Wednesday October 7, 1998:

This week I have read two very excellent books, both Pulitzer Prize winners. The first is Larry's Party by Carol Shields and the second is Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt. It is odd that I would choose to read these books in succession, as they both follow the sagas of young boys coming to maturity. One covers the first nineteen years of age and the other continues to middle age, but both make for interesting reading.

I had a terrific week in the unexpected autumn sunshine. The temperature has been breaking local records, and I cannot complain. I have been continuing to feel stronger and happier. Today I was out shopping along Robson Street, and I picked up some nice new shoes and a shirt. Last week was my first time shopping for clothes in ages. It feels good to indulge in luxuries for a change.

Oh yes, and a piece of good news. My hemoglobin count continues to rise. Today it's at an all-time high of 132. The drug I inject to stimulate my red blood cell production is definitely doing its job very well. It's worth every precious penny. (It costs over $300 per millilitre! Yikes!)

Saturday October 24, 1998:

Mark and I went for a walk around our old neighbourhood last night, close to where we were living two years ago when I was first diagnosed. The area, near Broadway and Granville, has become more lively since we lived there. A big bookstore moved in and stays open until 11 every night. In the bookstore, and even out on the street, there were tons of people milling about, drinking cappuccino, enjoying jazz music, laughing, reading ... It's a nice vibe. I felt amazed to be out and about on a Friday night for a change. Of course, Saturday night has been much more subdued with Mark and me crashing on the couch in front of the TV. (Hey, Fantasy Island was on!) Since the clocks get turned back an hour tonight, we will get an extra long sleep. Ah, decadence! In the morning, if I have enough energy, I might make a batch of blueberry muffins for the first time in months!

My friend Linda came by for a visit today, which made me feel happy. She is a sweetheart and I love seeing her. A couple of days ago, my friend Jeanne rode her bike over (which is amazing considering she had pretty intense chemotherapy treatment not too long ago). We went for a walk by the waterfront, just outside the building where I live. It was sunny and warm, and we had a wonderful time just chatting. Last week another friend, Laura, had a day off work. She chose to spend her day with me! We wandered through the shops here in Yaletown and had lots of fun catching up. It is so refreshing to be getting more socially active. Feeling happier and more energetic makes me crave the company of my friends, which just makes me feel even happier and more energetic!

So many people have been commenting on the fact that I look a lot better. I am convinced that my mood greatly affects how I come across to people. I'm not very good at hiding what's going on. (Why should I hide anything, anyway?) At my physiotherapy clinic, a different physiotherapist from the one who treats me commented that I am looking healthier. She says that when I first started attending the clinic, all the physiotherapists asked each other what the heck I had been through. (I think I looked like I had been through a war.) It's nice to see so many people excited about my renewed energy. I gather that people around me have no trouble knowing how I feel just by looking at me. I think my formerly a ghostly white face (due to the anemia) and my rigid movement (due to the neck and back muscle problems) probably had something to do with my gloomy appearance, but I think the lack of a smile and the lack of a bounce in my step were big factors too.

Mark and I have been invited to a Halloween party next Saturday night! I would love to dress up in a costume and hang out with friends, so I will have to give some deep thought to dress-up ideas. Our friends Debbe and Peter, who always put on a fun bash, are hosting the festivities. I really hope to make it.

Tuesday October 27, 1998:

I was at the photo-therapy lab this morning, receiving my ultraviolet-light skin treatment for the itchiness, when a nurse asked me if itchiness was the only adverse effect I have experienced from the bone marrow transplant. Looking back, I am surprised I didn't burst out in laughter. Instead I calmly told her about all the stuff I have experienced since the transplant in February. As I rattled everything off, I felt a little overwhelmed. I hadn't really stepped back and thought about how difficult my overall recovery has been, obstacle after obstacle. While in the hospital I had unexplained fevers, nausea, and digestive problems (which lingered for months). Since returning home I have suffered from pneumonitis (for which I had to be put on steroids, leading to sleep disorders and other effects), severe headaches, debilitating muscles spasms in my back and neck, loss of appetite, depression, extreme anemia, heart defects (leading to a rapid heartbeat and overwhelming fatigue), unexplained itchiness ... Happily, most of these problems are become more manageable. I feel more energetic and strong every day.

After my treatment at the skin clinic, I stopped by to see the pain specialist at the cancer agency, Pippa Hawley. She happened to have a few spare minutes, so we had a chance to chat. I was happy to let her know that things have been getting better for me. (I was in pretty rough shape last time I saw her.) She warned me that over the coming winter I might experience some additional discomfort in my neck due to the cold and damp weather. She advised me to holiday somewhere warm and tropical; relaxing on the beach would do me a world of good. I asked her to write that in prescription form so I can submit the expenses to my extended health plan. (I wish!!)

Email sent out Tuesday October 30, 1998:

I am happy to report that things continue to improve around here. My spirits have been up, my energy level has been up, my hemoglobin count has been up. If only my bank account would follow that trend! (Instead my VISA balance is up! Shop, shop, shop!)

I have been really excited to continue with the physiotherapy treatment with the recent addition of an exercise regime. My exercise therapist is a lot of fun, and everyone at the clinic is amazed by how well I am doing. (A few friends are also amazed to see the word exercise in the same paragraph as the name Lisa ... Why does everyone think I hate exercise? Haven't you people seen the pictures on my web page of me on rollerblades, of me climbing sand dunes, of me hiking through jungles ... I am the queen of exercise!)

Anyway, all my fingers are crossed that my recovery continues without any more hiccups. Mark and I are bracing for the cool, damp Vancouver winter. I can't believe it is almost November. Any suggestions for making it through to spring? (I have already thought about hibernating in Hawaii, but more "thrifty" recommendations would be appreciated.) The best suggestion will be awarded used snorkelling equipment from my Hawaiian excursion last winter, sent to the comfort of your home (COD) in a box filled with wet sand. Okay, there's really no prize, but suggestions would be appreciated all the same.

Email sent out Friday October 30, 1998:

Some of you have already seen this piece of artistic genius, but for those of you who haven't ... When I was in Grade 4, I entered a school poetry contest with the following masterpiece:

Witches and goblins,
Pumpkins galore,
Where is that candy
I put on the floor?

Is it inside my pocket?
Or inside my shoe?
But worst of all,
Is it inside you?

I won second prize, a book of poetry! (Thank you, thank you!) If anyone feels inspired to send me their own works of Halloween poetry (doesn't everyone have a collection?), I would be happy to display it on my web site. Happy Halloween, everyone!

Saturday October 31, 1998:

Today has been a very exciting day! I started out by eating a blueberry muffin, made by me! I baked some muffins a few days ago, a definite milestone that I am doing a lot better. (Mark will attest to the fact that I have spent very little time in the kitchen until now.) After my delicious breakfast, I headed to a music workshop, put on by Katherine Nicholson, the music therapist at the cancer agency. That workshop involved three hours of experimenting with music, voice, and sound with other folks living with or supporting people living with cancer. A very good time was had by all. I am sure that if you walked into the room at any point, you would never have realized that all the laughing people are dealing with life-threatening illness.

Tonight Mark and I went to a very fun Halloween party! I hope to have a picture of our costumes on my web site soon. I went as a fairy (complete with sparkly wings, glittery eyelashes, and magic wand), and Mark went as a vampire (a very well-dressed vampire: he wore his tuxedo)! We had a fine time dancing, chatting, and feeling like normal sociable people.

Saturday November 7, 1998:

I thought I was bringing along some light reading for our Maui getaway. Little did I know both the books I would read dealt (each uniquely) with life-threatening illness. The books are The Rainmaker by John Grisham and What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day by Pearl Cleage. I also read some lighter books and magazines while we were there. What a relaxing way to pass the sunny days.

I indulged a bit and had some fun drinks on our trip. Since the transplant, I have avoided alcohol altogether. But I decided to live it up (a little) on Maui and have a brewskie now and again. I also tried a local creation called a "Lahaina Sunrise": vodka, raspberry, and orange. Yum, yum.

I think my favorite part of the trip was the snorkelling. Mark and I snorkelled almost every day! I just love the feeling of having my body float on the seawater, gently rocking with the waves, with my mind immersed in the underwater splendor! The variety of fish is amazing, and the range of colours is quite unbelievable as well. We went snorkelling twice at Black Rock (in Kaanapali) where tons of fish congregate to be fed by the snorkellers. (The Sheraton Resort on that beach sells fish food.) As soon as I submerged my face mask, even in very shallow water, I could see hundreds of needlefish hovering at the surface as they searched for food. They looked a bit intimidating, with long pointy "noses". After watching them for a while, I convinced myself they were harmless, but when Mark and I started feeding some other fish, we noticed the pointy "noses" were actually their long jaws which opened up like jagged scissors! Yikes! Fortunately, the fish were not interested in biting anything they couldn't swallow. Surprisingly, they were able to swallow objects as large as green peas! (The frozen foods section of Hawaiian convenience stores carries frozen peas in addition to ice cream, since it is known that the local fish will eat this veggie from the hands of people!)

November 30, 1998 (Later):

Mark and I slipped out to see a movie tonight: "La Vita e Bella" (Life is Beautiful), starring and directed by one of my favorite actors, Roberto Benigni. The film has been described as "Chaplinesque", featuring physical comedy, love, drama, and a beautifully touching story. I have to say I loved the movie.

December 1, 1998:

Tonight I went to my first choir practice. Since the summer, I have had an urge to join a fun community choir. I searched for a month or two, asked friends in choirs about their groups, approached musical friends for contacts ... Finally I stumbled upon the "New Folk Choir" for folks with little choir experience, and it's perfect! Although I have known about this choir for a few months now, I haven't been physically up to attending until now. (What a milestone!) I had a little trouble keeping up tonight, since all the songs are new to me, but I have the feeling I will catch on quickly. The group seems friendly and accepting. I am so excited!

December 7, 1998:

Mark's birthday was yesterday and we had a really nice time. We slept in late, grabbed a quick breakfast at home, then rushed out so Mark could have a massage and I could have a manicure and pedicure. Luxury! We met back at home, then went out for brunch at a cozy neighborhood restaurant called Tomato.

We spent the afternoon wandering around Gastown, a part of Vancouver that has lots of antique shops. Mark was hunting for a nice crystal and silver ink-well, but we didn't have any luck. (We did have fun though.)

On a walk along the shore in our neighborhood, we noticed the tide coming in. There is a sculpture that has flat concrete blocks which you can hop along during low tide. During high tide, the sea-water slowly pools over the blocks, fully submerging them under water. It was quite a moment when we witnessed the last of the concrete blocks gradually become submerged.

Later in the afternoon, my mom and brother came by for a visit (with some nice gifts for Mark, including gift certificates for Starbucks coffees!). A bit later, Mark's friend David came over and we all went out for all-you-can-eat-sushi, Mark's choice! We were the last folks out of the restaurant, after which David came back to our place for a night-cap. All in all, a very fun day.

December 11, 1998:

Well, no news is good news when it comes to frequency of my entries on this web site. The fact that I have only been updating occasionally is definitely an indication that I am off being busy and doing fun things (and some not-so fun things too, of course).

I remember someone sending me email a while back, someone who had stumbled upon my web site on the internet. They commented that after reading through my arduous ordeal, they were hoping to find a "happily-ever-after" entry at the end of it all, but instead they found I was still in the midst of medical upheaval. Well, I think this is the first point at which I can confidently say the worst is behind me. I don't feel "cancer-ish" for the first time in more than two years, I don't have very frequent chest pains, and most of the nasty complications that hit me over the summer and fall are starting to resolve themselves. Finally! There certainly were times over the past several months when I felt like giving up. During the transplant I never had that urge to give up; only a desperate longing for things to get better. And they have gotten better (after getting worse!) and so I feel very grateful and lucky.

Tonight is Friday, and Mark and I have no concrete plans for the entire weekend. We are just going to kick back and do whatever inspires us.

December 13, 1998:

We just had a fun afternoon and evening, watching a late matinee then having dinner. We saw "The Red Violin" with our friends Lis and Anthony, and we all loved it. (In fact it was Lis and Anthony's second time seeing it!) What a rich, touching, wonderful tapestry of a movie. If you get a chance to see it, I would highly recommend it. Don McKellar was involved in the making of the movie, plus he plays a neat part. (He has been involved in other movies I have loved like "Roadkill", "Highway 61", "Last Night", and "Thirty-Two Short Films About Glenn Gould". He is also involved in the hilarious Canadian TV show "Twitch City".) Colm Feore played a terrific role in the movie as well. Mark and I have watched his career take off since the days when we used to see him acting in plays at the Stratford Festival in Ontario. Very talented guy.

After the movie, the four of us walked across the street to a great vegetarian Indian restaurant called "Annapurna" to meet our friend Linda for a meal. Yum. We always love the food there. In fact, Mark and I used to be such regular customers that the staff knows our order off by heart (even the quirky little off-menu requests we favor). It's great fun.

Earlier today I got some bad news about a dear friend, Jackie, whom I know from Callanish retreats and from the relaxation group at the cancer agency. She is suddenly back in the hospital (she has been living with cancer for over ten years, and recently found herself in remission). Within ten minutes of finding out she was in hospital, I was by her side, holding her hand. She is such a sweet, inspiring woman. I believe she is close to eighty, and in spite of the fact that she is mostly blind, she has knit hundreds of pairs of slippers for cancer relaxation groups.

(In fact, just after I was diagnosed with lymphoma, I was at the cancer agency for an early morning bone marrow biopsy. I was scared as hell. Lis -- the woman who came to the movie this afternoon -- was a counsellor at the cancer agency at that time, and I met her for the first time that morning. She came to my biopsy to help me get through the experience, using voice, imagery, anything to keep my mind preoccupied. When a nurse told Lis I had "cold feet" (I was actually frightened, my limbs weren't really chilly), Lis produced a pair of Jackie's hand-knit slippers to warm my feet and my soul!!!

Jackie has touched hundreds of people similarly. As a person, she is full of humour and insight. To see her in the hospital this afternoon was to see a shell of the Jackie I know and love. She was worn down and depressed by the state of health care in this province ... Apparently the level of care she is getting in the hospital is quite inadequate. She feels the nurses are angry, her requests for the bedpan get met with scorn, she doesn't get any help keeping her body clean, and she hates the food. Hearing these complaints from as kind and serene a person as Jackie carries a lot of weight. It pains me to think she is so vulnerable and unhappy.

December 15, 1998:

Today was a busy day of rushing around, but by evening I had a couple of events to attend that I really enjoyed. The first was the annual relaxation group Christmas party at the cancer agency. I saw lots of familiar faces, got lots of hugs, sang some songs, and had a terrific time. Next I went to choir practice which is always a blast, I'm learning! I am so glad I joined that group. We are having our first concert on Janaury 31! That's soon!

Today I received a Christmas card from my cousin Laura in England. We used to be pen pals as kids, so I feel like we really shared our childhood. As adults, we haven't been as good at keeping in touch. I feel a special connection to my British cousins through my Dad, because whenever they visited he treated them with the love and pride he would express if they were his own kids. It was really special to see. Anyway, hearing from Laura brought back old memories, both of times when we were kids, and of times when she was living with a boyfriend here in Vancouver (which gave Dad a good chance to watch over her and be a good uncle!). Laura said she checks in to see what's happening on my web site every week or so. But since she doesn't have access to email, she never told me she was "lurking". It is so heart-warming to know she is out there keeping tabs on my progress.

Speaking of progress, my neck is still at a plateau in terms of improvement, but I am so impressed with how far I have come that I really shouldn't complain! My side-turning is somewhat blocked in both directions, and my neck is all-round stiff, but at least the pain has subsided tremendously. And my mobility is a gazillion times better than it was in the summer and fall.

Most everything else seems to be going well. My chest is sore once in a while, but not enough to set off alarm bells. I haven't found any inflamed lymph nodes (which would be really bad to find), so that's a huge relief. My hemoglobin counts have been slowly dropping ever since I stopped injecting the drug that stimulated production, but the numbers are still in the normal range, and I hope they will stay there. My itchiness has almost completely disappeared (knock on wood) -- what a huge relief!! So all-round, life is good!

December 21, 1998:

Well, payback for my rushing around and depriving myself of sleep last week, is suffering from a brutal cold this week! It's so bad that I had to skip physio today (and I wimped out on doing exercises at physio on Friday). I'm sniffling and sneezing, but this gives me a good excuse to stay inside where it's warm. It snowed last night! Today the skies are clear, so it's gorgeous to look outside (from inside where I'm cozy).

The woman Jackie I wrote about last week has been released from the hospital today, on a trial basis. She will have 24-hour-a-day homecare support, and lots of friends will be keeping tabs on her. If things don't work out for her at home, she has a welcoming spot reserved in the Palliative Care Unit of St. Paul's Hospital, a wonderfully nuturing place. I know she is resistant to the idea of going into Palliative Care, but she would be very well cared for there, and she would be under absolutely no obligation to die!

Mark's sister Patricia, her husband Peter, and their son Noah arrive from Calgary today. They are staying with Peter's parents in North Vancouver, but we will be seeing lots of them. On Christmas Eve, the three of them will be joining Mark, me, my mom, and my brother at my mom's place for dinner. It's terrific when we can all get together in a big group.

December 21, 1998 (Later):

Tonight, just as Mark and I were about to sit down to have dinner (which Mark graciously prepared), I heard the sound of drumming. It was coming from the Roundhouse Community Centre which is 18 floors below our apartment, across a courtyard. I went to the window to take a look. The sight was mesmerizing. There were a couple of hundred people surrounding the courtyard roundabout which was used to turn trains decades before the Roundhouse was ever a community centre. The people were carrying handmade lanterns, lit by candles within. There was drumming, singing, and a few people were in the pit of the roundabout, lighting fire in the pattern of a a giant star. I knew instantly that this was a celebration of Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. I felt privileged to be witnessing such an event.

We postponed dinner by a few minutes as we watched the star gradually take its fiery shape. The crowd cheered, the drum bellowed, and my skin shivered. I brought both the cats in to take a look! (I know, call me weird.) Tessa wasn't too interested, but Macska's eyes lit up the moment she saw the sight below. I could feel her heart race as she watched the people, the smoke, and the whole scene.

Although I wasn't taking part in the celebration directly, it was heart-warming to be a witness. I felt the significance of the changing seasons, and I felt alive!

Email sent out Thursday December 24, 1998:

I had a pretty minor scare last week, suspecting I found some troublesome lymph nodes and feeling some pain in my chest. I dropped in on my oncologist (she's very patient and very accommodating!) and she checked me over, reassuring me that I'm probably just experiencing some anniversary jitters. For the past two Christmases I have been in crisis, so it's kind of natural to expect to be sick this Christmas too. But I'm NOT sick (except for this very normal cold I've got), which is TERRIFIC!!

The impending new year gives me pause to reflect on this past year. It has definitely been a rough one, but there have been some huge patches of sunshine! TWO great trips to Maui; countless phone calls, letters, visits, emails, and other unique gestures; lots of prayers and good wishes; and an incredible Medicine Quilt special delivered right to my door -- if you still haven't seen the pictures, you really must! I feel very blessed. I extend a very sincere Thank You to all of you who take the time to read my updates and who let me know in different ways how much you care. You are all very important parts of my life. You motivate me to keep trying to live in the moment, to continue fighting for things I care about, to maintain hope and a strong spirit.

Many of you have sent us gorgeous pictures of your kids. You can find most of them in the photo album here on my web site. Please, keep the pictures coming and we'll post 'em! (Folks without kids can send us pictures too!)

My web site now contains dates for the bone marrow donor information sessions in Vancouver. If you go to a session, there is no obligation to register. And you know what? These days, being a donor is way easier than you probably think. It's really not very different from donating blood, so you might want to look into it. I have friends who owe their lives to the generosity of strangers who donated marrow. Let me thank those of you who have already registered as potential donors. It's a gift beyond measure.

Some of you know I recently joined a choir (!!) which has been tremendously fun. We will be having a concert January 31 at 7pm at the UBC Medical Student & Alumni Building at 12th and Heather. Tickets are $7, kids under 10 are free. Let me know if anyone is interested in attending.

Sending love to you and your families, and many good wishes for the new year, Lisa.

PS - I promised a friend I would ask if anyone on this list who lives in BC is heading to Scotland for a vacation in the new year. If you are, could you drop me a line please?

Friday December 25, 1998

Christmas Eve brought a tremendous surprise to everyone living in Vancouver: snow! Mark's sister and her family visiting from Calgary were pretty disappointed to find the weather here worse than they left behind. Traffic was pretty messed up here in the city for Christmas, but in the end I think most people managed to find their way to their destinations.

We spent Christmas Eve at my mom's place (we've celebrated on Christmas Eve, in the European tradition, ever since I was a kid). Mom's boyfriend Les, my brother Trevor, Mark's sister Patricia, her husband Peter, and their son Noah were all there. It was a lot of fun! Having a toddler there made all the difference, I think. Noah was so excited about each and every present, even the ones that weren't for him! He had so much fun opening all the gifts. It was adorable. My mom really put a lot of work into making Christmas special, and it paid off.

Mark and I felt like we really got a chance to know our nephew on this trip. We look forward to spending lots more time with him and his folks in the new year. (We are long overdue for a visit to Calgary, to visit them and a couple of other sets of friends!)

After the Christmas Eve celebrations, Mark and I drove my brother out to North Delta to be with his best friend's family. We came in for some refreshments and to meet the whole family -- including Lacey the cocker spaniel and her newest adopted sister Brittany (also a cocker spankiel, who was my brother's Christmas present to the family)! Brittany, unfortunately, went into heat within hours of being introduced to her new home! That will add an interesting spin to Christmas, I'm sure!

Unfortunately with all the celebrations, I have come down with an even more brutal cold than I had before Christmas. Ugh. Oh well, plenty of bed rest and fluids for me. It's a good excuse to stay inside, safely away from the cold.

Wednesday December 30, 1998

My birthday, the 26th, was a lot of fun! We had given theatre tickets to a bunch of friends and family to attend "It's Snowin' on Saltspring" at the Arts Club Theatre, and I think everyone had a good time! I was still pretty sickly (I brought my own box of kleenex into the show), but I managed!

So now I'm 30! I'm actually pretty impressed that I have come this far! I know some people get depressed when they hit their thirties, but for me it feels like an accomplishment. After being diagnosed with cancer at the age of 27, finding out it came back with a vengeance at the age of 28, and spending most of 29 not knowing if I'd survive the bone marrow transplant, 30 feels excellent!

I spent most of today at the Cancer Clinic with a close family friend who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. This was her first visit to the clinic, a time when information overload can be a factor, so I came along as an advocate and a scribe. While we were there, we bumped into some of my old nurses and my previous oncologist, Barb Melosky!! Dr. Melosky joked that I'm the patient that turned her into an alcoholic and that ended up making her have to dye the grey out of her hair ... I still remember the day when I told Dr. Melosky I was quitting chemo. She said she had to go home that night to have a scotch. I ended up returning to the chemo regime a few weeks later, after some pain and fear, but I don't regret exercising my right to choose my own treatment. I think Dr. Melosky learned something about me and patients in general that day back in '97 ... She certainly manages to laugh about it today. She's a sweetheart. (And I would never even have noticed she dyes her hair now if she hadn't told me!)

Continue on to read more entries.

Copyright 1998, All Rights Reserved.