June 2

Hello everyone 

Life has been hectic, crazy and sad these last 4 months and because my routine changed from going to Vancouver every 1.5 weeks and staying there 1.5 weeks to going down every 3 weeks leaving Whitehorse Wed and flying back on Fri, it left me little time to fit in updates. I know, I know, excuses, excuses! 

None the less, my treatment in January went well and reports on the CT scan were good. February, I got really sick and was not able to go out for treatment. My next visit was March 5-7 and March 26-28. Inbetween those dates, I took some me time and headed to Las Vegas with Ralph, Miranda and Neil and got to spend some time with Shiela and Jim who were also in Vegas. We had a great time and the weather was good. Made our regular donations at the slot machines but we know our limit and stay within it.....lol.

Embracing the adage "enjoy life while you can", I decided (and Ralph agreed) that we could buy a new travel trailer with a slide out. Our trailer that we have had for many years is still in great shape but it had bunks and smaller table seating and no slide and for years we have wanted to upgrade.....we finally did it. Buying a new trailer is not all rainbows and unicorns though as we have had issues already with it. Having said that, we are staying positive and hoping that we are just working out all the kinks and then all will be well. We also decided to give our kids the other trailer versus selling it. They have worked hard for so long and bought themselves a house this past October so they will be house poor for a long time. I felt pretty good about being able to give them the trailer. We also purchased a 2023 Chev Silverado for Ralph. He has had to make due with a SUV for the past year or so until we were in a position to buy something else. We flew to Calgary in April and picked up the truck and then the trailer and burned back to Whitehorse. 

So health update: I am having issues with my platelets. 

My next treatment was supposed to happen on April 18 but my platelets were at 80 on Thursday and then 96 Friday morning. To get treatment, your platelets need to be 100 or more. So......not happy! 

We re-schedule treatment for May 2 but again, platelet numbers were down to 80 again. No treatment. 

Since that happened twice, they have post-poned scheduling anymore treatments until we can figure out what is going on. I was referred to a Hematologist and have been having to go to the hospital for blood draws every week. My numbers started climbing and made it to 102 but with the blood tests last week they dropped back down to 90. The oncologist now does not think that my numbers are due to the bevacizumab that I am on. I have another call with the Hematologist tomorrow (also had a bunch of blood work done for her). We will see if she has any answers. I am still experiencing bleeding gums which has gotten worse each week. I now wake up in the morning to spontaneous bleeding in my mouth and throughout the day and my gums are raw and sore. That really sucks. I have a dental appointment tomorrow to check up on that. I was supposed to get a root canal done near the end of June but I have cancelled that for the time being. Only problem is that you have to be off treatment for 6 weeks prior and 6 weeks after a dental procedure. 

Normally, I do not get stressed or anxious about everything that is going on but I am definitely experiencing more of it now because I am so very worried that I will not be able to continue with the study and the treatment. This, in my opinion, is what is giving more time. 

On a positive note, I booked a cruise. It is in November and it will be the first one I have every been on. Ralph and I will be joining Shiela and Jim and will be going to Orlando, Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas, Ocho Rios, Jamaica, George Town, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, Mexico. My first time for any of those places. I hope like heck to neither of us get sea sick or land sick (me). I am so looking forward to the trip. Well that is it in a nutshell. I will endeavor to update more often. 

Hope everyone is happy and healthy, love to all!

Errinlee