Week #7 Roundup and Words from Daddy

The team has now raised $5475.00, and we are 73% of our way to reaching our fundraising goal! This week ended up being a good week for Stacey, who only needs $365 more to reach $2500. Many thanks goes out to Jill for providing a donation that ended in a nine! Looking at our donation thermometer is much more pleasant for all of us.

Yesterday didn't really feel like Christmas. I don't even think dad knew it was Christmas despite our seasonal greetings. He doesn't say it, but you can tell by the expression on his face that he is constantly having headaches. The nurses are going to just keep him sedated and comfortable from now on. Probably within the next little while he will have a pain pump that regularly pumps pain medication into his system. I also suspect that he can't see anymore. He sees spots and he doesn't know who is there unless you speak. Apparently hearing is the last sense to go, so all of us will continue talking even though he is becoming increasingly unresponsive. Lastly, he hasn't eaten in a few days, as he can't swallow. He is under 130lbs. Everyone wants the suffering to end.

One of the things that dad started to do once cancer forced him into early retirement was join the Rotary Club of Etobicoke. As a new member, he was required to give a speech introducing himself. Here is an excerpt from the speech he delivered in September 2008. Hopefully it will give everyone a good idea of what dad is like, what he had to go through/goes through, and what he has learned.

"In May 2006 I became ill, and in August 2006 was diagnosed with primary brain cancer. Specifically, the type of brain cancer I have is a very rare form of non-Hodgkin's disease, lymphoma of the central nervous system, less than thirty cases in Canada.

Following the diagnosis, I was immediately hospitalized at PMH and received 5 rounds of chemotherapy (each round took 4 days of intravenous treatment) followed by three week recovery time to ensure I had adequate white blood cells for the next treatment. Following the four months of chemotherapy, I had 20 "full brain" radiation treatments. Although these treatments themselves only took about five minutes, each treatment session took about one half hour, as a full face mask directing the rays only to marked tumor zones took substantial preparation by the radiation technicians. Following the 4 weeks of daily radiation, I then had two more rounds of chemotherapy.

...Before I took ill, I had strong analytical, communication, problem solving and people skills, and a staff of fifteen. Since my diagnosis I am now in the process of acquiring many new coping skills. The treatment and the tumors have impacted my short and long-term memory, and my general analytical and problem solving abilities, but my communication, mathematics, and people skills remain as prior, and I am grateful for that.

I attribute being alive today totally to the expertise that exists at PHM brain centre. They are recognized as one of the top five hospitals in the world for brain cancer research and treatment.

I have learned many things since my illness:

1. Never to sweat the small stuff.
2. To stay optimistic and look to the positives every day.
3. Don't give up regardless of your diagnosis, as breakthroughs in cancer treatments are happening every day.
4. Don't be discouraged by what you can no longer do, focus on what you can do.
5. Keep in touch with your friends. Although they have busy lives, they also may be reluctant to call, as they may not know what to say. Often it is up to you to make the calls and maintain contact.
6. Longevity with many brain tumors can be reasonably short since many cannot be removed and many others do not respond well to treatment. The most important thing a brain tumor patient can do is to get their affairs in order and ensure a family member knows the whereabouts of bank accounts, life insurance policies, computer passwords, wills, etc."

My daddy has a brilliant mind and spirit, and cancer is taking it away from him. If you want to help, look to the sidebar to our donation links. You know what to do.

I should also add that the staff at Dorothy Ley hospice is wonderful, and dad has received nothing but the most compassionate treatment there. Unfortunately, the government does not provide hospices with nearly enough funding, and they have to get by on the donations of others. If you would like to make a donation, please click here.