Long Beach!

Well, after suffering a setback last week I have emerged stronger and healthier than I have since the onset of my illness almost 3 months ago. I am tolerating the new medication well, day 4 today, and my rash, fevers, and swelling have all but disappeared, and my blood counts have returned almost to normal. Yipee!

My friend Steve called yesterday and insisted on flying us up to his place in Tofino for a few days and the time is right. I have been dreaming of running my feet through the sand once again!

The family has been incredibly busy organizing and promoting a stem cell drive through OneMatch.ca and CBS and have over 200 donors registered already!

Check out the short video and poster:

                                     http://bit.ly/GiveTIME4steve

                                                                              Poster

Temporary Setback

A series of events banded together this week to send me to hospital, but fortunately I am now at home enjoying good food, family attention, and reading on the patio.  The effects of chemotherapy, lymphoma fever, and dehydration combined to make me sick, but transfusions and medications combined to make me feel better again. I need go back to hospital tonight but should be fit for discharge tomorrow and resumption of my new chemo drug.

Fun visit yesterday from colleagues; Alan, Martin, and I came up with an escalating series of new and wacky ways to treat patients, which led Yvonne (and Kathie) to comment that we should come up with our own version of the Big Bang Theory TV Series.

Family is organizing a stem cell and blood drive and will send out more information soon.

Tour de France

Can you imagine winding your bicycle for over 200 km through little villages and climbing to the road summits of the Alps? This is beautiful, but challenging. Imagine doing this at race pace with 200 other cyclists jostling for position, and doing it every day for 21 days. This is the Tour de France. Now imagine having testicular cancer that has spread to your brain and lungs requiring surgery and chemotherapy, and recovering to win the Tour de France 7 times in a row. This is Lance Armstrong.

Every time I complete a course of chemotherapy, I feel like I have completed a Stage of the Tour de France, and am one step closer to completing the journey to recovery. My good friend Steve came by to help me along the journey. The branches of a tree had grown into the Bell satellite dish and prevented transmission of signals including the Tour, and required decisive surgery to clear the trees. Riding friend Al brought me the definitive guide to the Tour and we were able to sit down and watch Stage 6 on TV.

Zoe and Michaela baked me a nice cake to help celebrate an end to a challenging week. Thanks again for all the cards and prayers. For those wanting to do something more you are encouraged to give blood at Canadian Blood Services, or stem cells at onematch.ca.