Hello Everyone:
Each time Gary and I visit Toronto, we return to L.A. feeling as if we have been away for such a long time. On the other hand, when we arrive in Toronto, we realize how much we have missed our home, our family and our friends. How very blessed we are to be able to feel this way.
We flew back to L.A. last Saturday after a whirlwind visit filled with many appointments, and too little time spent with family and friends. The weather in Toronto was superb and we managed to snatch a few opportunities to enjoy our backyard – landscaping almost completed but for a few minor items, and still displaying some lovely colours. Our prolific rhubarb plant offered up a bonus late season crop which we were able to pass on to friends. Gary’s love of raspberries came to the fore as he successfully located a few late ones which the birds had spared.
The highlight of our visit was Tris and Alexa’s civil wedding ceremony. As their Cancun celebrations for Nov 9th would not be legally recognized in Canada, they arranged their City Hall affair while we were in Toronto. The majority of the parents came in from out of town, as did Sean who took the red-eye from Vancouver, to participate in a very intimate and lovely day. Since the appointed time was 2.30 p.m., we were all treated afterwards to champagne, some lovely hors d’oeuvres and cake. It turned out to be a beautifully sunny day surpassed only by the radiance of the young couple and especially Alexa who looked simply beautiful. For those of you who have the time, do check their website which Sean put together for them at http://www.trisalexa.com/
Underlying all of the celebrations was an important decision which the young couple and more specifically, Alexa, had to make. With pretty much all details finalized for the two to work in Hong Kong, Alexa was offered a very meaningful promotion to run the Toronto office. After considerable deliberation and soliciting parental feedback, the decision has been made to continue with their original plans to head to Hong Kong at the end of November.
As a result of a referral from a good friend, I was able to get a last-minute appointment with a Healer. The process proved extremely interesting. She is a young mother who does this all in her spare time and with no compensation from her patients as this seems to negate her healing powers. She uses special oil for massage and the most interesting part of this was her ability to feel the excessive heat coming from the tumour. Most people do not realize that while the pancreas is tucked under the stomach, it is actually positioned quite close to the spine and she mentioned that she was able to feel the heat coming through from both sides of my abdominal area. I was also given some leaves from a sugar apple tree which had to be boiled. Some of this I drank as a tea and the rest was used to shower myself as a form of cleansing. I was asked to visit her once more before returning to L.A. She gave me some of the massage oil to rub on the front and back where she felt the heat. Gary and I were inspired by the patience of her husband and three year old daughter whose lives are radically impacted by the many who visit for help. They accept this healing gift with grace and a deep sense of responsibility.
The past three weeks have been both joyous and sad for us. Sad, as we received news of LJ’s passing after no more than 3 months of treatment. LJ’s passing, together with two other lives lost from other causes, continue to remind us of the fragility of life and the importance of making every day count.
Whilst waiting for our luggage at LAX, I received an email from cousin Pat who was heading out on a trip. He was checking in to see that I was okay and reminded me to make sure that Abraxane was to be reinstated as part of my regimen for the new cycle. When I went in for my treatment, Dr. I was away at a conference but had already written up the chemo combination to reinstate Abraxane although at a slightly lower dosage than before. It proved to be a quiet afternoon although we did meet a new couple, Alan & Judy, who astounded us by telling us that they do not ask any questions about Alan’s treatment and just simply prefer not to know anything! Soon after we joined the chemo suite, Debbie – LJ’s widow, came in to spend some time with us. She had come in to drop off the infusion pump and wanted to see us. She told us about LJ’s “celebration of life” held while we were in Toronto. It was a moving event. LJ was an air force veteran, and so the closing ceremony included military honours, the presentation of the flag, as well as a solo trumpet salute.
On the research side, I received a reply from the lead scientist at University of Southampton, who advised that the clinical trials on their newly invented drug would initially focus on surgical candidates. After this, they would be able to expand the field to all pancreatic cancer patients. He did, however, advise me to contact Dr. Vonderheide, another researcher based at Penn State University who, in his opinion, was working with “a much more powerful drug than ours”. Early research showed that Dr Vonderheide had just received a $1mn grant from PanCan.org to test his drug on pancreatic cancer. I hope to make contact with him in due course. The Palucka trials are behind schedule as her protocol has not yet been completed for FDA approval. Dave Roy plans to meet with her at the end of the month to determine revised timelines.
For many of you who started this journey with us at the outset, you will be surprised to learn that on October 16th, we will have reached our first anniversary. This milestone could not have been achieved without your unconditional support and friendship, an infinite amount of spiritual guidance and prayers all of which have smoothed the way for a journey filled with many precious moments.
Gary and I thank you all from the bottom of our hearts as we look ahead to continuing our journey and leave you with the following saying, which we believe to be so true:
Each of us is a vital thread
In each other’s tapestry.
Our lives are woven together
for a reason.
We send you our warmest wishes from the west coast. To our Canadian contingent – have a wonderful Thanksgiving as you enjoy your turkey surrounded by the warmth of family and friends.
With love and blessings.
Maureen and Gary