Sunday, June 26th

We have arrived.  Michellie is out of the pain and getting on with life!  Woo Hoo!!!!  Sam arrived last night, and we enjoyed some gluten free pizza, and this morning they headed down to the Shining Waters for breakfast.  Michellie's friend Alexandria is playing her harp at the market today, so we will all head down to see.  Later Michellie will head to Sam's for a few days.  We will anxiously wait the Math mark tomorrow, and then Michellie is truly home free.  I am heading out for 16 days of fun and healing work with workshops and teaching.  David is holding down the Fort as the renovations continue.  He is mending from all of his illness over the last two weeks, so he should be able to relax and enjoy some free time without me.  Michellie will be preparing our house to get all the cat hair out that we can before the Wiltinks arrive for a two week visit.  And that, is the plan for July!

It seems that the last few weeks have given Michellie some tools to cope with, and heal with.  She is relieved that her digestive tract is not showing any organ disfunction, and that everything may be able to calm down.  She has noticed a shift in what she can eat, and she is being careful, but trying more dairy and wheat options again.  We hope this continues and that she will be able to heal and work past the issues that got her to her initial place.  The summer should be a good opportunity to relax, grow and heal.  She is still hopeful for a summer job, and we are ready to put her to work on a few projects here if she wants. 

We will wait for the mail to start being delivered again, and we will hold for a few more bracelets to find their way home to us, then we will prepare Michellie's project for everyone.  If you haven't returned your bracelet yet, we would love it if you would send it now! 

Health and Happiness to you all for a summer full of Energy, Fun and Friendship!

Friday, June 24th

It is hard to believe we have reached Friday.  It was such a crazy week and definitely different than it should have been.  Firstly, Michellie's reports from Wednesday at the IWK.  Michellie has completely clean scans and everything in her body is healing as it should be.  The Thymus is returning to its normal size, as they usually see shrinkage from the chemo.  The GI appointment determined that Michellie does not have any organ issues to be concerned about.  They did run another test for Celiac's and we have not heard anything about this, so we are assuming she does not have it.  The doctor felt that all of the changes we had made to Michellie's diet was working for her and this was the best we could be doing.  He will monitor her for the next three months and reevaluate in September.  Already we are noticing that Michellie's symptoms have lessened over the recovering months, and this could be due to the diet as well as time.  We will continue to do what we are doing and letting her determine how much wheat to consume.  Sugar is a tough one, but we continue to try and keep that to a minimum.  Dairy is a challenge, but we have not heard that she came back from the tests with lactose intolerance, so we will just avoid the things that bother her.  Knowing that there is no organ issue or dis-ease attached to her digestive issues, I feel better able to approach everything with more energy work.  I was nervous to do any allergy tapping if there was more issues underneith, but now I will be able to work with the wheat and dairy to see if we can help the body to cope and adjust better. 

So, Wednesday we should have been celebrating all of the incredible news, but Michellie was suffering from intense pain in her throat and ears from the irritation the eye infection had created.  There were lots of tears until the pain killers eventually got at the pain.  As it is now Friday, this is starting to back off and she is feeling a little less each day.

After her challenging week, Michellie continued to plug away at her math and trying to complete all of her assignments.  This morning she went in to write her math exam.  It took her 4 hours to complete, but she took her time and took breaks when she needed them.  She felt really good when she was done, and that was the first time she ever commented that she felt good about an exam.  She did feel relieved and proud to be done, and she was lost as to what she should do with truly free time.  We are so proud of her for working through all of her challenges and putting her best foot forward all the time.  We are in awe of the incredible spirit that Michellie has shown us.  We could not praise or hug her enough this afternoon to share our excitement with her.  She should have her math mark on Monday, and hopefully a pass to grade 11 math. 

This evening Michellie is hiking West Mabou with Tyson and his parents.  She has really tried to partake in any invites that are getting her outside and exercising.  I am sure the walk will have been a lot of fun with the three of them. And, the conversations will probably have been full of laughter and fun too!

Yesterday Michellie helped me map out a Labyrinth in our front yard, and we hope to complete this over the summer so that by fall we will have a beautiful pathway on our front lawn to enjoy and heal with.  But for today we will celebrate one year of being here, and for a daughter that is cancer free and on the road to recovery.  What a gift!

Monday, June 20th

Well, even though the Port A Cath has been removed, we are still enjoying the challenges of recovery and getting to appointments. 

For Father's Day, Michellie and Dad were able to go together to emergency in Inverness.  David had his eyes checked again for the infection he has and the strep throat he also has.  Michellie was checked for both.  She has drops for her eyes and her throat is very sore but not infected.  What a great way for David to begin "his" day!

Today should have been a pulmonary test and oncology appointment in Halifax.  Instead, we started with goopy eyes and an excrutiating sore throat.  We stopped in Antigonish to do a blood workup for both the IWK and Dr. Ortiz in Antigonish.  We stopped in to see the Doc, and she prescribed a different cream than emergency gave us yesterday and a solution for the sore throat.  Her recommendation was honey and lime juice made into a syrup and sucked on through the day (my kind of remedy).  She also recommended gargling with baking soda one day and white vinegar the other.  I think we will try to use the water machine and just adjust the ph ourselves.  But, this should help with the irritation in Michellie's throat.  The eyes have stopped itching with the new prescription and I think we might be on the mend.  We cancelled the remainder of the trip to Halifax, and Michellie has spent the afternoon recovering on the couch.

So, seems that we are continuing along with interesting complications to all that Michellie experiences.  Hopefully she will be feeling fine for the appointments that are scheduled in Halifax on Wednesday.  And, hopefully she will be able to focus on her math to write her exam on Friday.  We wouldn't want her to be bored or anything while recovering! 

I am ready for my retreat.  I will be happy to run away for a bit and do some Tai Chi and share some healing work to those other than my family.  Oh, it is so close I can smell the difference, oh, sorry, that is really the rain again.  Hello clouds, can you just open up a little and let the sunshine in for all of us?!

Saturday, June 18th

Photos from Michellie's hike in the Coal Mines last week!

Friday, June 17th

We arrived at David and Diane's for a fabulous dinner on Wednesday night.  Dianne had made sure they were all Michellie's favorites, and we were spoiled with barbecued chicken, maple vegetables, salad, potatoes and Low sugar Chocolate Mousse pie.  Michellie was thrilled.  They could not get over how much hair had grown since the last time we had seen them.  We had a good chuckle over the wave her hair makes down the back to one side.  It was a great evening with lots of laughter and story sharing.

Thursday morning we arrived at day surgery for 8 am.  She was scheduled for 9, and they did the preliminary stuff to prepare.  At 9:40 she was off to surgery, and by 10:40 she was back in recovery.  Michellie reacted to the anesthetic again, so there were tears and hyperventilating.  A few ESR's and some Tactile Therapy on her feet and legs helped to calm this down.  She was still having some pain, so they gave her another shot of pain killer and then she slept for over an hour.  When she woke this time she was in much better spirits.  They gave her some Tylenol for the afternoon pain, and we prepared her for the CT scan at 2:00.  The Tylenol did not sit well on her empty stomach, so by the time we had her wheeled to CT she was shaking and sick to her stomach.  They whisked her in for the Scan, and she began shaking and crying.  I left her with the technician and paced the waiting room in anticipation.  After the scans, I helped the nurse to take out her IV and Michellie was able to calm down a bit.  We wheeled her up to the 6th floor to rest for a bit, and I found our family coordinator to check on the schedule for Monday.  After some apple juice and a protein bar, Michellie started to feel much better and calmer.  By 3:30 we were ready to leave the hospital.

Michellie and I headed over to Liquid Gold for some of her favorite Olive Oil, and we stopped for some food at the Health Food Store.  Michellie started with some dairy free sorbet, this put a smile on her face.  I picked up some curry wraps and samosas, as well as an elephant ear.  Michellie wasn't too hungry to start, but this changed with the wonderful aromas in the car.  By New Glasgow Michellie could not get rid of her french fry craving, so we made a stop at Wendy's for this.  We were home by 8 pm with the smell of rice pancakes coming through the window (Michellie's favorite).  Dad makes these so well.  Sam was waiting for Michellie too, and we were all able to relax for the evening.

This morning Michellie was a little stiff in the neck, but she did not need any more pain killers.  With some movement today, she should be ready to get back to regular activity.  Math is calling for her, so she does have this to do. David's eye infection was even worse this morning, so Sam and Michellie drove him in to Emergency for this.  I am back at work completing some projects this morning.  Michellie should have a good weekend to recover, and the scans next week will not be as intrusive or demanding!  YEAH!

So, we have reached the point we have all been waiting for - the Port A Cath removal, and the passing of the Healing Bracelets.  We all cannot believe that this day has arrived.  Seems like forever, and then again, like yesterday when we started this voyage.  A year ago we were on route to Cape Breton with a truck loaded with stuff!  Once we have David's eyes assessed, we will be able to take a few moments and celebrate this amazing time.  Thank you everyone for being with us on this journey and for being such a pillar of strength for us.  We could not have done it without you holding us up.  Michellie is such an incredibly strong, determined, gifted being and we are so blessed to have her looking at a future full of possibility.  Namasthe everyone and thank you!

We will continue to keep you updated about Michellie's journey as she heals and strengthens through the summer.  Her next set of scans after next week will be in September.  We are looking forward to her Children's Wish to Hawaii in December and then her scans at this time as well.  We will share this celebration time with you as well.  HUGS everyone and hold your family tight, enjoy each moment and stay present in the moment to allow yourself to live each day as completely as you can. 

Wednesday, June 15th

What a week.  Michellie has been suffering through eating this week.  She has endured stabbing pains, cramps, fatigue and clouded thinking.  We have also noticed her fuse is shorter, and she has a reduced amount of concentration abilities.  We should be all done with this nonsense by Sunday. 

Michellie put her best foot forward to try some of the techniques in her "depression" handout.  She and her buddies at school noted that it really speaks for pretty much all teenagers.  So, Michellie is feeling a little less threatened by the whole thing.  She went jogging to get more active, and she went with a group of friends hiking in the Coal Mines on Saturday.  She really has tried to be active, engaged and participating. 

Michellie's surgery is Thursday morning at 9, so we are heading to Halifax in a few minutes.  David has pink eye, so he is staying to hold down the fort and recoup. (In fact, Michellie had to drive him to emergency yesterday because the eyes were swollen to golf balls.  Thank goodness for her Alberta Learners). After surgery Michellie has a CT scan at 2, and then we hope to be on the road for home.  Thank you for holding her in your thoughts tomorrow morning as she celebrates this momentous occasion.  She is very excited about getting the bump out of her chest and getting back to a more "normal". 

I met with the teachers yesterday to determine Michellie's preparedness for Grade 11.  She has done extremely well with all of her assignments and the teachers were very pleased with her efforts and her work.  With all that is still going on for her, we are in awe at the strength and determination that she continues to shine with.  She is still working at Math, and she will have to write an exam next week to show that she can do the work.  The math teacher is not convinced she is ready, but Michellie is ready to challenge the odds and show she can complete this course.  We look forward to getting off wheat and letting her study with a clear mind next week so she can easily do the exam.  Her art work really impressed the teacher, so we know that Michellie has some of the incredible talents that her artist Grandma's possess.  Thank you for passing those talents down.

We will try to update the news of surgery as soon as we can.  Thank you and HUGS to all of you still reading.

Thursday, June 9th

Wednesday was our last trek to Antigonish for a Pentamadene treatment.  It was so much easier this time than all the rest, and we were happy to be done.  Next we headed to an appointment with the Oncology Pediatrician.  Dr. Ortiz was incredible.  Finally we had someone who looked at Michellie's whole list of challenges and began to address them and set them up for assessment prior to her appointments next week. 

Her purple feet and legs are the result of tight capillaries, and there is no harm in them.  There is nothing wrong with the circulation or lymph, and there are no ulcerations to show pooling.  So, we don't have to worry about it, but walking will help to keep things flowing.  That was easy.

Her sore knees could be a result of some of the drugs she took, so they took an X-ray to make sure nothing else was happening.  She has no arthritis in them - that is great!  And, the knee caps track properly, it is just that her right leg rotates in and that is the way she was given her legs.  So, we don't need to worry about this, but we do need to continue to do strengthening exercises to help support the knees. 

Michellie is excessively tight, and Dr. Ortiz was not concerned about that at this point.  With physio helping us along, she is confident we will be able to get Michellie strong and somewhat flexible for her natural ability.  Again, walking will help. 

Her sore jaws could be due to medication, and the xray to the knee may shed some light in that direction.  Otherwise, they will monitor her for grinding teeth and clenching.  I will have a look at my TMJ techniques for this one.

We have tests next week for Gluten intolerance and Lactose intolerance.  Michellie has to eat wheat and drink milk in preparation.  She was a little anxious about this slowing her energy down to complete the last of her assignments, but we will do the best we can.  She sees the GastrIntestinal Specialist on the 22nd, and we want to have the tests all complete for this appointment. 

Michellie's energy level was assessed with an anxiety quiz and a depression quiz.  Michellie scored as a moderate depressive with a moderate level of anxiety.  She was not happy to have a label, and she is not keen to "talk" to anyone about it.  However, we had some good discussions together after she got over her initial anger, and she has a very positive and eager demeaner, and I am sure that the tools they give her to help her deal with anxiety will help it all.  Since the treatment she definitely has a shorter fuse when things don't work the way she thought or if she has to read instructions and she doesn't understand them.  And, with all the move and friends and coping with cancer, and coping with fitting in after cancer, there is a lot to consider and work through to find the way to belong. 

One thing we did talk about was how hard it is to be a teenager that can not be around smoke, or who doesn't drink, and who has limitations on food.  When she is with friends at school, she can be with them until they start smoking and then she has to leave.  Or, if there is a party, they will all be drinking, and it is no fun to be the sober one watching all the goofing around.  So, how do you fit in, and how do you make it look like you are not trying to avoid while you are trying to cope?  That is a good question.  Michellie has some great thoughts and challenges and she would love to have a way to make this situation easier for her to belong in a group and to have fun with them.  (I certainly don't miss my high school years at all!).

Michellie is on her way to getting many of her health challenges addressed.  We are sooo thrilled. 

This week Michellie will be finishing her art and foods assignments, and then next week is the last of English and Math.  She will be finished Math by Wednesday, and she will be relieved about that. 

Michellie's hair is now long enough to take the scarf off, so as the weather gets hotter, Michellie will be quick to get rid of that scarf and show the world her new head of hair.  It is a similar color to before, and it is straight.  There is a little curl at the bottom of her neck that waves the hair from the right to the left, but once the length begins to accumulate, this will disappear from view.  She is beautiful no matter what, and her smile and eyes are radiant!

Monday, June 6th

We had a few challenging days last week with back aches, and we have determined that there are a series of muscles, tendons, fascia and ligaments that seem to be too tight or too loose, and lead to Michellie's spasms.  We are going to play with these ideas and see what we can do to balance them out.  Always a good challenge for Momma! We determined this after another trip to emergency on Thursday with the spasms taking her breath away and preventing her from walking.  Pain killers were prescribed, and helped, but we want to get to the root of the problem.  So, thank goodness for Touch for Health and Circuits Alive training.

As well, it seems that Michellie had stopped taking the stomach lining booster with Glutathione.  So, we added that back in, and she is finding that this has lessened the cramping when eating.  She was back to cramping with every meal.  She is definitely being careful to stay as close to Gluten free as possible, and this makes her the happiest.  We were thrilled to be back at the Farmer's Market on Sunday.  We are now stocked with organic meats that are to die for!  Last week I purchased organic ground beef and cottage cheese.  This cheese is incredible.  I made a huge lasagna and there wasn't a morsel left.  Our first lettuce of the season was last night, and wow it is incredible with our Liquid Gold Vinegar and Oils.  You just gotta love when the gardens are producing again!!!!

Math is coming along.  Michellie has 5 topics to finish before the 15th, and she is going to do it.  She got 90% on her quiz today and she was very happy about that.  We will breath deeply and then cheer when she successfully finishes Math 10 this year!!

So, the boys have headed to Toronto to be with the Greenwell's and Great Grammy.  David needed a rest and break from renos and MacKenzie was psyched to see family and tapping buddies.  It should be a great time for everyone.  Michellie and I are enjoying the quietness of the house.  We had movie night last night, and tonight Michellie is going to come and try Tai Chi with our beginner class.  I sure hope she likes it.  I know her body could really benefit from all the relaxing and balancing of muscles that Tai Chi accomplishes.  For those people wanting to learn more about Tai Chi, I have added a new blog for enthusiasts.  Check out http://www.greenwell2.blogspot.com/.  Please become a follower and feel free to leave comments there.

The bracelets are arriving daily, and we are hopeful that the mail strike will not slow down the receiving of as many as possible.  Thanks for the great stories and the dedication many of you have had to sending energy and support.  You are all so incredible!!!

Wednesday, June 1

It is hard to believe we are at Wednesday already, and June?!  Time flies when renovations are occupying your mind and space.  We have had some challenges this week with cramps and aches and such for Michellie.  Yesterday we tried to get the B vitamins bumped up to boost her energy, and added back in the stomache enzymes to boost her digestive tract.  Michellie would just like to be normal again, so it is hard to get her back into any pill, concoction or high vitamin food.  It is tough.  Michellie was feeling overwhelmed with the Relay for Life challenge on Friday.  It was too much energy wise, and too raw of a reality to embrace as yet.  So, she has pulled out of participating with her team, but she wishes them the greatest of success.  For anyone that was waiting to donate for Michellie, please feel free to support the Cheticamp event in honor of Michellie as you wish.  She should have been named on her team, but if you cannot find her, please give a different way.  Apparently there will be many luminaries in her honor, and David will make a trek up to take photos for a keepsake for her for later. 

On a higher note, Michellie spent the afternoon with Margie working on her Math, and she has managed to face this challenge head on.  Michellie exclaimed as she got into the car that "this is easy".  These words were a song to my ear!  She should be able to gain all the math skills required to complete Math 10 before she heads to Halifax for surgery and her 3 month tests in the middle of June. 

With the impending postal strike, we are hoping that it is short lived.  If we need to postpone the healing bracelet project, we will, but we do hope to be able to photograph the bracelet labyrinth on Father's Day.  Thank you everyone who have begun to send these back and sent their reflections with the bracelet.  We are so grateful to all of you for your continued energy and wishes, and look forward to sending a little back to you in return!