Christmas and New Year's!

What a wonderful Christmas we have had! After my early release from hospital and repair of the damage from the house flood, I have been able to enjoy Christmas at home with the family, eating good food, going for walks, playing ping pong, and singing Christmas carols around the piano.

We even pulled out the old super 8 movies from the 1960's and showed our kids what Christmas was like when we were kids, complete with pulling the cat through the snow and playing with Christmas lights, oblivious to safety.

I stopped by the office and was overwhelmed by the generous outpouring of well wishes and cards and gifts (including blood!) from colleagues, friends and patients. It was nice to see the office staff again and meet with Katie Weiler who is managing my practice in my absence and inspires my every confidence. Martin and Carlynn helped me carry the three boxes full to the car and I have been reading cards ever since. The generosity is amazing and I wish I could reply to every one but it is impossible, so I will send a massive THANK YOU to everyone via this blog. I know that the positive energy, love and prayer has sustained me through the dark parts of my illness and has contributed to my near miraculous recovery.

December 25 marked day 100 post one marrow transplant, an important milestone in getting better. I have received over 50 units of blood and platelets over this time, but need transfusions only rarely now that the donor marrow is getting stronger.

And we are even going to take the family to Whistler for a night for a change of scenery and are working on a last minute booking for December 28. Wont be able to ski this time, but the kids will hit the slopes and we will  enjoy some time in the Village.

The New Year approaches, and it is one full of hope and promise. As we all face our personal challenges, we are reminded of the value of every moment of every day and the many things we have to be grateful for.

Homeward bound for Christmas

After weeks of little change, we got our Christmas Miracle. The new medication has kicked in and I am off TPN and IV meds and am being prepped for discharge next week, with ongoing close followup. I am getting all my medications by mouth and am eating 3 modest meals per day. I had partial day passes all week and attended 2 parties by Skype, and then snuck out for a hospitable open house with the WR/SS Division of Family Practice.

                  Jeff Purkis (lymphoma survivor) Santa Steve, and Charles King, Division co-lead

Flood repairs at the house are mostly done, neighbours have put up our Christmas lights, and the kids arrive from University this week. What more could one want? Time to hug and express gratitude to all those who keep us going.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

Day Pass

After a full month in hospital, I had my first day pass yesterday and it was wonderful. Nice walk on Kits Beach with my sister followed by lunch at my parents place in Point Grey. I have gained 2 full kilos now and am able to walk longer distances. The new medication is helping and I although I still require TPN and IV meds, they are now given intermittently which allows for a 5 hour IV-free window. This will mean family visits over Christmas even if I am not discharged yet.

Visits to our S.Surrey home will be on hold for a while as we had a kitchen pipe give way and flood the kitchen and basement. The house is now full of insurance people with large fans and dehumidifiers and will require significant restoration. What a hassle for Caroline especially. Hopefully it will be habitable by the time the kids come home for the holidays.

Recent visit from my friend Steve from Lantzville who continues to sport the lean and hairless look which make us look like brothers.

Grateful for all the positive energy, and hope to see people in real time in the near future.

Grey Cup Weekend

I realize that 2 weeks have passed since my last update and guess not that much has happened to write about. I am still in hospital on therapy for the Graft vs Host disease, a common complication of bone marrow transplants, especially slightly mismatched ones like mine. Once it sunk in that there is no quick fix, I have settled into a routine here in my second home and buckled down for the long haul.

One of those routines is the daily jigsaw puzzle with Caroline. Who would have thought? Yet here we are puzzling away, often for a couple of hours in a day. They are habit forming and fun.

Gratefully, my steroid dose has been reduced without adverse consequences, and I have been able to move my muscles more purposefully. Regular resistance exercises mean I am more mobile and have gained almost a kilo of mass.

I am still dependent on TPN (IV nutritition) for most of my calories, but as my gut settles down and I process food better, I will be able to taper off the TPN and come home again.

It is Grey Cup Weekend, and even though I am holding a soccer ball, I plan to watch the game and eat chips. After that exciting Western final, there is a palpable excitement in the city over the game and it should be great entertainment. Go Lions, Go!

Grateful for all the warm wishes you are sending, and they continue to pull me through the darker moments that are inevitable.

Remembrance Day Weekend

It is my daughter Zoe's 18th birthday this weekend, and she is visiting from UBCO in Kelowna for the occasion. It is so nice to see and hug her. Her warmth gives me a huge boost. Of course, I had not planned to be in hospital at this time, but circumstances dictated otherwise. The good news is that the new medicine is working and I am eating more, which is the first step to getting home again.

Current entertainment includes the Jeeves and Wooster series, a hilarious and light British comedy. Just finished reading the Witch of Babylon, a historical thriller, and returning to the lighthearted Alexander McCall Smith series "Ladies Detective Agency" set in Botswana.

Other good news is that my energy has been getting better and I have been able to ride the stationary bike daily for  a light spin, and do some resistance exercises, inspired by one of Werner's affirmations "I am getting stronger every day". These kinds of affirmations and the support of many continue to sustain me.

Update

I am sitting here enjoying the wonderful fall colours through my large picture window knowing it is cooling off a lot out there. I still need some more time in hospital, but the new medications seem to be doing their job, and I am hopeful to soon start taking them by mouth so I can go home again.  After a while, one becomes more philosophic about these things and I know we can just go one day at a time.

I had a nice visit with Martin and Yvonne the other day and it was nice to catch up on what is going on in the community. It seems distant, but is so much a part of me.

I am reading books and going through the Black Adder series. It is such a twisted British humour show that    I can only take one show at a time.

Dr John Shepherd

Yvonne and Martin

The prayers and support continue to help sustain me and I am always grateful.

Tune up

What a difference a day makes. Yesterday I wasn't absorbing my medications and became ill requiring re-admission to VGH for IV support.  After 24 hours feeling much better and seem to be back on track. Had a nice break at  my parent's place including daily walk at the beach with my Dad or Mom and hope to get back there soon.

Wishes and prayers continue to boost me. My new roommate is a Missionary so he has lots of upbeat comments for me, and I have the complete collection of Black Adder to balance out the irreverent side.

Steve