Hey gang!  Last time I blogged I mentioned that we’d get to the amazing people I’ve met during my journey and we’ll get to that in a few. First for an update.  Well turns out the problem with my eye is indeed a tumour on my orbital bone that is pushing the on my eyeball (its the size of the eyeball! ewwww!) and there’s a little activity in the cranium so…. last week was radiation to the orbital bone and the skull for 5 days.  No biggie, but turns out my brain is not a fan of getting scrambled so I’m nauseous and unbalanced and still seeing double out of the right eye.  Good times!  Eating is a bit of a challenge but I force food down my neck anyway knowing it’ll help me heal.  Of course my friends and family make sure I eat good stuff!  Good news is that I’m getting better every day and I really think I will be able to resume my projects next week! Can’t wait !  Haven’t seen any signs of hair loss yet!  Yahoo!! I forgot another trick for those of you who are losing your hair and/or growing it out, a satin pillow case!  Less tugging on the hair and skin (I try everything to prevent those nasty wrinkles).

Now for the people I’ve met along the way.  It goes without saying that the medical team that has been a part of my life for the past 9 years are exceptional people.  They are a testament to humanity and kindness.   The way they make sure to treat you as a whole person and not just a disease makes you feel like they really want what is best for you AND your family.  You would think that going for treatment or for an appointment would be depressing and intimidating but everyone from the volunteers to the doctors are positive and upbeat people.  Even in the chemo room, people are talking, laughing and making the best of their situations.  I can’t say enough about the nurses in that room.  I really feel that they are my friends and their openness and kindness make it easy to confide in them, joke with them and just be genuine with them.  We share pictures, stories and great laughs!

Surprisingly enough most people getting treatment are really not negative (some are of course but I feel that these people would be negative about everything).  They are up-beat and, like me, feel confident that the treatment will either work or at least patch them up.  Smiles are usually the order of the day in that place, if not, I try to crack jokes to get people laughing .  Usually works to! Asking for a mani-pedi usually gets a good laugh.  Understandably some have no hope and the looks on their faces are telling of their struggles.  I’ll admit that breaks my heart until I realize, “wait a minute! I’m in that same boat! Wow! Back the truck up!” I wish I could go talk to them but I feel that’s it’s really not my place to do so.  That’s why my visit next week will be to see if I can distribute cards to patients guiding them to my blog.  If I can only help a few I’ll call it a good job!

A couple of weeks ago I met a gentlemen that’s about my age who happens to be a relative of a relative,  who has terminal cancer and he’s the most energetic happy person I think I ever met!  His life story is such a tragic one too.  Physically and sexually abused as a kid, suffered a debilitating boating accident where no one thought he’d make it, more injuries and finally a terminal cancer diagnosis!  He’s sick every single day but according to him “Hey! Life is good!  I have a couple years left and I’m making the most of it!”  He bought a big camper and travels when they can and is basically making the most of his situation.  He always has a smile on his face and bitterness is just not part of his life (even towards his abusers).  He just wants to leave behind positive vibes and good feelings.  He’s a good person, a great husband and an amazing father!  What a great legacy really.  Even though you don’t know him, and I don’t feel that it’s my place to tell you his name, I hope that you will remember his life lessons so that his life’s work will somehow live on.

So many other people have come into my life during this journey that I just can’t, at the moment, think of them all.  All of then with different stories, different backgrounds and different ways of coping.  I like to think that they have helped me to either adopt their ways of thinking or thinking “Hell No!” I’m not going to be that negative Nelly!  Either way, people have an impact on your outlook and it’s up to you to do the cafeteria thing and pick and choose what’s right for you.  Just try to stay on the positive side of the train.  Remember, No Negativity Allowed On The Danielle Train!

Ok that was not humorous at all!  Bummer!  Maybe it’s time for a funny BT story! This is a doozie!  BT and I are fans of Pink! Her energy and music are really inspiring for strong women.  Anyway,  Renee bought me tickets to her concert in Toronto and it was going to be a big girls’ night out with cousins and aunts (8 of us).  But wouldn’t you know it, BT’s feelings were hurt because he wasn’t invited! “But I love PINK too! You’re all being sexist!”  WAAAAAA!!!!!  Dinner and the concert were great despite BT pouting back at Tara’s house.  Next day, Renee and Silvano had tickets to a Leafs game and after an all day pouting session, BT convinced Renee to give him her tickets to the game so that she can meet up with friends in downtown Toronto.

Off the three of them go downtown, Renee to meet friends and the boys at the Air Canada Centre.  Do any of you realize how expensive it is to get roaring drunk at an NHL hockey game?  Well BT found out!  I guess he felt a little guilty about Silvano paying for the tickets so he just kept buying beer.  Not a big deal really until they somehow weasel their way into the ACC Lounge and STEAL two really nice ornaments!  The story does not stop there.  They find out where Renee and her friends are and proceed to drink more beer out of the pitcher no less!  She kicks them out and sends them to another bar to eat something so that she won’t have to carry the two home.  They taxi it back and she has them engaging in a water drinking contest and goes to bed.  I get up the next day and see these awesome trinkets and think “Oh how nice, BT thought of stopping and buying me a little something!”  He gets up and of course remembers nothing!  So we did the logical think and look up pics in his phone.  Pics of them sneaking out with the ornaments AND a picture of BT wearing a white beanie and carrying a Chihuahua!! WHAT THE FUCK! He has no clue!  It would seem that one of the bouncers had the little dog and BT must have asked him to take a pick with his dog and his hat?????  That was a rough day after the night before for BT!  You’d think he’d have learned his lesson, but no!  There are like so many BT stories like this it just makes my life unpredictable and funny.  I know you don’t do these silly over-the-top antics to make us all laugh BT, but come on!!  Great job babe!!

Next time we’ll try to tackle awkward comments people make to try to make you feel good!