Rough couple weeks, and a Check-up.

I find it difficult to have to start off with the passing of a couple of great people who were friends.

The first I would like to speak about is a person who was taken from us way, way too soon. I know the young woman through her mother and Facebook friend Liz Schroeder Anderluh from Chicago area. I had followed Liz's daughter Shea's journey with Hodgkin Lymphoma since the beginning which was August of 2008 at the young age of only fourteen years old.

Shea's great smile!

Shea was diagnosed with Nodular Sclerosing Hodgkins. Shea's journey with this had many ups and downs, Shea even took advantage of a couple of different clinical trials to try to find the treatment that would send her to the road of remission. That wasn't to be and in the end, after many many setbacks, Shea's body was just too weak to fight off a virus that she had contracted. Shea passed away at home peacefully surrounded by her loving family at her side on July 25 2011.

Shea always, always had a great smile no matter where she was in her journey. Even during the worst of times Shea always had a smile. That will be what I remember most about her is her always warm smile. May you rest in eternal peace Shea.

I had the opportunity to stay at one of Shea's favourite places, and that was her family's cottage in Michigan. Shea's parents were gracious enough to let us stay at their cottage for a week back in June of last year. Having stayed there I seen how that was her favourite place, so peaceful and tranquil. See my blog from that stay back in June last year; "For Four Days I Forgot".

Donations to Shea and the Anderluh's favourite charities would be welcomed. They are as follows;

1 - Shea Anderluh Medical Expense Fund c/o Chase Bank, 1 N. Dunton, Arlington Heights, IL 6000

2- Donna's Good Things, P.O. Box 5706, Evanston IL 60204.

3 - Cal's Angels, 721 Ashton Ln. South Elgin, IL 60117

Mike on one of his many adventures, deep in though.

This past week I have lost another friend and active member of my Facebook group The Lymphomaniacs. Mike Stevely. Mike passed away suddenly with his family by his side on Tuesday, July 31, 2012. Mike was too young as well at fifty eight years old. Mike passed away from sudden complications related to the stage three Follicular Hodgkins Lymphoma he had. Mike was from the Woodstock Ontario area, and he liked to travel and be adventurous most recently doing the CN Tower Edge Walk! not for the faint of heart let me tell you. He was always active with the local history of the Woodstock area, another of his past times. His passing caught everyone totally off guard. Mike you will always be remembered by all who crossed paths with you. Rest in Peace my friend.

Mike doing the CN Edge Walk on May 31 this year.

It is always a difficult time when I lose friends to this disease of cancer! My cancer friends here at home and on line are all like family to me and when they pass it's like losing a brother or sister. Just wish more was being done to get to the causes of the disease. We have gotten good over the years to make treatment's a little more bearable and to make us live longer which are great accomplishments, however we need to get to the causes so we can eradicate this disease. I hope to see that day in my time.

This past Saturday we had a memorial get together and pig roast for a neighbour from when we had our trailer at the camp ground. Tim Beahan passed away in early January of this year while in Florida where he spent the winters. Tim was not a cancer patient, but in recent years had many medical issues. He passed of a sudden and massive heart attack at his home in Homosassa Springs, Florida. Was a great afternoon of remembering, food and drink! Tim would have approved!

I also had a follow up appointment with my Palliative Care Physician Dr. Giddings at the Windsor Regional Cancer Program. He was working with an intern Dr. Bergeron whom did my examination and check up today. She was very pleasant to work with. After her initial check up with me, she left the room to consult with Dr. Giddings. 

Medical Resident Dr. Sheri Bergeron and my Palliative Care physician Dr. Gordon Giddings

They both returned to the examination room and they decided that my pain medication would be slightly boosted up again. They bumped me up from 15mg to 18mg of Hydromorph Contin twice daily. We will see how that goes with getting my CIPN pain under control. I have also had some increased pain from a few of the affected lymphnodes which are now viable and palpable. I have one in particular just under my right ear lobe which has been causing me some pain at night while in bed. I lay on my right side normally and the other night I woke up a 3am in extreme agony with pain radiating around my right ear! The one just under and around my right front collarbone also can cause some pain when moving my arm in certain directions.

This pretty much wraps up the latest for now, hope you are all enjoying your summer and taking the time to take care of YOU!. Enjoy.