End of October Already!

         
          Happy Halloween to my friends and family members.  I am just back from a quick trip to Mississauga to see my sister and then to Guelph to spend time with my favourite grandson.  I left on Friday after teaching in a kindergarten class for the morning. 
          I arrived just before 6 pm and had a pleasant visit with my little sister who is recovering from surgery.  The reality of her situation hit me and I have to admit, I did cry.  (In fact, as I write now, several tears are leaking out of the corners of my usually dry eyes).  Her incision is healing well and her pain level is tolerable. She will find out this week what the next step of her journey will entail.  She is upbeat and positive.  I admire her strength, courage, and enthusiasm for living with cancer.
          On Saturday afternoon I took the 401 further west to Guelph and spend several hours in my happy place-holding my grandson- while he wiggled, hopped on two feet, squirmed and cooed his way back into my heart.  Precious moments!
          Upon my return home on Sunday afternoon, I was greeted by four very happy individuals- my husband, brother-in-law and our two wiggly, waggly dogs.  It feels good to be back home, safe and sound.
          Today I may find out about a potential teaching job.  I am about to carve the pumpkin to greet any potential trick-or-treaters.  And my wonderful husband has gone grocery shopping and he might just bring home some Halloween treats. 
          Things are definitely looking good! My strength is returning :)

Until next time,

Bee Rich
      

Let It Be...

          This post is for my sister, Kay, who has again been diagnosed with breast cancer and newly diagnosed with a form of lymphoma.  Her phone call last night was surprisingly cheery.  Her surgery is scheduled for this Thursday and she will be back at home on Friday. 
          This news breaks my heart.  You see, my sister is one of my best friends in the whole world.  She is my inspiration and the wind beneath my wings.  Her courage and determination to "kick cancer's butt" gives me courage and determination to meet any challenge in my life. 
           The miracle, I believe, is her strength in times of trouble; I know that her strength comes from her faith in God.  It reminds me of the Beatle's song from the early 1970's, "Let It Be."  So, I looked up the lyrics at www.azchords.com today and was reacquainted with the wisdom of some of the Beatles' words (with thanks to Glen Macon):

When I find myself in times of trouble,

Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
And in my hour of darkness,

She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom,

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be
And when the broken hearted people,

Living in the world agree

There will be an answer, let it be
But though they may be parted,

There is still a chance that they may see
There will be an answer, let it be
And when the night is cloudy, 
There is still a light that shines on me
Shine on till tomorrow, let it be
I wake up to the sound of music,

Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.  

Stay UP, my sweet sister, you are LOVED!

Bee Rich

 

  
    

A Gift of Love and Warmth



Grandson Mac with his Dad on Skype

     You can see from this picture our grandson is growing.  So many changes have occurred during his two month lifetime- he is now staring at objects and following them with his eyes, smiling at smiles and reaching for objects, including the computer!  We are fortunate that our son and daughter-in-law keep in touch with Skype and that we are able to visit every once in a while. Such a joy to know that this little life has made so many others so happy. 

     On the other end of the life spectrum are the many people who are suffering from the ravages of cancer, including some members of our family.  We went to an information session this week at The Ottawa Hospital Regional Cancer Centre, which was helpful and informative.  The volunteer leading the session was caring, knowledgeable, and supportive.

     The presentation raised my awareness of cancer and chemotherapy.  For example,

• cancer is a group of more than 120 different diseases with a common factor:  cells growing rapidly and in an uncontralloable pattern
• chemotherapy affects the rapidly dividing cells of cancer
• the medications in the chemotherapy are individualized and mixed after the person arrives for treatment
• after chemotherapy a person's white blood cells, specifically neutrophils, can be lowered which leaves the person more vulnerable to infection

     Today is my brother-in-law's first chemotherapy treatment in Ottawa.  He is nervous, yet hopeful.  So many people are on his side.  Friends, family, medical practitioners, nurses, homecare workers, even strangers! 
     A few days ago he received A Gift of Love and Warmth from Victoria's Quilts of Canada, a ministry founded in 1998.  It is a beautiful quilt made by the loving hands of the ladies of the Bolingbroke Branch of Victoria's Quilts.  We all shed tears when the quilt arrived at our home. Thank you to the family member who ordered this lovely gift.   
     If you have a loved one who has cancer, you may order a quilt for him or her, through the following organization. 

Victoria's Quilts Canada
454-1568 Merivale Road
Ottawa, ON K2G 5Y7
http://www.victoriasquiltscanada.com

A gift of love and warmth

Until next time,

Bee Rich
      

Jack Layton's Legacy

At this time of grieving for a great Canadian, Mr. Jack Layton, I was moved by his unselfish message to others who are fighting cancer:

To other Canadians who are on journeys to defeat cancer and to live their lives, I say this: please don’t be discouraged that my own journey hasn’t gone as well as I had hoped. You must not lose your own hope. Treatments and therapies have never been better in the face of this disease. You have every reason to be optimistic, determined, and focused on the future. My only other advice is to cherish every moment with those you love at every stage of your journey, as I have done this summer.

At this time my hope is that Jack's words will be of comfort to those people in my life who are, right now, on these journeys.  My thoughts and prayers are with you now. 

Bee Rich