buzzed

This weekend, we shaved what was left of Mark's long hair off.

Before I met him, he used to shave his head every few years but since we'd been together he'd been growing it out.  It got quite long and we only very occasionally trimmed the ends.

Chemo seems to be catching up with him a bit and we've noticed that his hair was starting to fall out, little by little, over the past couple of weeks.  On Saturday morning, I was sitting outside with the dogs and Mark walked into the porch with the clippers in his hand.  We grabbed a lawn chair and went outside to do the job. 

It took a bit longer to get it finished than I thought.  By the end, Mark had a lot of hair in his hands.  We put most of it in the compost bin but some of it did get blown away and I'm sure will end up in neighbourhood bird nests. 

The breeze was pretty cool on Saturday and he did feel a bit chilled at times.  All weekend, he kept reaching up for his hair but it wasn't there.  To be honest, I think that he looks a lot healthier and younger with the hair gone.  It was getting pretty straggly and he looked unwell and dragged down by it.  He's thinking about leaving it this way, even after chemo is done. It was weird though, this morning when we were getting ready for work, for me to not braid his hair.  It's something we've done every morning for almost 15 years and it felt odd to not do that today.

Chemo - Round 5

It almost feels like we're starting to get the hang of this chemo stuff, at least the clinic part anyway.  When I arrive to meet Mark, I no longer need to give my name, the ladies in the reception area know me. 

This week's visit to the Cancer Clinic was quiet.  It was nice actually after the last couple of visits.  Even though it was only the 5th time we've been there (and I think there are folks there who have visited the place a lot more than we have), you quickly get into a routine with it.

During today's visit, there was a newbie receiving her orientation information (while she received her first treatment).  It was interesting to hear the conversation and we chuckled quietly to ourselves at parts of it.  We have both learned a lot, through trial and error, about how to deal with certain aspects of chemo and much of the advice we received during Mark's first treatment was not super helpful.  The orientation does give you a basic starting point though.  The rest of it, you just figure out as you go along.

In other, non-chemo news, today is the 48th Anniversary of the day my parents were married.  Happy Anniversary Mum & Dad!!

Chemo - Round 4

Today was round 4 of Mark's chemo.

I'd be lying if I said that it wasn't starting to get to him.  We try to focus on the fact that he's 2 months in now, with only 4 to go.  33% of the way through.

He's been having a lot of nausea since the last session and his energy level is taking a beating.  They keep telling us that the medication he's receiving accumulates in his system and that this is part of the normal process.  I think it's discouraging for him because he's thinking, if I feel this lousy after only 2 months, how will I feel at 4 months... and at 6.  Fear of the unknown is a powerful thing and it's hard not to wonder.

My hope is that he's just had a bad patch these past few days and that it will get better.  Overall, I'm very proud of what he has accomplished.  I don't think too many folks could continue to work every day, and do the stuff he's been doing in the garden recently, while taking chemo.  Perhaps this is just his body's way of telling him to slow it down a bit.

We'll miss you Mr Mowat

I was sad to hear the news that Farley Mowat, a true Canadian national treasure, had passed away.

He was 92 years old and lived an incredible life. 

Once, a long time ago, I had an opportunity to meet him.  Back in my radio days, he visited the station for an interview with Erin O'Donnell and Marisa Dragani.  He was quite a character, sweet, funny, and I remember that he gave us all a quick smooch before he left.  We were all a little star struck, after all, he was a living legend.

What I liked most about Farley Mowat was how "un-Canadian" he was.  He wasn't always sweet and polite, he was controversial, he was feisty, full of piss and vinegar and he broke that stereotype of the meek and mild Canadian.  Farley Mowat was a shit disturber of the highest order and we don't have enough of those in our neck of the woods. 

Chemo - round 3

Chemo day again today.

Third time's a charm?  Well I wouldn't say that but we seem to be figuring out how things work.

Honestly, the level care Mark's been receiving at the Cancer Clinic has been terrific.  The staff are generally great and the facility is lovely.  Overall, the patients and their family members are very friendly, without being nosy, and seem to be genuinely respectful of each other. 

The past couple of weeks have gone pretty well for Mark.  He seems to be adjusting to this new routine, the PICC line and all that it brings with it, very well.  It's hard to believe that we're already 6 weeks into this.  We're both keeping our fingers crossed that things continue to go as smoothly over the next few months.