Another week over

Well, Mom made it through another week - this one was just radiation. JUST radiation... boy, how quickly we get used to things.

I think this week might have been a little harder for Mom... she didn't have the drugs that they used to fight the chemotherapy side effects. These drugs gave her energy, and increased her appetite. So, she's been sleeping more and eating less. Not great, but in no way bad news.

She met with her radiation oncologist on Thursday. He told her, "You're going to be okay. I would not put you through this otherwise". Mom was so excited! We're choosing this to mean that she will be cured, or at least put into such deep remission that we don't see that ugly cancer for many years.

I wanted to mention a bit more about the Vancouver Island Lodge. Mom shares a room there with a lady fighting cancer, and everyone there has a similar story. It gives Mom a lot of comfort and optimism to be there. There are volunteers everywhere who will do just about anything for you. They pick Mom up in Campbell River at 7:00am Monday morning, and drop her off late Friday afternoon, they shuttle her back and forth between the Lodge and the Cancer Centre as many times as she needs to go. And they're volunteering!

The Lodge's cafeteria is open 24 hours. She can go in any time and get a sandwich (they're all portioned in halves, so no one feels pressured to eat more than they can, or to feel wasteful), a drink or some fruit (Mom was REALLY into the banana bread pudding when I was there). They serve 3 hot meals everyday, where it feels like a social event.

It has felt really strange this week not being with Mom. You put so much of yourself into researching, and being there, and then you're not. So, I catch myself noting the time when I know Mom will be having her snack, or when the volunteer van is picking her up, and thinking about her. Which is what we're all doing here on this blog, whether I'm writing, or you're reading. We're all thinking about her, and wishing her well. Who knew you really could send love over the internet?