. Ours is an unfortunate situation: at a pivotal and exciting time in our lives, a disease that affects so many entered into our consciousness and being and decided to wreak a little havoc. My wife Meghan and I were days away from a new beginning: at 6 months pregnant, the ink on a mortgage on a pretty little house in Riverdale not yet dry, and our future looking bright and beautiful and everything we wanted it to be, a brain tumour reared its ugly little head and put on the brakes. The last month has been filled with fear, anxiety and unknowns. Paradoxically, unbelievably, beautifully, it has also been filled with unparallelled generosity, selflessness, and a sense of belonging that is rare in this world. Family, friends, and co-workers have rallied around us in a raucous and loving web that will not let us fail on the path that lies ahead. Emotionally, spiritually, financially, our community has built a shelter for us in an unexpected storm. In doing so, they've demonstrated what it means to be Yukoners and confirmed for us our home here. In a place where so many live far from family, neighbours and acquaintances take on roles that are otherwise reserved for blood. From monetary donations to words and thoughts of support to logistical tasks, many of you reading this have offered us something at a time of real need, expecting nothing in return except our success in overcoming this obstacle. All we can say is thank you. And we will overcome it. With so much spirit around us, there is just no way we can go wrong. There are too many individuals that need to be thanked personally to list here, but to all of you that have put special efforts into organizing events, taken care of our Whitehorse lives, and offered particularly generous means of support: know that you have made an impact on us that we will never forget and that because of you we will never look at the world in the same way again. It's a far more giving place than we ever imagined. With all of our gratitude and love, Mark and Meghan Callan

Much Love to you all!

K K Kerrific

2009-09-17T22:24:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. I'm currently undergoing my second round of chemo at the BCCA and it looks like the honeymoon's over: basically I feel like I've got a hangover, and am feeling pretty tired most of the time. It could be worse. I met with my oncologist Dr. Kerry Savage this morning, and she's confident that this treatment is the right one for my situation. She's ordered a CT scan for next Monday to determine what effect the chemo is having on my remaining tumours. Fingers crossed for that one. Amazingly enough, though, this chemo treatment has not been the main event of our week. Meghan and I learned last week of a fundraising event being held at the Kopper King tavern in Whitehorse. The event took place on Sunday thanks to much organization, donation of silent auction items, and community spirit. In a yet again humbling and overwhelming turn of events, the night raised close to $7000 for Meghan and I. We really don't know what to say in response to this outpouring of support except thank you. Our world has been turned upside down over the past month, and it seems like everyone around us is doing their best to right it again. Some special thanks need to go out to the following people at Environment Yukon who contributed special efforts to organizing this event and the aforementioned pie toss: Remy Rodden, Ronalane Anderson, Jennifer Imbeau, Shelagh Frotten, Lynne Frair, Carrie Eckholm, Rory Masters, Dennis Senger and Koko Obermair. To put things in perspective, these events were put together almost exclusively by Environment Yukon staff, a group of people who didn't know me from Adam a short three months ago.
Several musicians entertained the crowd, and they should be recognized here as well. Thanks to: Remy Rodden and Bob Kuiper, Almost Four (Ray Tucker, Steve Gedrose, Duncan Sinclair), Elsabe Kloppers and Christian Lesage, Grant Simpson, Erica Heyligers, Marg Tatam, and Rob Bergman, The Bergman Family Band (Bruce, Debbie, Rob Bergman, and Marg Tatam), The Dave Haddock Jam Band (Dave Haddock, Bruce Bergman, Grant Simpson, Andrea McColeman, and Rob Bergman), Dolly Varden and the Daredevils (Katya McQueen, Sara Hamilton, Bob Hamilton, Patty Hamilton, and Matt King), Come Eat a Cat (Graeme Poile, Ben Barrett-Forrest, Fabian Brook, Patty Hamilton), Done Gone String Band (Anne-Louise Genest, Bob Hamilton, Matt King, Patty Hamilton, Sara Hamilton). Thanks also to Steve Hare of FourMusic for providing the sound system.
I wish we had a list of everyone who donated silent auction items, those who bid on them, and everyone who attended. From reports, it sounded like it was a fantastic time, and that the music was great. I wish we could have been there (in all our weepy glory). I've included some photos below.
We're now playing the waiting game for my Methotrexate levels to drop enough for me to go home. We can't wait to get up to Whitehorse. The plan is to fly out on Sunday and return to Vancouver the following Sunday. It'll be a whirlwind trip, but we hope to settle into the house a bit and visit some old haunts. And it sounds like the moose hunt is a go! It'll be great to get into the bush for a few days with some old friends. Thanks again for all of your continued messages of support - they mean a lot to us.

Some Necessary Gratitude

2009-09-12T10:48:00.000-07:00

We've received a lot of encouragement and support for our positive attitude over the past little while. Thanks. It's been great. If you want to talk attitude though, I think the award goes to the Yukon's Department of Environment. These people are amazing. Over the past couple of weeks, they have raised a staggering amount of money from both inside and outside the ranks of the Department, all to support Meghan and I. Some of this came from "passing the hat", and some of it came from a "Pie the Bosses" event held last week where management staff literally took it in the face in support of our situation. I've posted some photos below. The rallying of the community around us has become a local news story in Whitehorse, and has graced the front page of both the Whitehorse Star and the Yukon News last week, in addition to a short feature on CBC Radio (check back next week for a link).

Remy Rodden (in the hat) warming up the crowd. . .

While it's always been a difficult decision to move and settle far away from the places where Meghan and I grew up, I think many of you might understand the draw of a place where the people you work with, some of whom you've only met cursorily or have maybe not even met yet, come to you in your time of need because you are a member of their community, one of their extended family. It's comforting to live in a place where people still look out for one another, a place where you know you'll never fall down if the people around you can help it.

It's recently come to our attention that the Department and the Community isn't done yet. There is an event planned for this Sunday at a pub that Meg and I frequent often that is once again in support of our situation. A silent auction is planned to sell off donated items and services, and a cover charge will be charged for admission. Musicians, including my summer supervisor Remy Rodden (who has had an integral hand in planning many of these events) will play for most of the evening.

On the other side of the country, efforts have come together to organize a campaign of support that has included the creation and distribution of 1000 beautifully camouflaged "SMASH IT" bracelets that friends and family are using to be with us even as they are far away. And it's working. Meghan's parents arrived in Vancouver two days ago, and putting our own bracelets on, we certainly felt those hands around us, stronger than ever. They also brought with them another unbelievable amount of financial support from an incredible variety of people.

Perhaps the greatest testament to the selflessness and beauty of these events is that we're not even sure who to thank by name (yet). Individuals have risen to organize and make these things happen, but somehow, we've remained in the dark as to who they are. We'll find you. Oh yes we will.

We are visiting with friends and family this weekend, and we'll be at the Kopper King Tavern in spirit on Sunday. I'm still feeling good, and will check into the BC Cancer Agency again on Tuesday to begin my second treatment. We met with a doctor at an agency called Inspire Health this week who offered invaluable advice on nutrition, alternative therapies, and general mind-body health. Inspire is a world leader in what they call "Integrative Cancer Care". Again, we feel incredibly lucky to be in Vancouver. It seems like every week, we build another step on our path to smashing this thing.

To all of you: thank you, thank you, thank you. We'd be nowhere without you.

In Between Days

2009-09-09T16:16:00.000-07:00

I was discharged from the BCCA on Sunday, and Meg and I have been settling in back at the apartment. My brother Mike returned to Africa on Monday, and for the first time, we're on our own, but only for a couple of days. Meg's parents arrive on Thursday, and it will be nice to reconnect with them over the next week and a half or so. Several friends are also passing through Vancouver over the next little while. Below I've outlined my chemo as it took place this round. It's a highly medical process, and I thought it might be interesting for those who (thankfully) have no experience with it. On the whole, I think my protocol is relatively easy on me. There were many more difficult stories surrounding us at the BCCA, and again, we have to consider ourselves lucky in many many ways. This is what round one of chemo looked like:

Tuesday.
8:30 - Arrive at BC Cancer Agency to check in. Opthamological exam at vision centre down the road. Six vials of blood taken from my right arm on 3rd floor. Circumferential jaw X-Ray and Chest X-Ray in imaging. Meds as since surgery. Appointment with dental hygienist on 2nd floor to clean teeth - precautionary measure to prevent mouth sores common with this treatment. Prescribed Bicarbonate and Chlorhexidine mouth rinses for use after each meal.

Wednesday
7:30 - A lab technician wakes me up and takes three vials of blood from my right arm.
8:00 - Continue regime of 2 mg of Dexamethasone Corticosteroids to reduce swelling in my brain and 150 mg of Ranitidine to calm my stomach from the Dexamethasone.
9:00 - Spinal Tap in my room on 5th floor by two resident oncologists.Uncomfortable, but not terrible. Atavan to calm my nerves.
9:30 - 4 hours of Sodium Bicarbonate IV to increase the alkalinity of my body in preparation for High-Dosage Methotrexate Chemotherapy. Following this, six 50 mg "Bicarb" pills (literally baking soda tablets) every four hours to maintain body alkalinity. Urinate in a bottle, record volume, and test pH for nurses each time.
13:30 - 8 mg of Ondansetron (an anti-nauseant) and 4 hours of Methotrexate via IV - a chemical that can penetrate the "blood-brain barrier" and target cancer cells. Continue montioring urination and taking Bicarb pills. Need to take them with milk each time to get them down.
17:30 - Back on Sodium Bicarbonate IV to maintain hydration, good kidney function, and alkalinity. 10 mg of Prochlorperazine (more anti-nauseants). I pass over 5 litres of urine in the night and measure pH each time, waking up every 90 minutes or so.

Thursday
7:30 - a lab technician wakes me up and takes three vials of blood from my right arm.
8:00 - Breakfast: hot cereal, cold coffee, two steaming pieces of toast, and a boiled egg. More if I want it. Also, meds: Deximethasone, Ranitidine, and 200 mg of Carbamazepine as an anti-seizure precautionary. 25 mg of Leucovorin in 5 tablets to "rescue" the Methotrexate Chemotherapy from my healthy cells. 14 tablets in total.
9:00 - Bone Marrow Biopsy taken from my left hip. More Atavan. Hurts like hell for a half second.
Saline hydration IV for most of day, and continue with Leucovorin rescue and Bicarb tablets.
Nurse wakes me at 12:00, 2:00am, and 4:00am for meds. Up in between to urinate.

Friday
7:30 - a lab technician wakes me up and takes three vials of blood from my right arm.
9:30 - 4 hours on Rituximab IV - antibodies made of a chimeric combination of human and mouse DNA that costs $2000/500ml in the private system - not particularly good at penetrating the blood-brain barrier, but definitively effective against large B-Cell type lymphoma. Take 2 Benadryl and 2 Tylenol before the IV pump is switched on because of potential in all patients for allergic reaction. Nurse begins with slow administration of drug, and watches me for the first half hour before leaving, returning half an hour later, turning up the dosage, and repeating this sequence three times. The Benadryl makes me feel awful. Continue with 6 Bicarb pills, 5 Leucovorin tablets, Deximethasone, Ranitidine, Carbamazepine, mouth rinses, and monitoring urine. Nurse wakes me at 12:00, 2:00, and 4:00 for meds. Up in between to urinate.

Saturday
7:30 - a lab technician wakes me up and takes three vials of blood from my right arm. Continue with 6 Bicarb pills, 5 Leucovorin tablets, Deximethasone, Ranitidine, Carbamazepine, mouth rinses, and monitoring urine.
12:00 - Resident oncologist informs me that the Methotrexate levels in my blood are still too high to send me home.
22:00 - Watch movie.

Sunday
7:30 - a lab technician wakes me up and takes three vials of blood from my right arm. Continue with 6 Bicarb pills, 5 Leucovorin tablets, Deximethasone, Ranitidine, Carbamazepine, mouth rinses, and monitoring urine.
10:30 - nurse informs me that my Methotrexate levels are at .04 - safe enough to send me home as long as I continue the Leucovorin rescue for three more doses. Will continue Dexamethasone, Ranitidine, mouth rinses, and Carbamazepine in between treatments. I check in again next Tuesday. . .

Chemo 'N Me

2009-09-04T17:16:00.000-07:00

Meg and I are currently installed in room 536 at the BC Cancer Agency, and all is going well. I was the subject of a battery of tests upon arriving here that were mainly designed to make sure that the lymphoma is residing only in my brain. My eyes received an all-clear examination from an opthamologist, I was the lucky recipient of a clear report on a (not so-unpleasant) spinal tap, and we're waiting to hear the results from a (more-so unpleasant) bone marrow biopsy, but they don't expect to find anything there either. They've also taken litres of blood from me, xrays, dentistry, and various other bodily products. Despite all of this, my stay here has been great. The facility and staff here are truly world class, and again, I am receiving top quality care. My room looks out over a landscaped rooftop patio and is adjacent to a family lounge complete with television and computer, board games, piano, and comfortable furniture. The rooms are shared, but I've been lucky enough to have mine to myself for the majority of my stay. Meghan and other visitors are welcome to

come and go as they please, and Meg has been staying here with me quite comfortably.

Meg and I on the rooftop patio

This is what my chemo regime looks like: After arriving, they hook me up to a pre-hydration IV which is designed to get my kidneys running well and bring the alkalinity of my system up. My body needs to maintain a pH of 7.5 for the chemicals that they use to work. After 4 hours of this, they hook me up to a high dosage of "Golden Goodness" (Methotrexate). This drug is the main smasher of my chemotherapy. It is effective in crossing the "blood brain barrier" which prevents most drugs from being able to target brain tissues. It targets cells which multiply quickly (like cancer cells). I get the gold for four hours, and then it's post-hydration for 20 hours, continuing with the maintenance of alkalinity of my system. Throughout, I get preventative anti-nauseants. After the 20 hours of post-hydration, I get several doses of a "rescue" chemical through IV called Leucovorin which binds to the Methotrexate and helps me get it out of my system. They monitor the Methotrexate in my blood, and when it's down to an acceptable level, then I'm done. I am also receiving a #2 punch today in the form of a drug called Rituximab. This drug is less effective in crossing the "blood brain barrier", but has still proven valuable in treatments, and has minimal side effects for most people. So I'll be double fisting it today, and if my Methotrexate levels are good, should be out of here tomorrow!

My nurse Jodi hooking up the golden goodness. . .

My body seems to be handling the chemo very well so far. Truth be told, I feel fine. I've had no nausea, my appetite is good, and my spirits are great. I've been told that I may lose hair as time goes by, that fatigue will be an issue, and that I may get some mouth pain/sores, but for the moment, all is well.

SMASH it!

Meg and I can't thank you all enough for the continued love and support. We really appreciate all of the emails, phone calls, blog comments, prayers, care packages, and positive energy. The outpouring of energy has been truly overwhelming, and we hope to get back to each one of you in our own way over time. I must acknowledge here the contributions of some specific people over the past few weeks. While so many people have helped Meghan, myself, and our families out, I need to point out the contributions that Deb Higgins, Brianna McGuire, Mike Callan, and Liz Pelton have made.

Deb has been our communications wizard and our lifeline to Whitehorse. Deb and her partner Pete are busy individuals with a 3 year old and crawling infant who have taken on our cat Kitty and (high-maintenance) dog Carl. They also spearheaded the creation of this blog, and have been invaluable emotional and logistical supports.

Darling Deb

Meghan's sister Brianna is currently 7 months pregnant and works full-time as an Occupational Therapist in Ontario. She flew here to Vancouver and stayed with us during some of our most stressful times before, during, and after surgery. Brianna has two kids that her husband Graham was left to care for during this time, and while she was here, Brianna was like an external brain to us: she dealt with paperwork, medical research, doctors, massage, coffees, job issues, house issues, and basically knew exactly what we needed before we did. She's an amazing woman, and I don't know what we would have done without her.

Saint Brianna

My brother Mike currently works with the Canadian International Development Agency and lives in Khartoum, Sudan with his partner Liz. Both Mike and Liz flew to Vancouver before my surgery, and have been here ever since. It was hard to have to see Liz leave yesterday, but Mike will be here until early next week. This team has really taken care of us over the past little while. They've been invaluable in helping set up our apartment, facilitating our continued medical needs, nurturing our souls, and providing moments of lightness.

Team Mike and Liz

Of course, countless others have offered supports in various ways, and our love goes out to all of you. The light that surrounds us is beautiful. In other news, my most current oncologist is actually encouraging me to get out and do the things I love, and has given me the blessing to participate in a short hunting trip during our time in the Yukon in a couple of weeks. Please keep your fingers crossed for me that I'm feeling up to it! We'll keep you posted. . .

2009-09-02T15:30:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Mark and Meghan are now at the BC Cancer Agency to begin Mark's first round of chemo treatment. Yesterday Mark underwent a series of tests and preparations for his body to receive the chemotherapy. The tests included an opthalmology exam, which was all clear, and a lumbar puncture to test his cerebrospinal fluid which they'll get the results of later, but don't expect to find anything. They will also do a bone marrow test tomorrow - quite a painful test by the sounds of it. The doctors want to perform these tests to rule out cancers in other areas. The doctor they met with yesterday emphasized that Mark's profile is so rare the usual statistics with this type of cancer don't really apply to his case. The fact that he is young and healthy play strongly in his favour to beat this thing.

The chemo treatment itself started this afternoon. It consists of a chemo drip for four hours, followed by 20 hours of the drug circulating in his system. Then he'll have another 4 hour drip of a'clean-up' drug that goes in to round up and get rid of the active chemo drug. Sorry I can't be more specific about this, but it gives you an idea. He'll stay in until saturday to make sure he's recovering well from the chemo. The side-effects they can expect (over the long term) include some hair loss, and inflammation of the mouth and GI tract. Nausea is also a side effect, though the anti-nausea drugs for chemotherapy are apparently quite good at getting this under control.

Meghan is able to stay there with Mark in his room during the treatment and recovery. They've both said that the doctors and nurses there have been fantastic, and they're receiving excellent care. There's a patio there, and a family lounge, and they have their computer there to receive emails - Mark even said he may try to do a blog update in the next little while, so stay tuned!

In the meantime... let's all keep sending all the LOVE and SMASHY vibes possible! The smashing has begun!!

From Mark (Aug 29)

2009-08-29T20:45:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. . .
As you may have heard yesterday, I got my staples out, and we received a flood of new information. After all of this, Meg and I are doing well. We've spent the day basking in the glory of Vancouver summer, picking some things up for our apartment, and enjoying the company of my brother Mike and his partner Liz.
This all feels like the beginning of something real now, and Meg and I are ready for whatever comes our way. With the treatments beginning on Tuesday, though, it feels like we're getting on top of this thing and showing it that we don't need it here. I have every confidence in the BC Cancer Association and my team of Oncologists / Lymphoma specialists led by Dr. Kerry Savage. From what we can tell, they'll be offering me the "best practice / state of the art" treatment, and the quality of the care and science at the BC Association seems second to none. I'll also be receiving holistic health advice from an agency called Inspire that will be dealing with things like education, diet, exercise and mental health. If these salmon runs and the Thai massage I'm looking into are all they're cracked up to be, my quality of life down here should be pretty good.
Our goal right now is to take on the first two cycles of treatment (3-4 days in hospital, 11 days off, 3-4 days in hospital), see how I'm handling it, and then head to Whitehorse for a visit of about 10 days. That should be sometime around the 20th - 27th of September. I was hoping to get out on a moose hunt during this time, but the Oncologist was less than enthusiastic about me being any significant distance from hospital for any period of time in between treatments in case of complications. Fishing and bird hunting can get me out there too I suppose.
Meg and I are now settling into our apartment at 15th and Granville. It's been a godsend. It's central, accessible to shops/restaurants/everything we need, a 15 minute walk from treatment and hospital, quiet, all we need and nothing more, and has a private outdoor patio space that will likely provide some refuge when needed. We've also got an army of friends and family lining up to help us out at the drop of a hat. We've been blown away by Vancouver so far and figure there are likely much worse places to be dealing with something like this.
Now, more than ever, we feel like we are going to smash this thing. We're going to smash it with all our communal strength, power, positivity, love, medical science, hippie voodoo, community spirit, Yukon toughness, Ontario stubbornness, will to live, will to love, and all of our futures together. Plus, we've got a baby on our side. This thing doesn't know what it's getting into.
Thank you all so much again. We feel you every step. Take care of eachother, and we'll be in touch.

xoxo Mark and Meghan

Dr. Redekop removing my staples.

The charming Dr. Redekop, Meg, and I.

Look at that bump!

The road ahead.

Background...

2009-08-29T20:24:00.000-07:00

What a summer. For those of you arriving here out of the loop, I'll offer you a brief synopsis of what have become the most eventful short months in Meghan and my lives. In 2006, after 5 years in Whitehorse, Yukon, Meghan and I had decided that we were going to settle in this new-found paradise and raise a family. We also decided that if we were going to do so, that we'd like to go back to school and do some travelling. So we did. We were married in July of 2006, and spent the next year or so selling our house, making preparations, and finally spending 6 months exploring Nepal, Southeast Asia, and Europe. In September of 2007, Meghan entered the Aboriginal Teachers Education Program at Queen's University in Kingston, ON, while I worked as a timber framer nearby. The following September saw my turn for school, and we made the move to Bobcaygeon, Ontario. Meg landed a job as a supervisor at a group home, and I worked my butt off at Fleming College's Natural Resources Law Enforcement Program. May of this year brought the happy news that we'd be adding a third to our team, and that Christmas would see a new Callan. May also brought the news that I had landed a great job in Whitehorse as the Youth Programs Coordinator for the Yukon Department of Environment, and that the contract would last until November.
The summer has been hectic, thrilling, energizing, and draining. We've been bouncing around from house-sit to house-sit, not knowing what our future would hold. Meghan found work early on as Team Leader at the Whitehorse Young Offenders Facility, and I eagerly applied on Conservation Officer positions posted for the fall. The youth programs job took a lot of work and organization to juggle 16 staff and 2-3 camps of 10 kids each, and Meg's first trimester of pregnancy left her feeling a little exhausted. Free time was not to be found. By the end of July, we were feeling a little ragged, but knew that we would get through the summer all the better for it, and that fall would bring some time to breathe. We made the decision to buy a house in Whitehorse, and after much looking and hand-wringing, picked up a nice little place backing onto the Grey Mountain greenbelt in Riverdale. With a bit of work, we could make it ours in no time.
At this point in the summer, I started to notice a few things that I attributed to the busy pace of our summer: I was getting a bit clumsy, having trouble typing, working less efficiently, having some coordination problems, and generally just not feeling myself. I left on a camping trip to the Northern Yukon with kids on August 3, and returned on the 13th. We took possession of our house on August 7. On the 13th, I started experiencing headaches that were keeping me up at night. That weekend, Meghan and I moved all of our things from various stages and stations of storage into the house. We haven't even unpacked the boxes yet. We went to a walk-in clinic on the 14th, and the doctor suggested a CT scan for the following week to check out the headaches. The following day, however, it was clear that I needed help right away. I was experiencing the worst headaches of my life, and could no longer type properly.
A visit to Whitehorse General Hospital led to a CT scan and chest X-ray and doctors who read the scan informed Meghan and I that they had found a tumour on my brain, and that I would need to head to hospital in Vancouver or Edmonton right away. Needless to say, this is news that no one expects or wants to hear, and we were devastated, terrified, and in utter shock. Our friends, family and colleagues, equally in shock, nevertheless sprung into action and helped us make arrangements to take care of our house and pets while we flew to Vancouver the following day. With the uncertainty of what we were dealing with, that first week was scary and stressful. After many tests and investigations, it was determined that I had one 3-4 cm tumour in the lower occipital part of my brain, and that swelling in this area was causing the symptoms I had been experiencing. It was also determined that I had six other smaller tumours forming on my brain. The decision was quickly made to remove the largest of them in order to relieve my symptoms, eliminate the swelling, and to figure out exactly where the tumours were coming from. The operation took under two hours, and went very well. Pathology results from the tumour have revealed that I have a form of Cancer known as "Diffuse Large B-Cell Central Nervous System Lymphoma". I will be undergoing intensive chemotherapy for the next several months here in Vancouver.
So that's where this all came from. The support and love we've been receiving has been both overwhelming and humbling. We've got so much on our side that there is no way we can go wrong. We're going to SMASH this thing.

Here are some selected pre-blog updates:

From Mark and Meghan (Aug 25)

Hello everyone. . . .
We just wanted to send a quick note out to all of you to let you know that Meghan, I, and our families are feeling the incredible waves of support that you're generating more than ever, and that all is going well here. We've been both humbled by and awed at the generosity, caring, and concern passed our way over the past week by family, friends, medical staff, and people we've only just met. It's amazing what beauty can emerge from the sludge of a situation like this.
I am feeling good, and they discharged me from hospital today. Pathology results from the tumour the surgeon removed will be available to us very soon. We should know more about what we're dealing with then and what treatment might look like, but right now, it looks 99% like Central Nervous System Lymphoma - this, (as awful as it sounds) is apparently good news. The treatment regime for this type of cancer includes intensive chemotherapy for 2-3 days at a time every two weeks here in Vancouver for 12-18 weeks with possible follow-up radiation. We're still not sure how I'll react to these treatments, and what our life will look like for the next few months, but we've got excellent options for accommodations down here and I hear that it'll be prime salmon season in these parts soon.
We have encountered many amazing medical professionals so far, but I must mention my neurosurgeon Dr. Gary Redekop, and my oncologist Dr. Joseph Ragaz. Dr. Redekop is an incredibly talented, dedicated man who continuously awes me with brilliance, tenacity and commitment to his work. Dr. Ragaz, a saint of a man who has appeared from the ether, is helping us navigate the challenges ahead with selflessness, wisdom, and grace.
We've got a road ahead of us, but we've always liked a good road. And again, with all of you on our side, there is no way that we can go wrong. I've attached a couple of photos here so you can see my Frankenstein staples (if yer innarested) and some proof that the smashing has begun. (Thanks to Dave King and Jen Turner for the shirt!) I'm shaving off the rest of the hair tonight so bearded and bald is the way for a while!

Much, much, much love. . . take care of eachother and know that you are with us always. . .

Mark and Meghan

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BC Cancer Agency Update from Mike (Aug 28)

Hi all. . .
my brother Mike typed up this update to send out earlier today. I'll send my own (and some photos) tomorrow. A big day - the first step on the road to beating this thing. Sounds like the communications system is getting simplified via a blog, so that's great. Talk to you all soon.

Mark had two meetings today. First, with his Neurosurgeon to remove the 30 staples in his head and later with his primary Oncologist to discuss the treatment path ahead.
The staples were all removed without incident and the Neurosurgeon noted that this was the first time that he had been photographed while conducting such a procedure. The Neurosurgeon was happy to report that he had treated other patients with CNS Lymphoma who were doing well many years after their initial diagnosis.
The Oncologist confirmed that the technical name for this lymphoma is “Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma” . This type of lymphoma represents about 40% of all lymphomas but is not commonly found in the brain; it is even less common in young people (the average age for those contracting it is 65). It is so rarely found in young people in fact that only 5 people under 30 were on record as having had it over the last 20 years in British Columbia.
The cause of the lymphoma is unclear but it likely originated no longer than 2 months ago.
Treatment
Some forms of chemotherapy address tumors in the brain better than others. One of the most effective, and the one that will lead Mark’s treatment is called Hi-dose Methetrexate.
Mark will need to be admitted to hospital for the chemotherapy treatments but he’ll stay no longer than 3-4 days each session. There will be between 6-10 sessions throughout the course of treatment and Mark’s first will begin this Tuesday.
The treatments won’t be fun but the side effects seem to be limited: limited to no hair loss, some potential inflammation of the mouth, and any potential nausea should be kept at bay with the very effective anti-nauseants currently on offer. The Oncologist expects that Mark will tolerate the chemotherapy well and should be able to continue most activities.
The Oncologist, will be away next week but her colleague, Dr. Hoskins, will pick up where she left off.
Mark will have an eye exam and a ‘lumbar puncture’ just to rule out any complications with the eyes or back. The risks of such complications are minimal.
So this isn’t the best type of cancer to have but it’s far from the worst and he’s getting top quality medical attention. The Chemo regime will be tough but so is Mark. Tuesday will mark another step along the path to getting back to full health.

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